FDSH TAP Program

As our final week of summer camp comes to a close, we are reflecting on what an incredible summer it has been!

Last Thursday, we visited Friendship Haven, where students explored the many career opportunities available within the organization, from IT and nursing to administration and business services. After our tour, students put their gaming skills to the test by helping residents play Bingo and pass out prizes to the lucky winners. We wrapped up the day celebrating July birthdays and spending time visiting with the residents.

Tuesday marked our final day of summer camp, and we were not about to let the rain ruin our annual game day! We made our traditional candy salad and shared memories of our favorite camp experiences from the summer. Students took on our candy blindfold challenge, where they had to identify candy using only their sense of taste. Needless to say, they absolutely crushed it! We spent the afternoon enjoying some friendly competition with Monopoly, Blokus, Jenga, and Mazed.

This summer was filled with job exploration, new friendships, valuable life experiences, and lasting memories. We are so proud of all our students for stepping outside their comfort zones, trying new things, and growing in confidence throughout the summer. Thank you to all of the businesses, organizations, and community members who helped make this another successful year of summer camp!

TAP is hosting our annual resource fair along side Open House Night! Stop by if you are looking for some support/information!

Summer Camp: Dariette and Sips & Moore

Our first stop was The Dariette, where students learned about the different types of ice cream and treats offered to customers. They also practiced an important life skill: self-advocacy. Each student had the opportunity to order their own special sweet treat, building confidence and communication skills while interacting with staff.

Next, we visited Sips & Moore, where students got an inside look at the growing dirty soda business. They learned about daily operations and discovered that there is much more to the job than simply making drinks. Students learned what staff members do during slower times throughout the day and put their work-based learning skills into action by labeling cups, preparing signature drink umbrellas, and removing pop tabs from cans to prepare for customer orders.

Students also had the opportunity to learn about the business's operating system and even entered their own drink orders for preparation, giving them a firsthand look at how technology is used in customer service and food service settings.

A huge thank you to the Dariette and Sips & Moore for welcoming our students, sharing your knowledge, and providing such a fun and educational experience. Opportunities like these help students explore careers, build workplace skills, and gain confidence in real-world settings!

Summer Camp: Almost Home

Today was all about animals and learning what it takes to volunteer and work at Almost Home! Students had the opportunity to put their work-based learning skills into action by helping prepare for Almost Home's annual garage sale. They learned the importance of organization and teamwork as they cleaned and dried dishes and sorted dog bowls by size.

Throughout the day, students discovered that caring for animals involves much more than giving them love and attention. They learned that maintaining a clean and safe environment is a big part of the job. From organizing supplies to helping with outdoor cleanup, students saw firsthand that animal care requires dedication, responsibility, and hard work every day.

After all of their hard work, students were rewarded with some of the best parts of the day: spending time socializing with and loving on the cats and dogs at the shelter. It was a great opportunity to learn about animal behavior, the importance of socialization, and the impact volunteers have on the lives of shelter animals.

A HUGE thank you to Jan for organizing this experience and for being so welcoming and open with our students. We appreciate the time, knowledge, and opportunities you provided, and we are grateful for all that Almost Home Iowa does for animals in our community!

Summer Camp #11: Small Business Day: Stella's Coffee Bar and Brown's Shoe Fit Fort Dodge!

Our first stop was Brown's Shoe Fit, where students learned what it takes to grow and operate a successful business in the shoe industry. They gained valuable insight into customer service and learned the importance of making a great first impression by greeting every customer with a smile and a friendly hello. Students also discovered how building relationships with customers can contribute to long-term business success.

Next, we walked over to Stella's Coffee Bar, where students heard the inspiring story of how Abby started her business with a coffee food truck. Through hard work, dedication, and community support, she grew her business and moved into a brick-and-mortar location.

Students then put their workplace skills into action by helping clean, wash, and prepare the outdoor patio area for closing time. Their hard work paid off when they were rewarded with the opportunity to create their own versions of Stella's famous acai bowls!

A huge thank you to Brown's Shoe Fit and Stella’s Coffee Bar for sharing their experiences, teaching our students about entrepreneurship and customer service, and providing such a fun and engaging learning experience. We appreciate your support in helping students explore future career opportunities!

Summer Camp #10: Fort Dodge Police Department
Today, our students had an incredible opportunity to visit the Fort Dodge Police Department and learn about the many careers that work together to keep our community safe.

Students stepped into the role of Evidence Technician Officers by putting on forensic gloves and investigating a mock crime scene. They learned how evidence is collected, documented, and processed during an investigation. Students had the opportunity to experience the department's virtual reality training system. Through a simulated scenario, they learned how officers use technology to practice decision-making and response techniques in a safe training environment.

We also toured the dispatch center and gained a better understanding of the critical role dispatchers play in emergency response. Students even had the opportunity to listen to a live call and see firsthand how dispatchers coordinate services and assist the public.

Our group visited the jail section of the Law Enforcement Center (LEC), where students learned about the booking and intake process and what a typical day looks like in that area of law enforcement.

To wrap up the day, students worked with the Webster County Sheriff's Office and put their deputy skills to the test. They learned how deputies conduct field sobriety evaluations and identify signs of impaired driving to help keep roadways safe.

A huge thank you to the Fort Dodge Police Department -Official- and the Webster County Sheriff's Office for taking the time to share their knowledge, experiences, and career opportunities with our students.

Summer Camp #9: Blanden Art Museum 🎨

Today, our students spent the day at the Blanden Art Museum learning about the importance of hearing and understanding different perspectives. During a guided tour of the museum, students explored how people can have different thoughts, opinions, and interpretations of the same piece of art. This led to some great discussions as students practiced their listening and communication skills while respectfully sharing their own viewpoints.

We also talked about how these skills connect to the workplace, where understanding others' perspectives and communicating effectively are important parts of being a successful employee and coworker.

After the tour, students put their creativity to work by designing and creating their own mosaic coasters. It was wonderful to see their artistic talents and unique ideas come to life!

A special thank you to Angela and the Blanden Art Museum for welcoming our students once again and providing such an engaging and meaningful experience. Everyone had an amazing time!

Summer Camp #8: Loseke Ranch
Today our students got down and dirty while learning what a day on a working horse ranch is really like!

Students learned the importance of caring for horses by helping groom them, cleaning the corral to remove rocks and sticks that could get caught in a horse's shoes, and discovering that horses definitely like to use the bathroom... a lot!

With guidance from the ranch staff, students learned how to safely lead a horse and gained hands-on experience working alongside these amazing animals. They also learned about the different parts of a saddle, how to properly saddle a horse, and the time, patience, leadership, and love it takes to train one.

The highlight of the day was getting the opportunity to hop on a horse and enjoy a relaxing stroll around the ranch!

A huge thank you to Addie Loseke, Calli Bird, Bonnie, and Leroy for providing such a memorable experience and teaching our students about the dedication, responsibility, and hard work that goes into caring for horses every day. We had an incredible time!

Summer Camp #7: The Community Orchard

Today, our students put their work-based learning skills to the test at the Community Orchard! Students learned about the many career opportunities the orchard provides and discovered how the business has grown by expanding its products into local supermarkets.

Before getting to work, students explored the orchard and navigated the corn maze while learning more about the day-to-day operations of the business. Then it was time for some hands-on learning! Students practiced labeling products and learned the importance of creating labels that are both accurate and aesthetically pleasing for customers.

The learning continued in the bakery, where students learned how to make pot pie crusts. They measured dough, prepared it for baking, and gained valuable experience following recipes and production procedures.

It was another great day of career exploration, teamwork, and hands-on learning as students continued building skills that can be used in future employment opportunities! Thank you, Denny and Sarah, for taking the time to work with our students! We had a blast!