This summer, hundreds of youth will be given the opportunity to challenge themselves by exploring careers in an unusual manner—creating video interviews.ROADTRIP NATION is a unique pathway exploration experience that uses modern media technology to get young people thinking about what careers they might want to pursue.

Offered through the Youth Opportunity Centers and as part of the county’s Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP), Roadtrip Nation helps young people figure out what they want to do by using something fun—mock media interviews—to ask questions of others and, in the process, of themselves.

“Many young people have not clarified their career goals, and the program helps them start thinking that way,” said Ricardo Olalde, Chairman of the Riverside County Workforce Investment Board.

Participants of the three-week program will be trained on how to use video equipment; learn how to set up interviews, do labor market research and acquire other skills, and then spend time on the road recording 2 or 3 interviews.

In the videos, local people will describe what skills they need to do their current job and what education or training would be helpful to anyone seeking to follow that career path. Their videos then will be edited and uploaded to a county Web site for other interested youth to watch.

“This summer, 625 youth between the ages of 16 and 21 will participate; another 375 will participate in the fall,” said Loren Sims, Operations Manager with the Riverside County Economic Development Agency/Workforce. Participants will travel in green RVs to various areas of the local community to interview people.

“The program provides exposure to labor market exploration and gives participants an unusual way to explore career options,” Sims said.

“It will be an experience for the youth themselves to interview people in their fields of interest,” he said.

More information can be found at www.rivcoyouth.com