Office of Civil Rights News
 The Minnesota Department of Transportation keeps its eyes on the future, including its future workforce. To attract diverse young people to study and train for transportation careers, MnDOT Office of Civil Rights administers youth summer camps and internships. The summer of 2024 featured the National Summer Transportation Institute, CAV Career Pathways Camp, and paid internships.
MnDOT administered the National Summer Transportation Institute for middle school students. During two weeks of field trips and hands-on activities, students learned about career options in materials, safety, robotics, freight, bridge and road construction, and more. Students were surprised to learn that human factors and psychology are also key fields of study in transportation.
“This was the dream camp for my kid who is passionate about transportation,” one parent said. “The depth and quality of the topics went above and beyond his expectation. Super motivation.”
Building a model hydraulic bridge is one of the group activities during the two-week program, and a perennial favorite. MnDOT staff offered their bridge expertise and guidance during the process.
NSTI engages students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities, and encourages them to pursue transportation-related education and careers. This free, two-week summer camp is made possible in partnership with the University of Minnesota, Center for Transportation Studies and the Federal Highway Administration. Thirty middle-school students participated.
Twenty high-school students spent a week learning about connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) at the fourth annual CAV Career Pathways Camp. This free program is designed to give students a complete overview of CAV technology and careers in related industries through classroom sessions, field trips, and hands-on opportunities with vehicles.
Students enjoyed touring SICK Sensor Intelligence, a sensor manufacturing facility in Bloomington, to learn about the industrial applications of sensors and robotics. They saw the sensors in action during a day spent at MnDOT’s MnROAD, a test track and research facility. At Accelerated Vehicle Technology, students got a behind-the-scenes look at how experts repair and calibrate advanced driver-assistance systems.
Hands-on CAV camp activities included designing a drone company, brainstorming how CAV technology could address community challenges, and programming small robots. Students appreciated being able to explore solutions to “real life ideas.”
CAV Camp is administered by MnDOT Office of Civil Rights and hosted by MnCAV Ecostystem, a program of the University of Minnesota. Funding is provided by the Federal Highway Administration and UMN Center for Transportation Studies.
340 young people who face barriers to employment participated in the BrookLynk youth program. The program has two parts. GetReady! youth readiness training helps students develop job skills and professional networking. The BrookLynk summer internship program matched 10 MnDOT-sponsored students to MN Trades Academy construction internships. Young people who complete the BrookLynk program and internships have been hired into long term positions and are prepared for further education.
Students said, “My BrookLynk internship was a booster for me” and “my BrookLynk internship truly opened many doors for me.”
BrookLynk is sponsored by MnDOT and directed by the cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park.
More information
For information about 2025 youth programs, contact MnDOT Office of Civil Rights.
Photo credit: Students observe a Metro Transit controller monitor the cameras and stops of light rail trains. Photo provided by University of Minnesota, Center for Transportation Studies.
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