Exploring

Fire and EMS Exploring

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Real-World, Hands-On Career Discovery!

Exploring is a unique career-education program for young men and women ages 10-20. The program provides students with an opportunity to learn about a wide variety of career fields and network with professionals already working in those fields.  It’s about helping young adults make a more informed decision about future careers and determine if a particular career is the right one for them. Through Exploring you can get involved, learn about a career, and decide to pursue it, or learn enough about the career to determine it’s not the right fit for you instead of spending lots of money on education and certification only to then discover you don’t like the career!

Exploring is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth and the organizations in their communities. Businesses and community organizations initiate a career-specific Explorer post or club by matching their people and organizational resources to the career interests of youth in the community. The result is a program of interactive activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, and develop.

Post or Club

Exploring serves two different age groups, both coed. Exploring Clubs serve middle schoolers, aged 10 – 13, in sixth through eighth grades. Exploring Posts serve older youth 14 – 20 years old. The program model is the same for both age groups – hands-on and interactive character and career activities are facilitated by trained business leaders in your local community.

Exploring leaders volunteer their time to provide real-world career experiences for young adults. exploring is not about lectures and slide shows – it’s about gaining practical experience in a career field. the result is a program of activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, and develop.

  • Click here for a list of Exploring Units in your area
  • Click here for more information about Exploring including renewals and forms.
  • Click here for Exploring training and safety
  • Click here for NCAC-specific information on Exploring Renewals
  • Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about Exploring Training

How To Join an Exploring Post or Club

Click here to locate a list of Exploring Posts and Clubs within the National Capital Area Council. When you find an Explorer Post or Club that is of interest to you, contact the District Executive responsible for the district where the Post or Club is located. Your District Executive will provide you the contact information for the Post or Club and give you more information on joining. 

If you’re under the age of 18, you’ll need a youth application. If you’re an Exploring Participant (ages 18 to 20) adult, you’ll need an adult application and a Youth Protection certificate.