Enrollment is open for futurePREP'd Academy 2021!

futurePREP'd Academy is an afterschool program that pairs Ottawa Area high school students (9th-12th) with local businesses to provide innovative solutions to challenges businesses are facing. Space is limited, so apply quickly to ensure you get a spot!

Core Values

Supportive - Students should drive their own learning whenever possible.  Educators will give students the freedom to choose while providing support, structure and facilitating learning.

Authentic - Challenges should be authentic so students and educators will be invested.  Students should be able to develop new, unexpected and innovative ideas.

Community - Educators and students should be connected with their local community.  By collaborating with community partners, all groups involved find more relevancy and ownership in their community.

Project-Based - With a focus on a deep understanding of standards and content, teachers will design and students will be able to critically think through challenges that provide relevance in the classroom. 

Skills4Success - Giving opportunities to practice critical thinking, collaboration, accountability, communication, technology literacy, citizenship and flexibility educators will help today's student become tomorrow's global leader.

Post-secondary institutions and employers desire that today's students to be prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century. Whether it's a career-based track or a college-bound pathway, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD) provides students with the resources and training they need to become responsible and productive members of their communities. Through our comprehensive futurePREP'd Program, we offer innovative tools and experiences to help students make decisions that will positively impact not only their career decisions but also their quality of life for decades. 

futurePREP'd offers an array of innovative tools and experiences that help students not only invest in their education, but also creates a desire for further training and helps prepare them for life (and a career) after high school. With tools such as Skills4Success (S4S), Project Based Learning (PBL), and The Creative Sequence becoming implemented in more schools, we are seeing positive outcomes with students that share in one or all of the processes.  

Skills4Success (The Core of the futurePREP'd Program)

The Skills4Success are a set of 21st Century or Soft Skills that have been developed with the input of regional employers, colleges and universities, local school districts, and community members.  

IChallengeU

IChallengeU is an intense, two-week summer educational opportunity for students in grades 9 - 12 to solve real-world issues from local businesses and may be eligible for scholarship funds toward college.  

IChallengeUth

IChallengeUth is a one-week summer educational opportunity for students in grades 6 - 8 to develop solutions for real problems submitted by local businesses and community organizations. 

Sundae School/Second Scoop

Sundae School is a four-day educational opportunity for students in grades K - 5
to partner with local ice cream shops and develop winning sundae flavors for their particular location. We have also added a "Second Scoop" which involves a Design Challenge Project for students that will partner with our returning educators.