What is experiential learning, and how can it help me discover my interests and build skills?
Let’s Begin
This guide is one puzzle piece in your journey toward the future. Use it to explore how to build a pathway, build your confidence, and take one step closer to discovering a career that’s right for you.
Are you someone who likes hands-on work? Do you enjoy building, fixing, or creating things? If so, skilled trades might be the perfect pathway for you!
Skilled trades are an exciting way to turn your passion for practical, hands-on work into a rewarding career. Whether you're interested in building houses, fixing cars, working with machinery, or crafting delicious meals, there’s likely a skilled trade that matches your interests.
Learning Goals
By the end of this guide, you will be able to:
🎯Explain what experiential learning is and why it matters for your future
🎯Understand how co-op, volunteering, internships, dual credit, and other programs can help you build skills
🎯Recognize how learning by doing connects to your interests, strengths, and goals
🎯Use the experiential learning cycle (participate, apply, reflect) to make the most of your experiences
Let’s Learn
💡🌍What is experiential learning?
You’ve probably been asked:
What do you want to do after high school?
That can feel like a big question, and it’s okay if you don’t have the answer yet. One of the best ways to figure it out is by trying things out. That’s what experiential learning is all about.
Experiential learning means learning by doing. It's about stepping out of the classroom and into real-world experiences so you can build skills, try out careers, and discover what you’re passionate about.
In this guide, you learn how real-world experiences like volunteering, co-op placements, internships, and dual credit programs help you discover what you enjoy, what you're good at, and what kind of future you might want to work toward.
🚀🌟What are the benefits of experiential learning?
You might be wondering why experiential learning matters or how it fits into your life right now. The truth is, learning through experience gives you a head start because you're not just thinking about the future, you're stepping into it.
Experiential learning helps you:
✅Discover your interests and strengths: Trying new things helps you figure out what you like, what you're good at, and what type of environment works best for you. You might uncover a passion you didn’t know you had or realize something isn’t for you (and that’s helpful too!).
✅Build real-world skills: Whether you're leading a project, communicating with people, or solving problems on the spot, you will gain skills that matter in every career, like teamwork, time management, and communication.
✅Grow your resume: Every experience adds something to your story. Volunteering, working, or taking a dual credit course shows future employers and schools that you’re motivated, responsible, and ready to take on challenges.
✅Make connections in your community or industry: You’ll meet people who can support your goals, mentors, coworkers, instructors, and leaders. These connections might lead to future jobs, references, or opportunities you hadn’t even considered.
✅Feel more confident about your next steps after graduation: The more you try, the more you learn about yourself. You’ll feel more prepared to make choices for your future because you’ve experienced what it’s like, not just read about it.
🏫🤝How can I get real-world experience in high school?
There are lots of ways to try experiential learning in B.C. Here are some options you might already have access to through your school or community:
Co-op (Work Experience Programs)
- Learn on the job while earning high school credits.
- Work in a field that interests you—like healthcare, trades, tech, or business.
- Develop workplace skills like communication, time management, and teamwork.
➡️ Ask your school about Work Experience 12 or Co-op placements in your area.
Volunteering
- Give back to your community while gaining valuable skills.
- Explore different roles (like organizing events, tutoring, or helping at a food bank).
- Looks great on your resume or scholarship applications!
➡️ Try volunteering with a cause that matters to you, you might be surprised what you learn about yourself, too. Explore volunteering opportunities and ideas in B.C here.
Dual Credit Programs
- Take college or trades training while you're still in high school.
- Earn credits that count toward both your high school diploma and a post-secondary credential.
- Get a head start on your career or education pathway.
➡️ Talk to a school counsellor about dual credit options near you; every district is a bit different. Learn more about the dual credit program here.
Youth Work in Trades (YWT / Secondary School Apprenticeship Program)
- Start an apprenticeship while still in high school.
- Earn credits and log paid work hours toward your trade certification.
- Perfect for students interested in the skilled trades (carpentry, welding, culinary, etc.).
➡️ YWT connects you with Red Seal trades and provides a head start on career training. Learn more about Youth Work in Trades here.
➡️If you are interested in the Youth Work in Trades program, watch this video to learn more!
Youth Train in Trades (YTT)
- Take a post-secondary trades training program during high school.
- Offered through partnerships with colleges and trade schools.
- Earn dual credit and gain hands-on experience in fields like plumbing, electrical, and auto service.
➡️ A great way to get a tuition-free head start on technical training. Learn more about Youth Train in Trades here.
➡️If you are interested in the Youth Train in Trades program, watch this video to learn more!
Capstone Projects
- Part of the B.C. Graduation Program (Career Life Connections).
- You will choose a real-world problem, passion, or career interest to explore.
- Includes research, action, and reflection—like launching a business idea, organizing a community event, or job-shadowing someone.
➡️ Gives you ownership over their learning and career exploration.
🔄🌱What is the experiential learning cycle, and how does it help me?
Getting experience is just the first step. What makes learning is how you reflect on and apply what you’ve done. That’s where the Experiential Learning Cycle comes in.
It’s a simple process to help you grow from each experience:
🏃Participate – What am I doing right now?
You dive into a real experience. Maybe you're volunteering, working on a project, or trying something new in a course. As you're doing it, pay attention to what’s happening, what you're doing, how you're feeling, and what you’re thinking.
💡Reflect – What did I learn from this?
After the experience, take time to think it through.
- What stood out?
- What challenged you?
- What surprised you?
Reflection helps you understand what you learned about yourself, about others, or the world around you.
🚀Apply – What will I do next?
Now that you’ve learned something, think about how it connects to your future. How might it shape your decisions, goals, or plans? What would you do the same or differently next time? This is where you take what you learned and use it to keep growing.
I Can Statements
✅ Use the following "I can" statements to check your progress and recognize the skills you're gaining as you develop your knowledge of how you can build your pathway.
I can describe what experiential learning is and why it is important.
I can list different ways I can get real-world experience while I’m still in high school.
I can explain the steps of the experiential learning cycle and how each part helps me grow.
I can identify at least one experiential learning opportunity I’d like to explore.
I can ask for support from a teacher, counsellor, or career advisor to get started.
Digging Deeper
💡Want to see how experiential learning helps students like you explore their futures? Hearing real stories can bring these opportunities to life!
👉 Read student spotlights: Click here to read about real stories of students attending UBC and their experiences with experiential learning.
🎥 Watch and learn: Click here to watch a video about the dual-credit program offered through Victoria Island University.
🌐 Learn more: Click here to learn more about the post-secondary providers eligible to offer dual credit.
