Program Specific

Image credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield Connected Lane County's Navigate youth, Fredrick, helps measure and map multiple trees in Springfield's urban forests. He's been working with the Willamalane Park and Recreation District to help catalog and document multiple trees in various parks scattered around Springfield. He has helped count almost 300 trees including "the beast." Check out Lookout Eugene-Springfield's full article to learn more about how Fredrick is

In March 2024, Connected Lane County coordinated a tour of EWEB’s facility. Dozens of youth from schools across Lane County came to EWEB to explore the Utility Service Industry. The high school youth learned about various high-wage, high-demand jobs and saw how a large utility company like EWEB operates. The youth visited various stations and learned about the necessary technology for water and electricity. Some youth even took the opportunity to go up in bucket trucks and pa

The Agency worked with Endless Mileage to create new tree tags that display athletes' finishing times. The Endless Mileage is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable environments and programming that inspires the next generation of track and field athletes to break barriers. Read more!

Mars’ pronouns: Any Meet our STEM Superstar, Mars! While enrolled in the Migrant Education Oregon program at Hamlin Middle School, Mars learned about Connected Lane County’s BIPOC STEM program, Invention Club. Mars participated in 2021, and using limited materials, her team created a catapult to launch an item into a target. Mars’ group won first place that year at MESA Day! After Invention Club, Mars learned about Invention Lab and was excited to have something to do to earn

Elliott has been an engaged member of the Connected Lane County community since August 2023. Elliott appreciates the inclusive and welcoming environment at Spark locations, where they can unwind, access support, and engage in various activities. To learn more about Elliott’s story, read their interview below! How did you find Connected Lane County, and what made you stay for additional experiences? “My case manager at LCBH recommende

Introduction to Spark Minh and Thu bring so much creative energy to Spark programming. The twin sisters joined the after-school Invention Club at Spark on 7th in the fall of 2021, learning various machines and workflows and expanding their STEM skills. STEM Involvement At MESA Day, the end-of-year statewide STEM competition held at Portland State University, Minh and Thu’s catapult design took second place in the main design challenge. They then participated in Invention Lab’

codeORcreate is an annual three-day youth technology competition. Connected Lane County hosted 48 youth from 13 schools and 7 school districts. The youth had three days to create a tech-based solution to community problems and were paired with tech mentors. At the end of the weekend, youth got to present their projects to a panel of judges during a showcase. The photo above shows the "Best in Show" team whose project was titled "Plant Hypothesis." The youth were three sophom

In early November 2023, Connected Lane Couty hosted its Career Expo event to provide youth access to different career fields. Click this link to read KEZI 9's article.

Navigate Support Carmen entered the Navigate program at 17 years old, unemployed, and dropped out of school. The combination of a difficult home life and a severe car accident that totaled her only source of transportation left her struggling with mental health issues and unable to re-engage with education. With support from the program, she enrolled in a GED program and completed her GED last year. She also began receiving support for her mental health, which helped her bet

Noel’s Journey to Connected Lane County In his sophomore year at Siuslaw High School (2020), his enthusiastic computer science teacher, Mr. Mielke, approached Noel and recruited him to participate in our then-virtual youth hackathon called codeORcreate. The world was navigating the first year of COVID-19, and all extracurriculars had paused indefinitely. Noel, a computer science fanatic, had lots of time on his hands with few creative outlets, so he agreed to participate. No

Parker's Journey at Spark on 7th Meet Parker, a talented young entrepreneur! His journey from high school to the inception of his clothing line, Honyx LLC, is nothing short of inspiring. Parker's introduction to the world of manufacturing technology came during his senior year at Willamette High School. It was then that he discovered the exciting realms of digital design, 3D printing, and vinyl cutting. Once he dipped his toes into these creative waters, there was no turning

In July, the Navigate program's second Wonder Week unfolded seamlessly, inspiring and empowering young adults. This immersive event at Spark on 7th focused on job readiness and career exploration. Each day, Navigate youth gathered for dedicated learning, growth, and new opportunities.

Our Invention Lab is more than a summer program – it's a transformative experience that empowers high school youth to stretch the boundaries of technology and creativity.

In the heart of Lane County, a wave of youthful energy and ambition swept through this summer, as 62 aspiring minds embarked on a transformative journey through the 2023 Elevate Summer Internships. Last week, we had the privilege of celebrating the remarkable achievements of these interns at our Summer Internship Celebration. This event served as a testament to the dedication and hard work of our 62 interns, all juniors and seniors, representing 15 school districts and 23 sch

Maia's Inspiring Journey with the Navigate Program At the heart of the Navigate program lies the belief that with the right support and guidance, every young individual can overcome adversity and reach their fullest potential. Maia's story is a testament to this philosophy, showcasing the transformative power of the Navigate program in shaping young lives. At just 17, Maia faced daunting challenges. But with determination and the help of her Resource Navigator, Olivia Goodhea

Bella's Journey From New Mexico to the Art Institute of Chicago We are thrilled to present the inspiring story of Bella, a talented young artist who joined our community after moving from New Mexico to Eugene during her freshman year of high school. Bella's transition to a new city was initially challenging. Yet she soon found her place at Willamette High School where she immersed herself in a wide variety of creative and nontraditional classes. It was through a youth culinar