Maine’s young people deserve more than a path through school — they deserve a path to a future. Career Connected Learning is an approach to out-of-school time programming that gives youth hands-on, real-world experiences that connect what they are learning to where they are going.
MASN promotes the Career Connected Learning framework as a powerful tool for out-of-school time programs across Maine — helping programs move beyond enrichment for its own sake and toward experiences that genuinely prepare young people for careers, further education, and life.
What Is Career Connected Learning?
Career Connected Learning is a framework that helps out-of-school time programs intentionally connect youth to the world of work through:
- Hands-on, project-based learning experiences tied to real career pathways
- Mentorship and relationship building with working professionals
- Exposure to authentic workplaces and industries
- Opportunities to develop the skills employers say matter most — communication, teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking
For Maine programs, this might look like a group of middle schoolers working alongside a local engineer on a design challenge, a high school student shadowing a marine biologist, or a youth program partnering with a local business to tackle a real community problem.
Why It Matters for Maine
Maine faces real workforce challenges. Employers across the state — in healthcare, technology, manufacturing, marine industries, and beyond — need a skilled, prepared workforce. At the same time, many young people — particularly those in rural communities — have limited exposure to the range of careers available to them and the pathways to get there.
Out-of-school time is uniquely positioned to bridge that gap. Programs have the flexibility, relationships, and community trust to create experiences that schools often cannot. When out-of-school time programs embrace Career Connected Learning, they become a genuine workforce development strategy — not just for someday, but starting now.
How MASN Supports This Work
MASN promotes the Career Connected Learning framework to out-of-school time programs across Maine, providing resources, training, and connections to help programs implement this approach in ways that work for their communities. Through our professional development infrastructure and statewide network, we help programs understand the framework, build employer partnerships, and design experiences that are meaningful for the youth they serve.
Get Started
If you are an out-of-school time program interested in bringing Career Connected Learning to your community, MASN can help. Contact us to learn more about resources, training, and support available through our network.