Eighth-graders in Pasquotank and Camden counties got an up-close view of a variety of career possibilities Thursday during the annual Ground Hog Job Shadow Day.

The Education Committee of the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the annual event for eighth-graders in the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, Camden County Schools and Albemarle School.

Each group of students visited four business sites to learn about career opportunities in various fields.

There were 10 sites in all that provided tours for students: Albemarle Hospital, Hall Honda, the Technology Department at Elizabeth City State University, and the Public Works Department of the City of Elizabeth City, Arts of the Albemarle, DRS Technologies, ECSU History Department, Hampton Inn, Museum of the Albemarle and the U.S. Coast Guard fire station.

During the visit to Arts of the Albemarle, students learned about the nonprofit and how it relates to the rest of the business community.

Rhonda Twiddy, executive director of AoA, explained to students that while AoA is a nonprofit, it is a business. There are for-profit businesses and nonprofit businesses, she said.

“Today one of the things you’re learning about is the business world,” Twiddy said.

Having AoA in the downtown area has helped other businesses, especially the growing community of art studios in the area, Twiddy said.

Twiddy said AoA is an indication that there are ways to make a living in the arts. She added that AoA employs people whose educational background is not in the arts.

Caitlin Davis, finance director at AoA, talked to the students about how the nonprofit is funded. Sources of revenue include ticket sales, gallery sales, memberships, and grants, Davis explained.

The organization has nine employees and also uses numerous volunteers, Davis said.

The visit to Albemarle Hospital included up-close views of ambulances, the emergency department, and some of the high-tech equipment the hospital and Pasquotank-Camden Emergency Medical Services use in treating patients,

Kendall Leary, 14, a student at Camden Middle School, said she really enjoyed visiting the emergency room at the hospital.

“I just like all the stuff that they do,” Leary said.

She said she is especially interested in physical therapy and might want to work in that field.

Ashton Overton, 13, said he thinks it’s interesting to learn about different jobs.

Overton, a student at Camden Middle School, said he was especially fascinated during the visit to Albemarle Hospital to learn about how much advanced technology is used by EMS.

Overton said he would like to work in emergency services.

Jaycie Staples, 14, a student at Camden Middle School, said she liked the ambulance and the emergency department at the hospital.

“I like all that fast-moving stuff that the doctors have to do,” Staples said.

Staples said she is interested in the medical field and would like to work in a hospital ER.

She said she watches a lot of medical shows on television but it’s different to stand inside an actual ER.

During the hospital visit, students saw the triage area at the ER and learned about the triage process, Staples said.

 Michael Griffith, a school counselor at Camden’s intermediate and middle schools, said he has been involved with the Job Shadow Day event about nine years.

“It gives the kids just a small exposure to careers,” Griffith said. “They get exposed to different things.”

Paula Mickey of the Camden County Schools said she always looks forward to Job Shadow Day.

“It’s a neat day,” Mickey said. “It’s a really, really neat day.”

Members of the Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee served lunch to students from the different schools at Knobbs Creek Recreation Center.

Contact Reggie Ponder at rponder@dailyadvance.com