CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION

GRADES 6-12


CTE is a fantastic approach to learning that provides technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or a degree and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes students’ academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, attitudes toward work, general employability skills, technical skills, occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the industry including entrepreneurship.

Pathways Currently Offered at Elite for Students in Grades 6-12

Click through the book below to view our current CTE course offerings!

JOIN TODAY: Career Technical Student Organizations

Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) require students to be enrolled in a CTE Pathway for membership.

Hands On Learning at Elite Academic Academy

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! Students can meet these standards while taking Adventure CTE courses and also gain relevant industry experience! Stay tuned as Elite will be offering integrated CTE/Core academics as well!

Examples of Industry Certifications students can earn while completing their High School Diploma:

WFR – Wilderness First Responder

A week-long course designed to teach essential wilderness medicine and to administer care in a wilderness environment. Certification lasts 3 years.

WFA – Wilderness First Aid

Typically used as a stepping stone for the WFR, this first aid training teaches how to treat common wilderness injuries. Certification lasts 2 years.

CPR/AED- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation & Automated Electronic Defibrillator

Standard procedure for resuscitation and use of an AED.

ASA Small Boat Sailing License 

An in-depth course designed to prepare skippers to single and double-hand small dinghies.

Challenge Course Certification – Level 1

Practitioner certification to lead groups through low-risk challenge course features.

Students have two opportunities during the first learning period of our Year Round program:

LifeSail – Sailing Community Partnership _See Our Year Round Track Option under the “Academics” tab!
Freedom Surf – Surfing Community Partnership  _See Our Year Round Track Option under the “Academics” tab!

The Adventure Academy’s focus is to create a sense of purpose in the outdoor community and prepare you with the skills that employers in the outdoor industry desire. Continuing your education and refining your specialization will only increase your opportunities for employment and progression. Not to mention, we have a lot of fun!

  • Leadership: teamwork and comradery are essential skills to a successful group adventure.
  • Communication: become an outstanding communicator by practicing presentation and speaking skills with our piers.
  • Entrepreneurship: learn what it would be like to run your own guiding business.
  • Decision Making: outdoor experiences are a very real way to observe the outcome of decision.
  • Preparedness & Accountability: forgetting something essential can be detrimental to a trip and teaches ownership of our mistakes. Learn how to pack and plan accordingly for your adventures, from food preparation to gear selection.
  • Survival skills: understand what it takes to survive without the comforts of civilization.
  • Specialization: hone your skills to become a pro in a number of disciplines, such as surfing, sailing, paddlesports, mountain biking or snowsports.

There are no prerequisite courses for the Adventure Academy, but just like athletics, you must have an annual fitness physical to ensure you are healthy and can participate in outdoor activities. Ambition, a good attitude and the willingness to try new things would be the best prerequisites.

The outdoor industry is vast, from medical first-responder positions to designing gear for top manufacturers and being a tour guide on an international adventure. If you have a passion for the outdoors and enjoy working with people, then a career in the Recreation Sector may be good for you.

Some field trip opportunities include:

PALI Institute – Wilderness Skills Outing

Mountain & Sea Adventures – White’s Landing Catalina Island Camp

Devil’s Punchbowl – Nature Area

Silverwood Lake – Paddlesports Weekend

Clear Creek Outdoor Education Center – Ecology and Biology Learning Center

San Antonio Ski Hut – Mountain-top Excursion 

Regardless of your skillset, we will get you up to speed and give you the information and knowledge to run with the rest of the pack. Besides, outdoor recreation is so much more than camping! We strive to expose students to a variety of outdoor experiences and encourage independent growth in the disciplines that students show an aptitude.

Building your quiver of equipment takes time and resources, but you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy the outdoors. We strive to make the outdoors accessible to everyone and focus on outings that don’t require families to spend excessive amounts of money. We have partnered with outdoor manufacturers to offer top-notch gear at affordable prices so you can start building a gear-bank. However, hygiene is very important and we suggest that you outfit yourself with a few items that are best kept to yourself: clothing, sleeping bags, personal care products, cutlery and dinner/cookware.

Lupe Rodriguez - Associate Director of CTE

For more information, please email

Lupe Rodriguez

Associate Director of CTE

[email protected]

Explore an enrichment program that allows you to pursue your passion.