Popular career exploration summer camps
Illinois Valley Community College’s series of summer Career Exploration Camps introduces teens to agriculture, automotive technology, nursing, cybersecurity and other careers.
The programs expose teens ages 13-17 to careers in various fields. IVCC faculty guide students through projects and activities using professional techniques and tools in IVCC’s state-of-the-art labs. Essential career skills are incorporated into the lessons.
The career camps are:
GROW, the Ag Technology and Plant Cultivation Teen Academy, meets June 18 from 8 a.m. to noon. GROW explores how precision ag technology is reshaping modern agriculture practices, before digging into plant cultivation fundamentals. Students will create herb gardens while understanding nutrient requirements and the science and benefits of pruning and trimming.
GRIP, the IVCC STEM Academy, is jam-packed with science, technology, engineering and math activities. The camp meets June 17-18 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campus is closed for a holiday on June 19, so there is no class.
They’ll begin with electronics, where they’ll master schematics reading before assembling and soldering a Bluetooth speaker. Then they’ll move to computer aided design, where they'll model and print 3-D designs. On Day 2, they’ll explore automotive maintenance and gas engine theory and participate in a racing pit crew tire change competition. In the CNC machinery operation segment, they’ll learn CNC milling machine theory and programming, tooling, and machine setup. The final day, students design and build air-powered rockets after being introduced to fluid power and hydraulic and pneumatic systems. The class wraps with a field trip to a local manufacturer.
CYBER! NET EXPLORERS meets July 8-11 from 8 a.m. to noon. Participants will learn how to shield private information on phones, computers, gaming systems and more, explore computer servers and drone operation, learn how to build systems, and participate in game competitions.
SCRUBS, IVCC Healthcare Pathways, meets July 15-17 from 9 a.m. to noon. Campers will be introduced to dental health, nursing, and emergency medical services using state-of-the-art simulators in IVCC’s labs.
On the first day, students will explore different dental careers and practice using clinical tools. On the second day, they’ll move to the nursing simulation lab where they’ll practice using a stethoscope, get familiar with vital signs, medications and patient needs, and master the art of documenting patient histories. From there, campers move into Day 3 and the lifesaving techniques used by Emergency Medical Service providers, where they’ll practice CPR, splinting and bandaging, and assessing vital signs. They’ll put their new skills into action in a mock emergency using IVCC’s ambulance simulator.
IVCC’s junior welding camp, SPARK, is also popular and seats filled up quickly for this summer’s sessions. Interested students can be added to a waiting list.
Learn more about all the camps and register at https://www.ivcc.edu/summercamp.