Goodhart Sons Hosts Discovering Paths Students for Skilled Trades Job Shadow

Mar 2026

Goodhart Sons, Inc. recently welcomed a group of eight high school students to our facility as part of the Lancaster Chamber’s Discovering Paths Mentoring Program, giving students a firsthand look at careers in the steel fabrication and installation industry.

The Discovering Paths program connects Lancaster County high school juniors with local professionals for mentorship, career exploration, and hands-on learning experiences throughout the school year. Through mentoring opportunities, business tours, and job shadows, the program helps students explore potential career paths and gain exposure to real-world workplaces.

The visit began with an employee panel featuring members of the Goodhart Sons team from a variety of roles across the company. Panelists shared their career journeys, discussed the skills that are valuable in the trades and supporting roles, and answered students’ questions about working in the industry.

Following the panel discussion, the students split into two groups. One group toured the fabrication shop, where they saw firsthand the equipment, processes, and craftsmanship involved in fabricating large scale steel structures for a variety of industries. Team members explained how projects move from concept to completion and how different departments work together throughout the process.

At the same time, the second group participated in a hands-on welding activity in the shop. With guidance from the Goodhart Sons team, students got to try their hand at tack welding to fabricate a personalized metal desk organizer featuring their name etched into a steel plate. The hands-on project gave students the opportunity to actively engage with the craft and take home something they built themselves creating a meaningful and memorable introduction to the skilled trades.

Afterward, the groups switched so each student had the opportunity to experience both the shop tour and the welding project.

Programs like Discovering Paths help students gain meaningful exposure to industries and career opportunities available right here in Lancaster County. For Goodhart Sons, supporting initiatives like this is also part of a broader commitment to strengthening the skilled trades pipeline by introducing young people to the rewarding career paths available in manufacturing and equipment installation.