APTA is reaching out to students with two programs designed specifically to introduce them to the importance of public transportation to a community: the 2013 APTA Youth Summit to Advance Public Trans­portation and National Public ­Transportation Career Day.

The deadline is April 22 for high school students with an interest in ­public transportation to participate in the five-day Youth Summit in ­Washington, DC. Participants will explore the industry’s environmental benefits, how communities can prosper with increased services, the role of local and federal policies, and career opportunities.

Summit activities will include meetings with lawmakers and congressional leaders, hands-on tours of local public transit facilities, information about careers, and educational sessions showing how public transportation is helping shape a brighter future.

Find the application here. Completed applications should be e-mailed or faxed to (202) 496-4323.

May 16 is National Public Transportation Career Day—a national workforce development initiative that will introduce students in kindergarten through 12th grade to public transportation careers. APTA invites all public transit agencies, private transit companies, and business members to host activities that will showcase industry talents and expose young people to the broad array of career opportunities in the field.

Here are a few suggested activities for bringing public transportation careers to young people in communities around the country:

Elementary School ­Students
Interactive career fair – onsite/off-site, take your child to work, giveaways

Middle School Students
Career awareness programs, career fairs, interactive ­demonstrations, job shadowing, public ­transit facility tours

High School Students
Career awareness programs,  occupation discussion, information on training programs/internships; job fair – onsite/off-site, job shadowing, mock interviews/expectations for public ­transit employees, ­materials giveaways to schools, bus/rail route schedules for student travel, job listings/descriptions

More information on both the ­summit and National Public Transpor­tation Career Day is available from Cheryl Pyatt.