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High school students at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) got an immersive taste of high-demand trade careers on Thursday, stepping inside virtual paint booths, operating heavy excavators, and riding simulated high-lift platforms—all without leaving the school grounds.
The visit marked the return of the Big Ideas USA Mobile Learning Lab to JWP for the first time since 2021. The full-day event was made possible through grant funding from the Waseca Area Foundation, utilizing funds from the Rosenau Legacy of Angels Fund.
Organized by Andrea Grussendorf, now in her third year as JWP’s College & Career Readiness Coordinator, the event brought roughly 120 JWP Bulldogs through the trailer throughout the day. Scheduled in six rotating groups of 16 to 20 students, participants rotated through 15-minute hands-on stations operating between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. In addition to scheduled 8th and 9th graders and interested upperclassmen, two open-house sessions before and after school allowed any student aged 13 and older to explore the lab.
“Our goal is to expose students to as many career pathways as possible,” Grussendorf noted, highlighting the hands-on engagement the trailer brings to career exploration.
Big Ideas USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing high school students to skilled trade careers, began as a grassroots classroom initiative in 2017. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional in-person instruction in 2021, the organization adapted by shifting its curriculum toward Virtual Reality (VR) technology.
Today, Big Ideas operates two mobile units nationwide—including a second trailer currently completing 48 events in Mississippi—bringing interactive career simulations directly to schools, fairs, and community events.
While VR headsets are familiar technology to many teenagers, Big Ideas uses the medium to teach practical, real-world trade mechanics. The mobile lab offers nine distinct VR simulations, including welding, excavator handling, tire maintenance, load securing, and heavy equipment operation.
Among the options, welding proved to be the day’s most popular station, with students demonstrating strong curiosity toward burning hot torches and laser-like focus.
One of the standout experiences of the day was the newly added high-lift/cherry picker simulation. Encased in a physical metal frame platform, students donned VR goggles to simulate ascending high above ground level.
The simulation features realistic motion settings where the platform sways, creaks, and vibrates to mirror true-to-life physical working conditions at elevated heights. While the simulated height and wind effects drew laughs and playful banter, the sudden wobbles of the carriage tested students’ composure—prompting some to request a quick return to ground level while others fearlessly rode out the simulation.
Jared, a representative traveling with the Big Ideas USA trailer, guided students through the stations and assisted with safety gear and machine setup. Throughout the day, students playfully attempted to goad Grussendorf into trying the swaying high-lift simulation herself, but she remained steadfast on keeping both feet firmly planted on Mother Earth.
The visit from Big Ideas USA is part of an ongoing series of career exploration initiatives led by JWP’s guidance department this fall. Next Tuesday, JWP juniors will head to Mankato for the annual college fair hosted at Bethany Lutheran College, continuing the district’s emphasis on post-secondary planning.
