Manufacturing Month helps connect Minnesota students with manufacturing careers, businesses, hands-on learning opportunities and bus funding across the state.
Use this page to find classroom activities, guides and planning resources, transportation reimbursement information and forms, and other resources to help students learn about and experience manufacturing.
Transportation Reimbursement
Transportation reimbursement funding is available to Minnesota schools through the Manufacturing Month “Bus on Us” Transportation Reimbursement Program. The process begins with the Transportation Interest Form, which may be completed by a school, service cooperative, or other organization coordinating Manufacturing Month visits. After visits are completed, participating schools will use the Transportation Reimbursement Form to submit their final information and request reimbursement. All funded visits and required information must be completed by November 20, 2026.
2026 School Interest Form – Manufacturing Month
2026 School Interest – Bulk Upload Excel Spreadsheet – Manufacturing Month
Statewide Resources
In these guides, we have a variety of resources designed to help students, influential adults (like parents, guardians, and mentors), educators, employers, and community partners get even more out of manufacturing career-connected learning experiences.
The Manufacturing Career-Connected Learning Guide provides ideas and guidance for before, during, and after an experience, while the companion Manufacturing Career-Connected Learning Workbook includes 49 ready-to-use activities, planning tools, conversation guides, checklists, and reflection resources. Both are broken down by audience—students, influential adults, educators, host partners, and organizers and community partners—so you can easily find the information and resources that fit your role.
You do not need to use everything. Choose the resources that fit your students, your role, and the experience you are planning.
Minnesota State Engineering and Applied Manufacturing Center of Excellence Resources
Complete the short form linked here to receive immediate access to the Minnesota Tour of Manufacturing Resource Kit. This kit comes directly from the Minnesota State Engineering and Applied Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
This collection of free resources includes practical tools for educators and employers to plan meaningful engineering and manufacturing tours, engage students in career exploration and build stronger industry–education connections.
For Educators
– Field Trip Planning Guide for Engineering and Manufacturing Tours.
– Engineering & Manufacturing Tour Checklist for Educators.
– 5 Steps to Build Local Industry Partnerships.
Student Tour Exploration Guides
– Educator Overview.
– Tour Discovery Guide.
– Career Exploration Guide.
– Industry Analysis Guide.
For Employers
– 7 Steps to Host a High-Impact Engineering and Manufacturing Tour.
– Engineering & Manufacturing Tour Host Checklist.
– 3 Quick Activities to Engage Students in Engineering & Manufacturing.
– 5 Steps to Build Industry–Education Partnerships.
