At Elevate Aviation in partnership with CAREERS: The Next Generation, Alberta youth are getting a rare opportunity to explore careers in aviation. Through hands-on experiences and mentorship, students are discovering the wide range of opportunities that exist in this growing industry—all while gaining confidence about their own futures.
Exploring Career Options
For Briggs, one of the program leads, the value is clear. “It’s so important to be able to try things out before you fully commit,” Briggs explains. “Before you spend thousands on education, here you can try it out and get honest feedback about how you’re doing in that industry.”
That ability to “test drive” a career path takes the pressure off students who are still figuring out where they fit, and ensures they can make more informed choices before investing in post-secondary education.
Expanding the Definition of Aviation
For many students, when they think of aviation, they picture only pilots and flight attendants. Elevate Aviation changes that.
“A lot of people, when you say careers in aviation, they think pilot or flight attendant,” Briggs says. “But we go over hundreds of careers in just five days and really open up their worldview.”
From engineering and aircraft maintenance to air traffic control and operations management, students gain exposure to the many career paths that keep the aviation industry running.
Building Confidence Through Experience
The program’s immersive, hands-on approach is where the real transformation happens. Kelly, who worked closely with students throughout the summer, has seen the growth firsthand.
“On the first day they’re shy and reserved,” she explains. “But as summer goes on, they become more curious. I’m happy we sparked that curiosity.”
By the end of the program, students aren’t just asking what their role is—they’re identifying their strengths and talking about where they see themselves in the future.
A Pathway to Discovery
For students like Reet, Elevate Aviation provided much-needed clarity. “Your career path isn’t always linear,” she says. “I’ve found it hard to narrow down what I want to pursue, but being here showed me possibilities I hadn’t considered before. Programs like this let you experience different fields and find what you’re passionate about.”
That sense of exploration is exactly what Elevate Aviation and CAREERS are aiming to provide: a safe space to try new things, meet professionals, and see behind the scenes of an industry that can often feel out of reach.
Why It Matters
For Briggs, the program’s impact goes beyond career discovery. “An opportunity like this lets them dip their toe in the water—what’s out there, what opportunities they could pursue.”
By connecting the classroom to the aviation industry, Elevate Aviation and CAREERS are helping students build confidence, develop skills, and see that their futures are full of possibilities.
Taking Off Into the Future
Through workshops, tours, and mentorship, students leave Elevate Aviation with more than just knowledge of aviation—they leave with direction, curiosity, and a belief in their own potential.
As Kelly puts it, the program doesn’t just introduce careers, it builds futures: “This camp helps them explore different possibilities and see behind the scenes of aviation.”
For Alberta youth, the runway is clear. The only question left is: where will they take off to next?
