Carroll, Ohio – The Fairfield 33 Development Alliance and the Fairfield County Workforce Center are gearing up to host Explore Career Camps this summer, catering to Fairfield County students entering grades 6, 7, and 8 in the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. These innovative camps aim to spark interest in various career paths, focusing on engineering, healthcare, and construction over one-week sessions.
Now in its third year, the Workforce Center Career Camps will be guided by instructors from esteemed institutions like Hocking College, Ohio University-Lancaster, and Lancaster City Schools. The initiative also receives valuable support from organizations such as Lancaster Fairfield Community Action Agency and Pickerington Local Schools. Remarkably, there will be no fees for students participating in these camps, as they are entirely funded by the Fairfield 33 Development Alliance, Fairfield County Commissioners, Lancaster City Schools, and a generous grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
Rick Szabrak, Fairfield County Economic and Workforce Development Director, emphasized the importance of these camps in meeting the growing demand for skilled workers in manufacturing and construction sectors. “Our goal is to introduce and inspire interest in these fields,” stated Szabrak. “The Explore Career Camps provide hands-on experience for students to discover an affinity for things like engineering, building, and STEM-related fields. These camps are widely popular and fill up quickly – which is encouraging and exciting.”
The camps are scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to noon daily, offering students a dynamic learning environment. On the final day, families will have the opportunity to visit the camp and witness their students’ newfound skills firsthand. The lineup includes the Totally Tech Bot camp, part of Senator Sharrod Brown’s Manufacturing Camps across Ohio, focusing on robotics and advanced manufacturing. The Healthcare Heroes Camp will shed light on various healthcare careers in an engaging manner. The Builders Camp will provide hands-on experience in basic carpentry and other skilled trades. Additionally, the All-Girls STEM camp aims to inspire female students to explore opportunities in engineering.
Space is limited for all camps, and registration is mandatory. For more information and to register, interested parties are encouraged to visit www.fairfieldcountyohioworkforcecenter.gov/career-camps.html.