For ages 10-20, Exploring is a unique and dynamic relationship between youth and organizations in their communities. Businesses and community organizations initiate a career-specific Exploring 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 connect youth with mentors, businesses, and agencies within their communities to help them discover future career paths. Explorers step out of the classroom and into real-world work environments to gain hands-on experience and learn more about potential career paths.
Exploring exists to teach important life and career skills to young people from all backgrounds through immersive career experiences and mentorship provided by community and business leaders like you. Together, we equip young people with character, leadership and life skills that can be used both today and in their future careers.
Looking for real-world experiences that will help you shape your future? Exploring is your opportunity to test drive careers, build confidence, and connect with mentors in industries that match your interests. You’ll gain leadership skills, grow socially and professionally, and gain hands-on experiences in careers like aviation, fire & EMS, and law enforcement.
"Joining the Customs & Border Protection Exploring Program was one of the best decisions I made in High School. I credit Exploring for giving me a head start in my career with the Schaumburg Police Department. I learned so many skills that helped me in the Law Enforcement hiring process. Without this program, I know I would not be the Police Officer that I am today."
-Caleb Sturghill, Police Sergeant
Questions? Contact Kristen Vogt at Kristen.Vogt@scouting.org or (312) 421-8800 ext.232
Berwyn Police Department
Chicago FBI Division
Lake Zurich Fire Department
Lake Zurich Police Department
Morton Grove Police Department
Niles Fire Department
Niles Police Department
Schaumburg Fire Department
Skokie Police Department
US Customs and Border Patrol (Rosemont Location)
US Customs and Border Patrol, Chicago Location
Western Springs Fire Department
Windy City Flyers (Aviation)
Skokie Fire Department
Chicago Heights Police Department
Claredon Hills Fire Department
Village of Maywood (Club)
Village of Maywood (Post
Melrose Park First Responders
15th District CPD
2nd District CPD
14th District CPD
9th District CPD
4th District CPD
Illinois Rehab Center
24th District CPD
5th District CPD
Palatine FD
US Customs and Border Patrol (Club)
In partnership with Windy City Aviation, this hands-on program is open to youth from 6th grade through age 20 who are interested in exploring careers in aviation. Participants gain real-world insight into the field through mentorship, skill-building activities, and exposure to various aviation-related professions.
PTAC partners with fire departments across Chicagoland to offer hands-on Fire & EMS Exploring programs for youth ages 14–20. Through training, mentorship, and real-world experience, participants explore careers in firefighting and emergency medical services while building leadership, teamwork, and life skills. Explorers meet regularly to learn and practice skills using fire hoses, ladders, and essential tools—all in a supportive, challenge-based environment.
Our post through the Village of Maywood provides Scouts a general overview of various careers, such as (insert some examples here). You must be a resident of Maywood to participate.
PTAC offers a variety of hands-on law enforcement Exploring programs for youth who have completed 6th grade through age 20. Whether through local police departments or federal agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, participants gain real-world experience, mentorship, and insight into careers in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
Exploring is about helping young adults make more informed decisions about future careers and determine if a particular career is the right one for them. Typically, a young adult will learn about a career and decide to pursue it or learn enough about the career to determine it is not the right fit for him or her. It’s better to learn as a young adult that a career is not for you than to spend lots of time and money on an education only to then discover you don’t like a career! In the Exploring program, it’s not about lectures and slide shows; it’s about gaining practical insight and hands-on knowledge in a career field.
In addition to the programs we offer locally, Exploring provides opportunities in 12 exciting career fields. Click one to learn more!
Arts & Humanities Career Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from 6th grade to 20 years old that exposes participants to many career opportunities in art, music, drama and other humanities areas.
Aviation Career Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the field of Aviation.
Business Career Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in the many functional areas within a business, including Sales/Marketing, Operations, Finance/Accounting, Customer Service, Human Resources, and Information Technology.learning more about careers in the field of Business.
Communications Career Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the fields of Communications, including opportunities in TV, radio, journalism, graphic design and more.
Engineering & Technology Career Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the fields of Engineering & Technology.
Fire & EMS Career Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the field of fire or emergency services.
Health Care Career Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the fields of health care.
Law & Government Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the fields of Law & Government.
Law Enforcement Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women who have completed the 6th grade through 20 years old, interested in a career in law enforcement or a related field in the criminal justice system.
The program offers young adults a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through training, practical experiences, competition and other activities. Additionally, the program promotes personal growth through character development, respect for the rule of law, physical fitness, good citizenship and patriotism.
Science Career Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the fields of Science.
Today, more than ever before, the science profession is experiencing workforce shortages across the board. The challenge to meet workforce demands in science is ever increasing. But we’re up for it!
Skilled Trades Career Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the fields of Skilled Trades.
Social Services Career Exploring is open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the fields of Social Services.
Careers in the social services area include: child care workers, adult care givers, drug/alcohol counselors, human services workers, social/welfare workers, teachers/teachers’ aides, and many more. By providing hands-on work-related activities to students, social services professions and organizations help youth explore the skills, intricacies, demands, and needs of various social services careers.
Comprehensive general liability insurance provides coverage for damages that the insured shall become legally obligated to pay to third parties because of bodily injury or property damage caused by an occurrence arising out of or in the course of official Learning for Life functions and activities. This coverage provides primary general liability coverage protection for all Exploring professionals and employees, participating organizations, and registered volunteer adult participants with respect to lawsuits and claims arising out of an official Exploring activity which is defined in the insurance policy as consistent with the values, charter and by-laws, rules and regulations, the operations manuals and applicable literature of Exploring or in the performance of their duties with Exploring. Injuries or illnesses to registered Exploring participants are covered by a separate accident and sickness policy. Regarding the use of a motor vehicle or watercraft, the coverage is excess over any insurance that may be available to the volunteer for loss arising from the ownership, maintenance, or use. This insurance is available only while the vehicle or watercraft is actually being used for an Exploring purpose. Coverage is more than $5 million for bodily injury and property damage. Registered adults are those district and council committee members and Exploring post and club adult leaders who have completed a Exploring adult registration form.
Many local Exploring councils provide accident and sickness insurance to their registered youth and adult participants by collecting a small fee each year, and sometimes no fee at all. Contact your local council to see if this service is provided. If not, a policy can be obtained through your council office at a nominal cost.
Yes, every two years. It is completed online. Visit the training page for more information.
Five, and there is no maximum! We recommend you start with at least 10-15 as you will inevitably have youth who cannot attend every meeting or may drop out after a while. Teenagers are social creatures – the more the merrier!
A post must have at least four, and a club must have at least two. We highly recommend you have 6 – 8 adults over the of 21 who will support your program. The more supporters you have, the more resources and variety they bring to the program which, in turn, engages more youth. Many hands make light work!
You, along with your youth participants, determine the frequency and length of your meetings. Typically, programs meet once or twice a month for 1 – 2 hours. However, other programs meet weekly for 8 – 12 consecutive weeks twice per year. In addition to meetings, time must be set aside for planning. Your local Exploring representative will work closely with you in the beginning stages to develop your program activities, complete adult leader training and coordinate your open house. The representative will always be available to you year-round for annual youth recruitment plans, fundraising efforts and to serve your other needs. Remember, the effort you put in to your Exploring program will repay youth with a positive community relationship and the potential to train your future employees!
Check out the new unit playbook for a step by step look at the entire process.
Get registered! The head of your organization will need to meet with your local Exploring representative to review and sign the Memorandum of Understanding.
Most Exploring programs align with the school calendar and begin in the fall, while some also offer summer activities, annual conferences, internships and other events. Most meet once or twice a month throughout the year.
Yes, an Explorer can join more than one post or club without having to pay the annual Exploring participation fee twice or more.
The annual registration fee is $50. Some local councils collect a nominal fee for accident and sickness coverage. Also, some posts and clubs collect an additional program fee to subsidize the cost of uniforms, gear or equipment.
Yes. Click here to see the complete list.
