Students from Eastern Monroe Career Center's (EMCC) New Visions Education and Childcare Professions programs took their classroom learning to the next level during an engaging visit to the Strong National Museum of Play.

Throughout the day, students worked with children from the Teens & Tots preschool as they explored the museum's interactive exhibits - offering a firsthand look at the six types of play studied in class, from physical to imaginative.

The Childcare Professions program at EMCC is a one-year, NYSED-approved CTE program for high school juniors and seniors interested in careers in childcare. Students gain real-world experience in the Teens & Tots Preschool located at the East Rochester Elementary School, and begin work toward earning the nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate.

The New Visions Education program is a one-year opportunity for high school seniors to explore the world of teaching. Through classroom rotations in the East Rochester Union Free School District and hands-on experience at Teens & Tots, students work toward meeting the requirements for New York State Teacher Assistant I certification.

Experiences like this museum visit give EMCC students a meaningful opportunity to connect classroom learning with the realities of early childhood education.