Bear Day gives students, businesses a chance to learn about each other

LAUREL — Laurel-Concord-Coleridge High School held its first annual Bear Day March 5.

The event was designed to immerse students into hands-on learning experiences.

They learned how businesses operate, experienced new hobbies, and were provided with skills needed for different types of careers.

Bear Day also helped community members connect with the students, sharing their passions and skills, said LCC High School Principal Diane Hanel.

Conversely, Bear Day exposed the students to assets their own community has to offer, she said.

Hanel spent several months planning for the inaugural event which provided students with 15 different sessions to choose from. Sessions were held at the high school and at several Laurel businesses.

Some of the choices allowed students to learn basic skills in cake decorating, photography, cultural dances, budgeting, travel and preparing their own lasagna dish.

In addition, students were able to find out more about careers at CVA, Security Bank, Grossenburg Implement and opportunities within the health career field.

The event really opened some students’ eyes. “The sessions were awesome. The Health Care session was very interesting,” said Yasmine Miranda. “I experienced hands-on activities and I learned that there are three levels of CPR and I was able to learn about different types of healthcare I could go into.”

Another student, Emma Sohler, said she got quite an education during the day.

“During Bear Day, I learned many valuable skills, from decorating cakes and how to properly care for flowers to expand their life to the importance of marketing in order to have a successful business,” she said.

The plan for next year, Hanel said, is to move to a full day event instead of a half day.

There are so many more opportunities which haven’t been explored as part of Bear Day, so please reach out to the high school if you have a hobby, activity or interest that you think students would enjoy.

The second annual Bear Day will take place late February in 2025.