Students could try on a ballistic vest and helmet with Conewango Police, put out a virtual fire with City of Warren Fire Department, and check for white blood cells in a microscopic sample with Warren General Hospital.

They could visit several Warren County Career Center displays — information technology, machine technology, auto collision, marketing, and protective services.

Local manufacturers including Superior Tire, Betts Industries, Ellwood, and Whirley Drinkworks were represented.

PNC Bank, PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Allegheny Hardwoods Utilization Group, Warren County Adult Probation, EmergyCare, Guardian Healthcare — Kinzua, the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, Family Services of Warren County, and the Rouse Estate all had information and interactive programming available.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Beaty-Warren Middle School eighth-grader Hunter Fox places classmate Kylie Zurcher in handcuffs at the Conewango Township Police display at eighth grade career day hosted by Warren-Forest Higher Education Council School-to-Work program.

And, of course, the Warren County School District’s teachers were represented.

Jayelyn Christensen did some push-ups while wearing the 25-pound tactical vest.

Asked which of the providers interested her, Christensen said, “I’m mainly going for mental health — anything in health care.”

The fair was useful in giving her a look at some options that appealed to her — like the emergency responder areas. “I want to go into a workforce that has an adrenaline rush in addition to helping people,” Christensen said.

Colby Zinger also took a look at the health care and mental health related providers, particularly Warren General Hospital and Family Services of Warren County.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Beaty-Warren Middle School eighth-grader Noah Bleech drives the PennDOT Impaired and Distracted Driving Simulator at the PennDOT display at eighth grade career day hosted by Warren-Forest Higher Education Council School-to-Work program.

He said the program was helpful in pointing him to some possible career paths.

That was the goal.

“This is part of their college and career readiness standard,” School-to-Work Coordinator Jenny Burroughs said. “It helps them decide what they want to do in high school. It gets them thinking.”

Students were required to play the Game of Life and visit at least one provider in each of the sectors — collecting a letter — L, I, F, or E — from each when they had heard what the provider had to say or joined in the interactive activity.

There were four different groups of eighth-graders at the fair throughout the day. Each group stayed for about 40 minutes.

“It’s a great introduction to all the sectors,” Burroughs.