EAST Seminar 2026

Little Rock, AR

July 14-16, 2026

Register for Industry Tours

Industry Tours

We're hitting the road in Little Rock! Join us for the 2026 Industry Tours and see how EAST skills are shaping communities in real life. We have three unique and engaging locations to explore in Little Rock, each offering a firsthand look at how local organizations, cultural institutions, and community leaders are shaping their region and how their work connects to the skills and values taught in EAST classrooms.

Check out the descriptions and schedule below, and make your plans to meet us on Monday, July 13, at 12:00 PM at the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock for an afternoon of discovery, connection, and inspiration with the 2026 EAST Seminar Industry Tour!

Registration for this experience is $20. Please note that seats are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so sign up today!

Register for Industry Tours

Moonlight Mixes: Wicked Mix

START HERE! Travel through the Cupcake Commons and see the sights at the Ice Cream Slopes. There is so much to find in the Gummy Hills and sweets to try in the Gingerbread House! Feeling hungry now? Good thing our first stop is the land of delicious snacking, Moonlight Mixes! At Moonlight Mixes, facilitators will get a behind-the-scenes look at the makers of Wicked Mix, the bold Arkansas snack brand that transformed a big idea into a growing business. From mixing and manufacturing to packaging, marketing, logistics, and branding, this stop shows what happens when creativity meets entrepreneurship.

Custom Aircraft Cabinets

NEXT LEVEL! Over the Rainbow Trail and through the Lollypop Woods to Custom Aircraft Cabinets we go! Facilitators will step inside a world where craftsmanship, technology, engineering, and precision come together to bake… I mean, create custom aircraft interiors! This isn’t just cabinet building; it's advanced manufacturing with serious attention to detail. Participants will see how skilled teams design, fabricate, and build components for aircraft, offering a closer look at careers in engineering, manufacturing, aviation, design, and technical trades.

THV11

FINAL ROUND! For our last sweet treat we are taking the Gumdrop Pass to the Candy Castle of Little Rock, THV11. Nothing teaches teamwork quite like a live broadcast environment. Touring a live news station gives our facilitators a behind-the-scenes look at how the information they consume every day is actually made. Come find out how the magic works in a fast paced, highly collaborative workplace where they have no time to get stuck in the Molasses Swamp!

Tour Schedule

  • 12:30 pm

    Meet at Doubletree Little Rock, board shuttle

  • 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

    Tour Moonlight Mixes

  • 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

    Tour Custom Aircraft Cabinets

  • 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

    Tour THV11

  • 5:00 pm

    Return to Doubletree Little Rock and conclude the tour

About Industry Tours

What do I wear?

Casual Seminar attire is perfect. Just make sure your shoes are comfortable and closed-toed!

Why does it matter?

Industry Tours can help you:

  • Connect classroom learning with real-world jobs and applications.
  • Discover new types of careers and the skills needed for success.
  • Inspire student projects tied to the workforce, history, and the arts.
  • Build relationships with local industries and potential partners.
  • Expose industry leaders to the power of EAST.
  • Spark project ideas you can take back to your school.

Where do I begin?

Looking to bring these connections back home? Start with the "cash in your pocket." Do your students or their families know someone in your local industry or preservation community? Reach out to your local chamber of commerce, city officials, or museum staff. Don't be afraid to make the first contact, even an email can open doors!