LOMPOC TEEN CENTER PRESENTS

Career Pathways Conference Logo_Yellow.png

A Career Conference for Teens

November 7, 20268:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Lompoc High School

FREE · Grades 7-12

Attend Pathways 2026

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500+

Students Served

50+

Professional Pathways

10+

Interactive Workshops

1

Amazing Day

Conference Info

Facilitate a Workshop

Student Poster Showcase

What is Pathways?

Pathways is a career conference for teens in grades 7 through 12.

This one-day career exploration day is packed with a career & college fair, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, internship leads, student poster showcase, prizes, swag, and free lunch.

Career & College Fair

Connect with colleges, employers, and teen resource organizations all in one place.

Interactive Workshops

Attend up to four hands-on workshops led by industry professionals across career fields.

Networking Opportunities

Network with professionals and explore internship opportunities to build real experience.

Student Poster Showcase

Watch peers present real internship projects and work-based learning experiences.

Conference Schedule

8:00 a.m.

Check-In and Continental Breakfast

Conference check-in, continental breakfast, and networking

9:00 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Welcome message and special opening remarks

9:45 a.m.
Conference Overview

Conference overview and workshop schedule exploration

10:00 a.m.
Interactive Workshops: Session I

Interactive career pathway workshops

11:00 a.m.
Interactive Workshops: Session II

Interactive career pathway workshops

12:00 p.m.
FREE Lunch and Keynote Address

Complimentary lunch for all registered attendees and special keynote address

1:00 p.m.
Student Poster Showcase

Student internship project or work-based learning experience poster showcase

2:00 p.m.
Interactive Workshops: Session III

Interactive career pathway workshops

3:00 p.m.
Interactive Workshops: Session IV

Interactive career pathway workshops

4:00 p.m.
Exit Interviews, Surveys, and Raffles

Exit interviews, surveys, and raffle winner announcements

5:00 p.m.
Conference Conclusion

Conference conclusion, debrief, and dismissal

FREE
Lunch

for all registered attendees

Prizes & Raffles

Win Apple AirPods or an iPad

Grades
7-12

FREE for Lompoc Valley students

Explore Pathways In...

Interactive workshops span industries and career fields across the Lompoc Valley, throughout Santa Barbara County, and beyond.

Animal & Veterinary ScienceBanking & FinananceCommunications & MediaEducationEngineering & TechnologyEnvironmental ScienceHealthcare & MedicineLaw & Public ServiceReal EstateUnion TradesBusiness Admin & EntrepreneurshipMore +++

FROM PATHWAYS 2025

See It for Yourself

Hundreds of Lompoc Valley students came together for a day of exploration, discovery, connection, and inspiration. Here is a look at what Pathways is all about.

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Photos by Namu Williams · View Full Gallery →

FROM PATHWAYS 2025

Browse Last Year's Program

Flip through the official 2025 Pathways conference program to see interactive workshops, keynote speakers, student presenters, and sponsors from last year.

ATTEND PATHWAYS 2026

Ready to Discover Your Path to Success?

Registration is FREE for all 7th–12th grade students attending a Lompoc Valley school.

Students attending a school outside of the Lompoc Valley area may attend for a nominal fee.

Pre-registration is required.

Questions? Contact Us

FOR PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESSES, INSTITUTIONS, & ORGANIZATIONS

Facilitate a Workshop

Inspire the next generation. Shape tomorrow's workforce.

Lead up to four, one-hour interactive career exploration workshops for Lompoc Valley and Santa Barbara County teens at Pathways 2026.

Who Can Facilitate a Workshop?

Businesses & Companies

Professional Organizations

Colleges & Universities

Trades & Vocational Fields

Government & Agencies

Healthcare Providers

Professional Firms

Nonprofits & Foundations

Individual Professionals

One-Hour Workshop Format

Structured, supported, and designed for maximum student engagement.

What You Receive

Presentation Template
A ready-made slide template to structure your workshop easily.

Classroom Supervisors

Dedicated staff handle attendance, engagement, and logistics.

Comprehensive Logistics Support

We handle room setup, scheduling, attendance, and all event-day needs.

Flexible Commitment

Present 1 to 4 workshops — you choose how many fit your schedule. Sessions run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a 2-hour lunch break and student poster presentations in between.

FACILITATE AN INTERACTIVE CAREER WORKSHOP

Ready to Inspire the Next Generation?

Facilitate a Workshop

victor@lompocteencenter.org · (805) 741-7904

HELP US SHAPE THE FUTURE WORKFORCE

Become a Pathways Partner

Help students discover careers, develop professional connections, and explore opportunities within your industry while supporting the future workforce of the Lompoc Valley and Santa Barbara County.

Pathways is a career exploration conference that connects students directly with businesses, colleges, trades, public agencies, and industry professionals. Through interactive workshops, career exploration activities, internship opportunities, and networking experiences, students gain firsthand exposure to career pathways available throughout our region.

IMPACT BEYOND A SINGLE DAY

Pathways Digital Career Library

Every partner workshop is professionally recorded and added to the Pathways Digital Career Library, creating a year-round resource available to students, families, educators, and future conference participants.

PARTNER WITH THE LOMPOC YOUTH WORKFORCE PIPELINE

Ready to Help Shape the Future Workforce?

The Career Pathways Conference is a cornerstone of the Lompoc Youth Workforce Pipeline, a community initiative launched by Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann to strengthen college, career, and workforce opportunities for local youth. By partnering with Pathways 2026, businesses, colleges, nonprofits, and public agencies help connect students to real-world experiences, professional networks, and future career pathways.

victor@lompocteencenter.org · (805) 741-7904

SPONSOR PATHWAYS 2026

Ready to Make a Lasting Impact?

Your sponsorship helps provide free career programming for the next generation of leaders in the Lompoc Valley and throughout Santa Barbara County.

victor@lompocteencenter.org · (805) 741-7904

FOR STUDENTS WITH INTERNSHIP OR WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Showcase Your Work

Share your experience. Showcase your success.

November 7, 2026 · 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. · Lompoc High School

Who Can Showcase?

Any Lompoc Valley or Santa Barbara County student (7th-12th grade) who completed a 2026 summer internship or work-based learning experience is eligible to participate in the poster showcase.

Any Santa Barbara County 7th–12th grade student

Completed a 2026 summer internship

Completed a work-based learning experience

Showcase Your Achievements

Present your work to professionals, peers, and community leaders.

Build Your Resume & Network

Strengthen your portfolio and connect directly with industry professionals.

Inspire Other Students

Your story can motivate hundreds of fellow teens to pursue their own path.

What Goes on Your Poster?

Your poster tells the complete story of your internship project or work-based learning experience across eight short sections:

Poster & Showcase Support

Students are provided with a structured poster showcase guideline that outlines each required section and helps them organize their internship experience into a professional presentation. The guide is designed to support students throughout the poster creation process and prepare them for meaningful conversations with attendees during the showcase. Completed posters are professionally printed and provided by the Lompoc Teen Center at no cost to participating students.