Trades of Tomorrow Heavy Metal Tour® 2025

 Trades of Tomorrow ~ Heavy Metal Tour® 2025

The Central Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (CWIMA) is excited to announce we have reconstructed the Heavy Metal Tour being held this October!

Since it started in 2012, the Heavy Metal Tour (HMT) has engaged with more than 48,000 8th grade students and educators from around the greater Central Wisconsin region, bringing them inside the doors of local manufacturers to experience a unique, up-close perspective and discover rewarding career possibilities in local manufacturing.

New for 2025, CWIMA is enhancing and expanding the Heavy Metal Tour experience for students and educators. Using discovery completed by a task force committee, CWIMA is improving the overall HMT event to ease student transportation issues, improve scheduling options, and ensure more students and local companies from around the region can be part of this exciting and valuable experience.

What can you expect during HMT 2025?

Participating 8th grade classes will receive resources prior to HMT that instructors can apply as classroom and tour activities to introduce students to Central Wisconsin manufacturing companies and careers. On their designated tour date, students will be bussed to two different manufacturing plants for tours and visits with company representatives; each tour will be one hour to allow more in-person and interactive learning, and time will be designated for lunch at one manufacturing facility. Additionally, that day, students will visit an area high school Career and Technical Education Lab to meet high school students and CTE instructors and learn about CTE courses and equipment available to them. CWIMA is excited to offer students and educators this exciting educational opportunity that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

How can you learn more about HMT?

You are invited to attend the upcoming virtual HMT Information Session for Educators that CWIMA is hosting on April 30, 2025, starting at 3:30pm. This is an opportunity for area educators to ask us questions, share feedback, and help CWIMA strategize and plan HMT, so it is impactful and valuable this year and in years to come. Please click on the link below to register for this online event.

Note, we will record the session and share the video following that date.

Additionally, mark your calendars for the 2025 HMT being held on Oct 7, 8 and 9th 2025. Classrooms will be assigned one tour date after school districts and manufacturing companies have registered with CWIMA. Information about registration and event details will be shared during the virtual HMT Information Session for Educators.

We look forward to your participation!