College and Career Exploration and Preparation

Person using a dental tool to examine a model of teeth and gums, with dental diagrams and a laptop in the background.

Paxton Patterson Labs

  • Paxton Patterson is a learning system designed to support Elementary students in exploring their interests and prepare for post-secondary education and careers through College & Career Ready Labs. These in classroom labs offer hands-on, problem-based learning experiences and real-world technology. Trinity Together provides equipment, facilitation, and training to educators who would like to engage their students in hands-on career exploration. Schools and teachers interested in this learning opportunity are invited to contact us to schedule a Paxton Patterson exploration experience for their students!

    *Educators should account for one learning session dedicated to presenting the module options to students, and letting them choose their area of interest and one final class period for presentations.  In this introductory session, students will need to create a PaxPat account (school email address required). 

    **Learning sessions can be adjusted or broken into multiple sessions to accommodate the classroom bell schedule.

    • Intro to Health Science

    • Dentistry

    • Alternative Energy

    • Flight & Drone Technology

    • Electrical Wiring

    • Video Production V2

    • Sports Medecine

    • Veterinary Medicine

  • Aaron Martinez, Program Associate

    aaron@thewatershedcenter.com

Police officers and civilians seated in a meeting room during a presentation. Police officer standing and speaking, with a large screen, maps, and flags on the wall.

Career Readiness Series

  • Trinity Together supports students and adult career exploration with tools and resources to successfully transition into the workforce or pursue postsecondary education. Drawing on expertise in career development and industry expectations, our team creates engaging programs that help youth build practical skills, confidence, and real-world experience. These enrichment sessions can be offered in or out of the classroom and are available for individual students or entire cohorts. Individuals, programs or educators interested in connecting their learners to this opportunity are encouraged to reach out to our team!

    Career Conversations

    Employability Skills, Resume Writing, Mock Interviews

    Industry Workforce Panels

    Pathway Mapping

  • Mary St. John, Trinity Together Program Director

    mstjohn@thewatershedcenter.com

Medical professionals performing an ultrasound scan on a patient, viewing the ultrasound images on a screen.

Fieldtrips to Higher Education

  • The Trinity Together team can organize and facilitate meaningful site visits to community colleges, universities and tech schools. Focus areas can include specific career pathways, departments, programs or a comprehensive tour of the facilities and supports available to learners interested in higher education.

  • Bob Cunningham, Program Associate

    bob@thewatershedcenter.com

People sitting on bleachers outdoors on a sunny day, surrounded by tall pine trees and a wooden building in the background.

College and Career Expo

  • In collaboration with Shasta College, Health & Human Services and the SMART Center, Trinity Together hosts the College & Career Expo annually. In 2025 the event connected 40 potential employees to 300 attendees of all ages with career training programs and employment opportunities. A workforce panel of Trinity County home-grown professionals shared their career pathway journey and tips for success. This event is free to the public.

  • Mary St. John, Trinity Together Program Director

    mstjohn@thewatershedcenter.com

Work-Based Learning

*Work-Based Learning opportunities are contingent on industry partners’ participation and hiring standard, as well as availability within the county/region. 

“Learners” is a term that we have adopted for individuals who are starting out their employment journey with hands-on work experience.

Two medical professionals are attending to a male patient lying in a hospital bed, with one woman checking his pulse and a man using a stethoscope to listen to his chest.

Internship

  • Learners in Trinity County can be connected to industry partners willing to facilitate internship learning opportunities within their organization. This allows students hands-on experience that heightens their resume and workforce readiness. Internships can vary from 4 weeks to one year.

  • Mary St. John, Trinity Together Program Director

    mstjohn@thewatershedcenter.com

A group of people gathered outdoors around a man in a white hard hat and safety glasses, who is demonstrating something with a large piece of equipment. The scene includes a black SUV, parked cars, a fenced area, trees, and a mountainous landscape in the background on a sunny day.

Job Shadow

  • For learners still exploring their industry and career interests, a job shadow opportunity provides the opportunity for real-life experience that can help shape future decisions. Job shadow opportunities can vary from hours to multiple days.

  • Mary St. John, Trinity Together Program Director

    mstjohn@thewatershedcenter.com

Group of people standing in a medical training room, facing a woman instructor at the front, with anatomical posters on the wall, a projector overhead, and various medical equipment around.

Paid Work Experience

  • In education and healthcare industries, learners can connect to paid work experience while concurrently enrolled in an industry, credit-bearing course. This paid work experience meant to increase their depth of knowledge for their career, as well as ready them for workforce expectations in the selected arena.

  • Mary St. John, Trinity Together Program Director

    mstjohn@thewatershedcenter.com

A man in military or police uniform giving a presentation to a group of students in a classroom or lecture hall. There is a large screen behind him displaying a photo, and students are seated at wooden tables facing him.

Pathway Mapping, Mentoring and Guidance

  • Trinity Together Program Associates are well equipped to guide learners through various pathway options to reach their desired employment. Trinity Together associates will link learners to local, regional or national options and map out possible pathways to reach the learners’ desired goals. 

  • Mary St. John, Trinity Together Program Director

    mstjohn@thewatershedcenter.com

“The Trinity Together team did an amazing job supporting me.” - Morrison - (Paid Work Experience, Early Childhood Education)

“I’ve learned how to work in a team and how to lean on and rely on others. You do not have to struggle through it alone.” - Alexis - (Paid Work Experience, Early Childhood Education)

“I am most proud of becoming more independent and confident as a co-worker.” - Maya - (Paid Work Experience, Early Childhood Education)

Education Enrichment Opportunities

A man wearing a red cap and plaid shirt sitting at a desk, demonstrating a medical or educational procedure with a group of people around him. The desk has a tray of raw meat, various medical supplies, and boxes of gloves. People are wearing gloves and handling materials, suggesting a training or workshop setting.

Science Teacher Upskilling Lab

  • Due to the incredible science-related career opportunities, and high needs industries such as healthcare, Trinity Together can provide “ready to go” science experiences in the classroom, always with a career emphasis, and hands-on learning.  Most learning experiences can be adjusted to grade-level needs. Lesson plans are modeled by the Trinity Together instructor in the classroom, reviewed and passed on to the classroom teacher for future use. Educators can select from a variety of labs offered, which aim to enrich educator professional development and meets the learning needs of their students. Trinity Together is eager to support educators in building enthusiasm in the sciences.

  • Bob Cunningham, Program Associate

    bob@thewatershedcenter.com

College planning poster on brick wall featuring California Community Colleges, California State Apply, University of California, and FAFSA, with a college pennant sticker and steps to plan college and career.

California College Guidance Initiative

  • Through the support of current K–16 Education Collaborative Grant Funding, the Trinity Together team supports the implementation of CCGI, a college and career readiness tool used in CA schools. In collaboration with the Trinity County Office of Education, Trinity Together associates are available to assist classroom teachers with implementation and enhanced use of this valuable tool. 

  • Mary St. John, Trinity Together Program Director

    mstjohn@thewatershedcenter.com

A group of diverse adults posing for a photo inside the Community Leadership Center, with a large window behind them and a sign on the wall that says 'The Community Leadership Center'.

Collective Impact

    • Trinity Together is eager to fill gaps and make connections to resources within Trinity County. As a network of North State Together, Trinity Together collaborates regionally with other mission driven organizations working to increase workforce readiness and employment opportunities in the North State. 

    • Trinity Together collaborates with our local districts and schools to provide resources, connections and support to youth of all ages as they prepare for a successful future.

    • Trinity Together is a proud member of the Bigfoot Trail Alliance’s Youth Stewardship Project. The group works to foster good environmental stewards, as well as connect regional youth to natural resource pathways, careers and workforce readiness opportunities. This collaborative effort supports Trinity Together staff in implementing Klamath Mountain Curriculum in Trinity County Classrooms.

  • Mary St. John, Trinity Together Program Director

    mstjohn@thewatershedcenter.com

A display table at a health science career event with visual aids, including a laptop showing a human heart diagram, a stack of printed heart diagrams, and an informational sign titled 'Intro to Health Science Careers' with images of students and a healthcare professional scene.

The Science Leadership Exchange

  • The Science Leadership Exchange is a collaborative effort between Trinity County Office of Education (TCOE), educators, The Watershed Research & Training Center and Trinity Together. This learning series invites K-12 science teachers to a series of collaborative sessions that provides instruction and curriculum tools, resources and insights into CAST and access to local experts and resources.

  • JoAnn Tucker, TCOE Instructional Support Specialist

    jtucker@tcoek12.org