About Engineering Explorers Post 228: Engineering Explorers Post 228 is an after school enrichment program for high school students in Mecklenburg County.   The post offers hand-on programs to introduce students to engineering and the engineering profession. Engineering Explorers Post 228 is sponsored by local engineering companies in Charlotte.   Employees from these companies volunteer their time to support the post, and to develop hands-on activities. The post meets once a month (usually on the second Wednesday of the month), from 7pm to 9pm.   The meetings are held September through May to align with the school year and the CMS academic calendar. We meet at EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) which is located at:       1300 West W.T. Harris Blvd.       Charlotte, NC 28262 In addition to the monthly meetings, the post tries to coordinate at least one engineering tour per year. In previous years the post has toured:       - Cowans Ford Hydroelectric plant       - AREVA’s training center in Lynchburg VA       - NC State University’s Nuclear Test Reactor       - Charlotte Observer’s printing warehouse.       - Nuclear grade Welding shop in Rock Hill.       - Carowinds: Top Gun Roller Coaster and Wave Pool       - Blythe Construction: Independence Blvd and Albemarle Rd interchange                (toured while under construction)       - Riverbend Coal power plant (Gaston County)       - Carowinds: Intimidator Roller Coaster and Water Park Explorers Post 228 has been supporting high school students for over 10 years now. Engineering Explorers post 228 is one post of many within Mecklenburg County. The Mecklenburg County Exploring program is a division of the Mecklenburg County Council, Boy Scouts of America. What is Exploring? Exploring is a part of the Learning for Life career education program which is a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America.   Exploring is for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years old.   Exploring units, called "posts", usually have a focus on a single career field, such as police, fire/rescue, health, law, aviation, engineering, or the like, and may be sponsored by a government or business entity. Exploring exists to accomplish a major goal: To provide the structure and resources needed for the youth of America to learn about career opportunities, to make ethical choices, and to achieve their full potential as individuals. Exploring's purpose is to provide experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.   Explorers are ready to investigate the meaning of interdependence in their personal relationships and communities. Exploring is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth and the post by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community.   The result is a program of activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, and develop. The Exploring program is specifically designed to incorporate the following experience areas: Career Opportunities, Life Skills, Service Learning, Character Education, and Leadership Experience.   A close analysis of the activities, relationships, and experiences in the program demonstrates success in meeting the elements of healthy youth development.

EXTERNAL LINKS: Mecklenburg County Explorers Council Mecklenburg County BSA Council Learning-for-Life Boy Scouts of America