Business Hosts

Location: Evergreen, CO
Website: American 3D Printing
Industry Served: Technology

3D CAD modeling, Engineering, 3D printing, 3D scanning, 3D printer sales, 3D printer material sales, 3D printer repair, 3D printing

Externship Type: Customized Experience

Description: The teacher will learn how 3D printing is used and how to apply it to real life use cases.

Externship Dates: All Year
Externship Duration: 1-5 days
Number of Externships Available: One at a time
Compensation: No compensation available
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: N/A
Onboarding Info: N/A

Location: Lafayette, CO
Website: bluecanyontech.com
Industry Served: Aerospace/Defense

Blue Canyon Technologies, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, is a leading provider of turnkey small satellite solutions, including CubeSats and microsatellites. We specialize in precision pointing platforms based upon our high-performance attitude determination and control components. BCT’s highly experienced staff has developed low cost, flight-proven, high-performance, high-reliability spacecraft systems and components that enable a wide range of missions for academic, commercial, and government applications. Our state-of-the-art spacecraft and subsystems are supporting LEO, GEO, Lunar, and interplanetary missions.

BCT has supported missions for The U.S. Air Force, NASA, The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and many others and provided the Attitude Control Systems for the first interplanetary CubeSats which successfully traveled to Mars.

Externship Type: Company Tour

Description: BCT will host teachers for a day to do a tour of our labs and manufacturing floors followed by a sit down Q&A style panel with various engineers / employees.

Externship Dates: Thursday, June 26 from 10:30 to 12:30. Lunch will be provided
Externship Duration: 1 day
Number of Externships Available: Groups of 15-20 teachers
Compensation: No compensation available
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: N/A
Onboarding Info: N/A
Other Requirements: Teachers must provide proof of U.S. citizenship prior to the externship. 

*Blue Canyon does not allow any photos or videos to be taken in their building.

Location: Watkins, CO
Website: coloradoairandspaceport.com
Industry Served: Aerospace

Colorado Air and SpacePort (CASP) serves as America’s hub for commercial space transportation, research, and development.

Externship Type: Industry Tour

Description: Teachers will tour the CASP with the Deputy Director, and will learn about the operations of the Spaceport and its importance to the aerospace industry in Colorado. The Spaceport serves as a hub for commercial space transportation and research.

Externship Dates: Tuesday, June 10, 2025; 9:00 to 11:30 am
Externship Duration: 1 day
Number of Externships Available: 5-10
Compensation: No compensation available
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: N/A
Onboarding Info: N/A

Location: Broomfield, CO
Website: Colorado Department of Agriculture Lab Services | Laboratory Outreach Program
Industry Served: Agriculture

The Division performs laboratory services for CDA’s internal regulatory programs and some external customers. The purpose for this unit is to conduct timely and legally defensible chemical, microbiological and instrumental analysis of samples related to animal food, animal health, pesticides, soil, fertilizer, ground and surface water, industrial hemp and marijuana. In addition, the division serves as the primary source of measurement standards for the Department and provides volume and mass calibrations for Inspection & Consumers Services (ICS) field inspectors, Department of Labor and Employment and other external customers. The Division of Laboratory Services supports consumer protection by providing valuable services and consistent, reliable results with integrity, professionalism and impartiality.

Externship Type: Industry Tour

Description: Learning how laboratory science and agriculture intersect through various testing methods.

Externship Dates: Spring 2025
Externship Duration: 1 day
Number of Externships Available: Groups of 5-10, once a month beginning in April 2025
Compensation: No compensation available
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: Life Science - Biology, Chemistry
Onboarding Info: N/A
Other Requirements: Confidentiality agreement may be needed

Location: Denver, CO (Work can be done remotely)
Website: Colorado Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Industry Served: Energy

We provide energy efficiency upgrades to the residences of low income Coloradans.

Externship Type: Immersive Experience

Description: The teacher extern will work with a weatherization trainer to understand the principles of the house as a system and how specific upgrade impact that system and energy efficiency. The teacher extern will then build on and enhance a VR program that was created last year to explain these upgrades within a virtual house.

Externship Dates: Spring or summer 2025
Externship Duration: 1-3 weeks
Number of Externships Available: 1-2
Compensation: TBD
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: VR/CAD knowledge helpful, but not required
Onboarding Info: N/A

Location: Opportunities will eventually be available state-wide; program is starting in driving range of Denver (zip code 80216)
Website: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Industry Served: Natural Resources, Environmental Science

As a state agency, CO Parks and Wildlife manages close to 1 million acres of land within 42 state parks and 346 state wildlife areas and oversees the management of 960 native wildlife species including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, which includes the hunting and fishing regulations of these species. Through an externship with CO Parks and Wildlife, educators will have the opportunity to learn more about our work which can include the incredible research happening in our state that informs management decisions, how wildlife management officers work with the public on human - wildlife conflict, and how we help the public better understand wise use of the natural resources of our state.

Externship Type: Customized Experience

Description: In 2025, the guiding question for the externships will be, "How do we determine the success of species conservation efforts?"  The focus will be with invertebrates (mainly bees) and connecting with some Community Science efforts that will be great ways to involve students in actual science. The project may also connect with Bald Eagle researchers and the GIS/data team. The externship will be held in Denver. Teachers will receive a backpack of equipment/material they can use in their classrooms based on the field investigations they learn during the week. Initial lesson development will take place during the week, and teachers will be able to immediately use these lessons in their classrooms once school starts. 

Externship Dates: August 4-8
Externship Duration: 5 Days 
Number of Externships Available: 2
Compensation: $1,500
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: Life Science / biology, Chemistry, Earth or environmental science, Math, finance, Agriculture, farming, natural resources
Onboarding Info: TBD
Other Requirements: N/A

Location: Online for one week; Various front range locations for second week
Website: CSBR Aerospace Teacher Academy - Colorado Space Business Roundtable
Industry Served: Aerospace

CSBR provides a forum to promote the growth of space and space-related industry in Colorado, with particular focus on small space businesses.

Externship Type: Industry Tour

Description: Three teachers and approximately 40-60 students will engage with aerospace businesses, university programs, and nonprofits to learn about the opportunities and challenges facing the industry, as well as skills and knowledge needed for those careers. Teachers will complete a daily blog assignment during the virtual and in-person weeks, and develop at least one lesson to bring back to their classrooms based on their learnings.

Externship Dates: The program runs for two weeks:  one week virtual and the other in-person. 2025 dates are as follows: Virtual program: June 2-6; 
In-person program: June 9-14 Teachers must be available for the full two weeks to be considered. 

Externship Duration: 2 weeks
Number of Externships Available: 3
Compensation: $3,000
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: N/A
Onboarding Info: N/A
 

Other Requirements: Interview process will be conducted; Due to the funding source of the stipend, teachers must teach in a school district within Arapahoe or Douglas County to be considered. 

Location: Castle Rock, CO
Website: arapahoe.edu/workforce-community-programs/colorado-space-institute
Industry Served: Aerospace/Defense

The newly formed Colorado Space Institute at Arapahoe Community College aims to become a leader in space education and aerospace workforce development for Colorado students. Based at the Sturm Collaboration Campus in Castle Rock (Douglas County), the Space Institute will offer competency-based programming to grow the future of Colorado’s space workforce, focusing on three key areas: space data analytics, space operations, and space business.

Externship Type: Customized Experience

Description: The Colorado Space Institute at ACC would like to provide educators an opportunity to learn more about the programs offered by the Space Institute, interact with Colorado Space Industry partners, become knowledgeable about space policy and ethics, and provide expertise in the development of space-related content for multiple disciplines, all to support the Institute's efforts to develop "space-minded" individuals. The educators will understand the priorities and projections/needs of the space industry. The educators will also play a major role in supporting the development of space-related content that will be embedded into curriculum across different ACC and other CCCS programs that may be brought back to their own classrooms.  Teachers will be expected to develop curriculum as part of this externship.

Externship Dates: Externships will take place between June 2 and June 20, 2025
Externship Duration: 1-3 weeks
Number of Externships Available: 3-5
Compensation: $2,500
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: N/A 
Onboarding Info: N/A
Other Requirements: Teachers from Arapahoe and Douglas County are preferred.

Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Website: Colorado Springs Utilities
Industry Served: Energy

For 100 years, we have proudly served the Colorado Springs community with safe, reliable and competitively priced utility services. Since 1924, our focus has been on the basics - providing exceptional service while keeping costs low for our customers. Today, we continue to deliver electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater services to the Pikes Peak region while our customers still enjoy competitive prices, exceptional hometown service, responsible environmental practices and a voice in how their utility operates.

Externship Type: Industry Tour

Description: Various areas of focus are available. We employ professionals across a variety of areas from skilled trades, engineering, IT, finance & accounting, environmental, management, and more. We can accommodate most educators with a customized experience designed to enhance their needs.

Externships may include working with our Technical Crafts Training team developing and facilitating training for apprenticeships to working with our engineering teams on a specific design project.

Externship Dates: Summer
Externship Duration: 2-10 weeks
Number of Externships Available: 2-3
 

Compensation: $1,000 to $2,500 depending on the duration of the externship. Stipends are calculated using a rate of $50/hour
 

Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: Life Science / biology, Chemistry, Earth or environmental science, Math, finance, Computer science (e.g. coding, programming languages, software or app development, etc.), Information & communication technology (e.g. networking, data management, building/troubleshooting computer systems, etc.), Engineering (any type), Health professionals (e.g. medical science, nursing, pharmacy, veterinary science, etc.), Trades and industry (e.g. manufacturing, construction, etc.)
 

Onboarding Info: 4-8 hours of computer-based training (e.g., organizational & security awareness, ethics, etc.)

Location: Denver, CO
Website: Denver Animal Shelter
Industry Served: Animal Science & Healthcare

We provide animal care and protection services for all of Denver County. We foster the human-animal bond by protecting the safety and welfare of Denver's animals and people. Denver Animal Protection is committed to: Providing humane care to companion animals, Reuniting lost pets with their owners, Adopting pets to loving homes, Enforcing Denver County animal ordinances, Educating the public about animals, their needs and our critical role as a community resource. The Denver Animal Shelter is an open-admission shelter that is home to nearly 8,700 lost and abandoned pets each year.

Externship Type: Customized Experience

Description: Teachers may choose from any or all of these areas of focus:

• Veterinary Services: Veterinarians, Registered Veterinary Technician Supervisor, Registered Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants working in Shelter Medicine, herd health, high volume spay/neuter surgeries and other veterinary procedures.
• Field Services: Manager, Supervisors, Animal Protection Officers providing animal rescue 24/7, 365 days a year and enforce Denver County animal ordinances.
• Community Engagement: Manager, Social Worker, Navigators proactively providing community outreach education and resources to underserved pet owners to retain the human-animal bond and prevent owner-surrendered animals to the Shelter due to lack of resources.
• Shelter Services: Manager, Supervisors, Animal Care Attendants, Behavior and Transfer Coordinator provide care (food, bedding, clean kennels, socialization and enrichment) to our community's lost, unwanted, injured and mistreated animals that come to the Shelter.
• Client Services: Manager, Supervisor, Volunteer and Social Media Coordinator, Foster Care Coordinator, Client Services Representatives. We have over 400 volunteers that provide socialization, enrichment and foster homes to the animals in our care. Client Service Representatives assist the public with adoptions, owners surrendering animals, returning lost animals to owners, servicing clients during our low-cost vaccine clinics every Saturday and Sunday.

Externship Dates: All Year
Externship Duration: Depends on teacher preferences and area of focus
Number of Externships Available: As many teachers as are interested
Compensation: No compensation available
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: No experience necessary
Onboarding Info: Depends on the area of focus

*Owned animals or animals still on stray hold are not allowed to be photographed due to not having the owner's permission.

Location: Denver
Website: denverwater.org
Industry Served: Natural resources, environmental science

Denver Water is the largest drinking water utility in Colorado serving 1.5 million customers in the metro Denver area. As a public service entity, Denver Water plays a large role in discussions about water in the West as well as engaging in work to steward water as a natural resource and community necessity in the face of dramatically shifting water availability and pressure from growth.

Externship Type: Customized Experience

Description: The operation of a drinking water utility covers a wide range of careers and expertise. The Denver Water externship will invite educators to experience a small selection of the collection and distribution facilities and careers that make it possible to deliver drinking water to customers. Participants will be able to go into the field with survey teams to view construction and improvement projects; tour a drinking water treatment facility and reservoir; as well as explore educational resources and how these may fit in the classroom. 

Externship Dates: Summer
Externship Duration: 1-5 days, 4-6 hours per day, for a total of 24 hours
Number of Externships Available: 6
Compensation: Stipends of $1,200 are available for the full 24 hour experience. Stipends are calculated using a rate of $50/hour.
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: No specific experience needed. 
Onboarding Info: Externs will need to sign a waiver and liability release form. 

Location: Offices in Lakewood, Aurora, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Eagle and Basalt. We can host at any or all of these sites.
Website: encoreelectric.com
Industry Served: Electrical and Technology Construction and Service

Encore Electric is an electrical and technology solutions construction and service firm. In short, we build the power, lighting and technology systems in large, complex, challenging commercial buildings throughout Colorado.

Externship Type: Industry Tour

Description: Two day tour of our local office then we can also tour our prefab shop (in Aurora CO for those in the Denver metro area) and we can visit a local construction job site (full PPE Required) and we can visit the local chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors (the nonprofit organization that educates our apprentice electricians.)

Externship Dates: Summer
Externship Duration: 2 days
Number of Externships Available: Multiple classes of 10-15 per class
Compensation: No compensation available
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: No specific experience needed. Tours may be customized to fit teacher interests.
Onboarding Info: Onboarding will be handled on the first day. Teachers will need work boots for jobsite tours (no open-toed shoes). We will provide other PPE that is needed.

Location: Aurora, CO
Website: fortifiedacademy.com
Industry Served: Transportation

We offer a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) continuum of care through both a pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship program, supporting individuals who are justice exposed, students without a clear path after high school, and veterans. As the first program of its kind in Colorado, we are dedicated to providing guidance and opportunities for career development in the trucking industry.

Externship Type: Immersive Experience

Description: Teacher extern(s) will work along Fortify staff to learn about apprenticeship programs designed to prepare students for careers in the transportation (trucking) industry.

Pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships offer structured, hands-on learning experiences that help individuals gain the CDL skills needed to enter a transportation. Our pre-apprenticeship program provide foundational CDL training, introducing participants to basic skills and knowledge in a field like CDL driving to obtain their FMCSA mandated entry level driver training and Commercial Learners Permit . As well as our Registered apprenticeships are more formal and advanced, combining on-the-job training with related technical instruction. Apprentice will be ready to work for a trucking employer with mentorship from our certified instructors. By understanding both models, teachers can better guide students and others toward appropriate career development as a CDL, ensuring they enter the workforce with practical experience and CDL skills.

Externship Dates: Summer
Externship Duration: 20 hours over 5 days
Number of Externships Available: 3
Compensation: $1,000 
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: N/A
Onboarding Info: N/A

Location: Greenwood Village (Tech Center), CO
Website: gallowayus.com
Industry Served: Architectural and Engineering

Galloway is a nationally recognized architecture and engineering company that takes a Full Spectrum Approach to project design. For more than 40 years, Galloway built their business around a talented and diverse team of professionals, creating exceptional project solutions for clients and exciting professional growth opportunities for staff. Today, Galloway has more than 300 professionals holding registrations in 49 states.

Externship Type: Industry Tour

Description: The teacher will spend time with each discipline for a few hours to learn how they contribute to each project, how they collaborate with others, and all other questions they may have. Because Galloway is multidisciplinary and we want to give the teacher as much insight to all sides of our projects that we can.

Externship Dates: Summer
Externship Duration: 1-5 days
Number of Externships Available: 1
Compensation: No compensation available
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: No experience necessary
Onboarding Info: Minimal; an overview of the business and each discipline within the business will be provided.

Location: Three locations available:  (1) Northglenn, (2) Glenwood Springs, and (3) Colorado Springs
Websites: (1) Rocky Mountain IEC - Northglenn; (2) Western IEC - Glenwood Springs; and (3) Southern IEC - Colorado Springs

Industry Served: Electrical and Construction Industries

Externships are being offered by three separate chapters of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), premier energy trade associations for different regions in Colorado, and the largest electrical apprenticeship training program in the U.S. IEC is dedicated to educating, promoting, and advancing the electrical industry by offering required training to obtain and retain electrical licensure and providing industry support and services.

Externship Type: Customized Experience

Description: At all three sites, IEC's teacher externships will provide an immersive experience into the electrical industry and the apprenticeship training process. Educators will gain a comprehensive understanding of licensure requirements, career pathways, and the vital role of apprenticeship programs in workforce development. The experience will include a guided tour of our training campus, an overview of Ohm’s Law, device and wire preparation, power and hand tool identification, and a hands-on switching lab. Additionally, participants will visit an active job site with one of our contractor members, offering an opportunity to engage with electrical apprentices, journey workers, and project managers to see real-world applications of electrical work. This externship will equip teachers with valuable industry knowledge to better guide students toward rewarding careers in the skilled trades. IEC’s teacher externship will showcase how STEM principles are integral to the electrical trade, providing educators with real-world applications they can bring back to the classroom. 

Externship Dates: Spring and/or early summer (June) 2025
Externship Duration: 1-5 days
Number of Externships Available: 5-10 at each site
Compensation: $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the duration of the externships. Stipends are calculated using a rate of $50/hr. 
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: No experience necessary
Onboarding Info: N/A

Location: Denver
Website: www.milillama.com
Industry Served: Education

Mili Llama matches qualified college students and other community-based individuals with half-day, full-day, and long-term substitute teaching assignments. 

Externship Type: Customized experience

Description: The extern will develop marketing plans for social media and community-based events. The extern will also have the opportunity to work alongside the founders of Mili Llama, where they were learn pitching, investor relations, customer service, and operations. The business is technology-focused, and will incorporate AI into workflows. 

Externship Dates: Summer
Externship Duration: 1-3 weeks
Number of Externships Available: 1
Compensation: $1,000
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: Computer science proficiency, aptitude with social media platforms
Onboarding Info: Brief meeting with HR lead to cover basic policies, attendance at operations meeting to go over logistics and expectations for the project. 

Location: Denver
Website: https://www.resiliententanglement.us/
Industry Served: Quantum Information Science and Energy

Resilient Entanglement is a multi-patented Quantum-Smart Grid software company. We identify, develop, and implement software solutions for energy management systems (EMS). Our mission is to accelerate the development of quantum technology in the energy sector; to help streamline the global initiative to achieve 100% clean energy integration and build a smart climate-resilient grid of the future. Paving the way for emission reductions, ensuring U.S. national energy security and resiliency, and fostering the education of the next generation of scientists and industry thought leaders.

Externship Type: Customized experience

Description: The externship will help teachers connect STEM concepts to real-world careers by showcasing their applications in energy management, quantum computing, and smart grid technology. Through hands-on learning with industry professionals, teachers will gain insights into engineering, data science, and quantum-enhanced forecasting, allowing them to bring practical case studies and interactive STEM lessons into the classroom. This experience will inspire students, introduce them to emerging career opportunities, and bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring they are prepared for future STEM careers in clean energy and advanced technology fields  

Externship Dates: Summer; dates can be flexible
Externship Duration: 40 hours over the course of the summer
Number of Externships Available: 1
Compensation: $1,000
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: Physics, math, finance, computer science (e.g. coding, programming languages, software or app development, etc.), or Engineering (any type)

Onboarding Info: Onboarding and the externship will take approximately 40 hours, covering an introduction to our mission, quantum energy applications, and industry challenges. It will include hands-on workshops, guided collaboration with professionals, and practical applications of energy management systems, quantum computing, and smart grid technologies to ensure a successful and impactful experience

Location: Broomfield, CO
Website: Quantinuum
Industry Served: Quantum Information Science

As the world’s largest integrated quantum company, Quantinuum is leading the development of the most powerful quantum computers and the most advanced quantum software solutions. With our full-stack technology and world-class scientists, we are rapidly scaling quantum computing to solve tomorrow’s biggest challenges.

Externship Type: Customized Experience

Description:  We will introduce teachers to quantum computing, Quantinuum, and the different jobs available by providing tours of our Broomfield facility, an overview of quantum technologies and interactions with various parts of our business (research, etc.). The project is designed to showcase the variety of careers, people and positions it takes to develop, operate, and deploy commercial-scale quantum computers.

Externship Dates: Summer
Externship Duration: 1-5 Days
Number of Externships Available: 3-5
Compensation: No Compensation Available
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: Physics, Math, finance, Computer science (e.g. coding, programming languages, software or app development, etc.), Engineering (any type), Trades and industry (e.g. manufacturing, construction, etc.)
Onboarding Info: Training will be provided during the externship.

Location: Canon City, CO
Website: p3Communities
Industry Served: Architecture, Construction

This is an architecture firm that develops all manner of commercial and residential projects and participates in community development activities, such as economic development, planning and zoning, strategic planning, and community engagement. 

Externship Type: Customized

Description: Architectural practice involves schematic design and project development, scope determination, code compliance design development, construction documentation and drafting, technical specification writing, construction observation, community volunteer board involvement, small business development and facilitation. The teacher extern will be able to participate in all of these activities if desired. 

Externship Dates: All year round
Externship Duration: Flexible
Number of Externships Available: 1
Compensation: TBD
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: Engineering (any type), trades and industry (manufacturing, construction, etc.) architecture and drafting
Onboarding Info: None