CTAE Field Trip

CTAE (Years 2 + 3) Field Trip to BJ Reece Orchards in Ellijay, GA

Thursday, October 23 (9am-4pm)

$60 cash or money order ONLY, paid in Room 404 by Friday, October 10

No digital payments accepted (CashApp, Venmo, Zelle, etc.)

• $60 fee includes all costs of the trip (admission, 1/2 peck of apples to take home, catered lunch from Subway, & transportation on a charter bus)

• No additional monies are needed unless your student would like to shop the market or bakery

• Students WILL attend classes for 1st period only.

• Students must have transportation home no later than 4pm, when we return.

• We will depart WHS at 9am and return to WHS at 4pm.

• BOTH field trip forms must be completed, in full, in order to attend the field trip: Permission Slip and Lunch Order Form

• This field trip is only open to current NFS students in Year 2 or Year 3 classes and Work-Based Learning students.

Purpose of the Trip

The purpose of this field trip is to provide students with an authentic, hands-on learning experience that connects classroom instruction to real-world career opportunities. BJ Reece Orchards offers a unique setting where students can explore vocational opportunities in agriculture, agribusiness, customer service, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. This experience supports the mission of CTAE by helping students connect academic content, employability skills, and potential career pathways.

Objectives

Students will:

1. Identify the wide range of career opportunities available within an agricultural business.

2. Observe how agricultural production, agritourism, and retail operations work together to sustain a local business.

3. Connect employability skills such as teamwork, problem solving, communication, and customer service to workplace expectations.

4. Gain insight into entrepreneurship and small business management in a community setting.

5. Reflect on how agricultural businesses contribute to the economy and community development in Georgia.

Standards Alignment

This trip supports the following CTAE standards:

• Career Exploration: Students explore potential career pathways in agriculture, business, hospitality, and related industries.

• Employability Skills: Students apply critical thinking, teamwork, and communication in real-world settings.

• Community Connections: Students recognize the role of local businesses in supporting economic development and providing career opportunities.

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the trip, students will be able to:

• Describe at least three different vocational opportunities they observed at BJ Reece Orchards.

• Explain how transferable skills learned in school apply in workplace settings.

• Reflect on their personal career interests and how they may align with local opportunities.

Educational Value

BJ Reece Orchards serves as a model of a successful family-owned business that combines agriculture, tourism, and retail. Students will see firsthand the variety of career paths within one local business, gain exposure to professionals in the community, and develop a deeper appreciation for how agriculture and small business entrepreneurship sustain Georgia’s economy. This trip directly supports CTAE’s goal of preparing students to make informed decisions about their education and career pathways.