ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FOR BUSINESS HOSTS MAY GO HERE. CDLE’s Teacher Externship Program leverages Colorado’s Work Based Learning Continuum to provide structured experiences ranging from business or industry tours to immersive externships. In sync with the Community Assessment included with the continuum, our program goes beyond individual development, fostering a collaborative environment that engages local businesses, educators, and students. By connecting the dots between education and industry needs, we contribute to the overall prosperity and growth of communities throughout Colorado.
- Blue Canyon Technologies
Location: Lafayette, CO
Website: bluecanyontech.com
Industry Served: Aerospace/DefenseBlue 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: All Year
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 would have to provide proof of U.S. citizenship and sign an NDA*Blue Canyon does not allow any photos or videos to be taken in their building.
- Colorado Air and SpacePort
Location: Watkins, CO
Website: coloradoairandspaceport.com
Industry Served: AerospaceColorado 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: Summer
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- Colorado Department of Agriculture, Division of Laboratory Services
Location: Broomfield, CO
Website: Colorado Department of Agriculture Lab Services | Laboratory Outreach Program
Industry Served: AgricultureThe 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- Colorado Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program
Location: Denver, CO (Work can be done remotely)
Website: Colorado Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Industry Served: EnergyWe 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- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
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 ScienceAs 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: Currently looking at focusing on Aquatic Nusiance Speices, Hatcheries, Water Quality and Aquatic Toxicology.
Educators would be spending ~50% of the time in the field or lab experiencing the day to day work and then 50% working with the Education Section to translate the experiences into standards aligned curriculum for use in the classroom. Curriculum will be made available to any educator to use.
Externship Dates: Summer
Externship Duration: 1-3 days field experience with 1-3 days of curriculum development; Estimate of 11-20 hours/week
Number of Externships Available: Up to 10
Compensation: $3,000
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: Life Science / biology, Chemistry, Earth or environmental science, Math, finance, Agriculture, farming, natural resources
Onboarding Info: TBD
Other Requirements: Teachers would have to provide proof of U.S. citizenship and sign an NDA*We are still building our program and piloting ideas to flesh out what it will become. This year we could place a couple educators in June.
- Colorado Space Business Roundtable
Location: Online for one week; Various front range locations for second week
Website: CSBR Aerospace Teacher Academy - Colorado Space Business Roundtable
Industry Served: AerospaceCSBR 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. Dates for 2025 are pending
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- Colorado Springs Utilities
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Website: Colorado Springs Utilities
Industry Served: EnergyFor 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: $29.25/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.)- Denver Animal Shelter
Location: Denver, CO
Website: Denver Animal Shelter
Industry Served: Animal Science & HealthcareWe 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.
- Encore Electric, Inc.
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 ServiceEncore 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.- Fortified Academy
Location: Aurora, CO
Website: fortifiedacademy.com
Industry Served: TransportationWe 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: TBD
Number of Externships Available: 3
Compensation: TBD
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: N/A
Onboarding Info: N/A- Galloway & Company, Inc.
Location: Greenwood Village (Tech Center), CO
Website: gallowayus.com
Industry Served: Architectural and EngineeringGalloway 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.- Quantinuum
Location: Broomfield, CO
Website: Quantinuum
Industry Served: Quantum Information ScienceAs 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: TBD
Description: TBD
Externship Dates: TBD
Externship Duration: TBD
Number of Externships Available: TBD
Compensation: TBD
Skills or Content Expertise Preferred: TBD
Onboarding Info: TBD