There are some things that you just can’t learn in a classroom. When it comes to the construction trades, there is no substitute for operating equipment, working with tools and speaking with industry professionals.

Students from the Bradley School in East Providence will have such an opportunity on Wednesday at the Rhode Island Construction Career Days (RICCD) event in East Greenwich.

“My students tend to be more visual and experiential learners, so getting to see and do everything is great for them,” said vocational trainer Chrysa Pierce. “They particularly like to drive the bulldozers and make things in the carpentry area.” 

Pierce will bring 10 students to the event. Approximately 1,000 students from more than 50 technical and high schools throughout the state are expected to attend the two-day event, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s midstate maintenance facility on Wednesday and Thursday. 

This is the eleventh consecutive year for the event, which is run by the University of Rhode Island Transportation Center and funded by RIDOT and the Federal Highway Administration. 

Pierce has been bringing a group of students to the event for a few years. She first found out about it from the Department of Labor and Training. 

“I'm hoping that by the time my students leave, they will have a better understanding of what each job is like, the skills that are necessary to perform the job, and whether they would be interested in doing that job,” stated Pierce. 

Also attending the RICCD event on April 27 will be students from the East Providence Career and Technical Center. 

Additional sponsors of RICCD include Construction Industries of Rhode Island, New England Laborers Tri Funds, Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, Rhode Island Public Works Association, Rhode Island Builders Association, Rhode Island Technology Transfer Center and the NorthEast Technicians Training Certification Program.