This past fall, Thor Industries, Inc. partnered with schools across Elkhart County, Indiana, to educate over 2,900 students in fifth and eighth grades about the RV industry, equipping students for future employment opportunities.
Thor’s Leap (Learn, Engage, Achieve, Perform) program is a curriculum designed to capture students’ interest in the RV industry and provide an initial look into RV-related career paths.
Since launching in 2017, the Leap program has grown exponentially. Nearly 13,500 students completed the program across all seven public school districts in Elkhart County, and the program is on pace to reach nearly 5,800 students during the 2021-2022 school year.
Bob Martin, Thor president and CEO, said the program goal is to invest in the community’s future.
“It seeks to generate a genuine interest in and appreciation for our industry among students,” Martin said, “provide tangible job skills and allow students to experience the adventure RVs offer.”
Along with providing a fun learning experience, the Leap program aids local school districts with fulfilling Indiana’s educational requirements of applied learning and real-world experience. Through two courses, fifth and eighth grade students are presented a differentiated immersive educational experience.
Fifth-grade students can tour all types of motorized and towable RVs, as well as learn about the RV industry and Thor’s role in the community.
Eighth-grade students, who are beginning to explore career opportunities, are assigned projects which introduce problem solving techniques and promote team building. In addition, the students are advised how these transferable skills relate to various career opportunities which exist in the RV industry.
Rick Schutt, Thor’s Community Development director, said the program raises career pathway awareness and is a fantastic relationship building program for Thor and the greater Elkhart area.
“It has been very rewarding building a program which is extremely popular with students, teachers and administrators,” Schutt said.
