Tocoi Creek High School ACE Field Trip
ICG and Pulte came together to host a full-day field trip this past month for the Tocoi Creek High School Academy of Innovation in the Built Environment and the ACE Mentorship participants. ICG and Pulte have partnered with both Tocoi High School and the ACE mentor program to help educate the next generation of employees in the construction industry. We have started off with this single academy in St Johns County this year and plan to expand to other schools and counties in the upcoming 2023 – 2024 school year.
The group was able to start the day at the Green Cove Springs plant for a full plant tour and met with several of our in-house designers. In meeting with our designers, they learned about the technology & software being used to design new homes. They were introduced to new concepts of construction that are focused around offsite construction and were able to really connect the gaming industry they all seemed to love to a career that was now open to them. Then we spent an hour or so walking the plant and learning about the equipment, robots and technology used in offsite construction. The connection that wood framing is not just hammers and nails was thrilling to see. Next, we visited Pulte’s Jacksonville office where they met with several different departments from land development to interior design. Then we went to Del Webb Nocatee and walked several homes in different stages of construction and had the opportunity to watch a set of roof trusses being set. Finally, we went to the model home park where we were able to see the final product, a fully built and furnished home, bringing the home building process full circle from land to design to turning the keys over to a new homeowner.
The February field trip was truly such an incredible experience for our students. They were able to see so many different careers within your industry, get excited to pursue new passions, and ultimately have a lot of fun! Said Stephanie, the Career Specialist at Tocoi High School.
ICG & Pulte were able to hear amazing feedback from the field trip participants! The students that attended had nothing but positive comments about the experience. Here are a few of the many comments we received:
What was your favorite part?
- “The house tours and watching them build the roofs.”
- “The model homes, the lunch, and the Pulte office. The ICG factory was cool and seeing all of the robots. The lunch was also very good.”
- “The explanation of the software and the way the construction systems worked.”
- “Seeing all the machines in ICG”
- “House tours and models, along with automation of wall panels.”
Tocoi Creek High School also wrote about the experience in their March Newsletter. https://cte.stjohns.k12.fl.us/toros-tour-innovative-construction-group-pulte-homes/
Several schools in the NE Florida school system are currently involved in the ACE program. To learn more about ACE Mentor Program (Architecture, Construction) of America by going to https://acementortools.org/
I would like to give thanks to all those that helped put this trip together and make this a memorable day for these young professionals that are interested in developing their careers and looking at the options they have before them. But a special thanks to Laura Smith of ICG and Katie Robinson-Hensley of Pulte homes of NE Fl – Way to go team!
