LOCAL EMPLOYERS, GENESIS AND IVY TECH TO HOST SUMMER ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CAMP
Ripley County, Indiana – A free Advanced Manufacturing Camp is available to 7th and 8th grade Ripley County students this summer. The camp will be June 20-22 from noon to 5 p.m. at Ivy Tech Community College and will provide an opportunity for students to learn workforce readiness skills and be exposed to career opportunities within the field of advanced manufacturing. The camp was designed by six manufacturing companies and is being facilitated by Genesis: Pathways to Success (GPS) and Ivy Tech Community College.
“Manufacturing provides something for everyone whether it’s the student interested in accounting, management, welding or information technology,” Cheryll Obendorf, executive director of GPS, said.
Campers will explore career opportunities in the field of advanced manufacturing, meet industry and business professionals who will mentor them on skills needed for careers and learn about the education and skills needed for a variety of jobs in manufacturing. They will also be able to identify high school classes they can take while earning college credit.
Campers will visit local manufacturing facilities and participate in hands-on learning experiences at each of those facilities. Students who have just completed 7th grade will go to Batesville Tool & Die, Wood-Mizer and Hillenbrand Corporate Center. Students who have just completed 8th grade, or if they attended last year’s camp, will participate at Heartwood Manufacturing, Hill-Rom and Batesville Casket. Each of these industries has developed an afternoon of interactive learning about manufacturing for students.
At the end of each day, campers will return to Ivy Tech Community College where they will learn more about postsecondary options for careers in manufacturing, tour the college and interact with postsecondary professionals at Ivy Tech.
“We are fortunate to have such strong support from the local manufacturing community for programs like this, and it has been a privilege to work with the representatives from each of these companies to develop this year’s camp,” Obendorf stated. “Many students don’t understand what a career in manufacturing looks like, and this camp will give them the chance to explore the many career options available to them.”
To sign up for the Advanced Manufacturing Camp, contact Cheryll Obendorf, executive director of GPS, at cobendorf@genesisp2s.org.
Genesis: Pathways to Success (GPS) is an initiative of the Ripley County Community Foundation dedicated to empowering students to succeed in STEM by developing programs in areas such as engineering, agriculture, health science and technology as well as by supporting events that encourage students to apply curious minds and critical thinking skills to real-world opportunities. GPS generates ongoing and meaningful dialogue and collaboration to prepare a talent pipeline for a globally dynamic marketplace. For additional information, please visit www.genesisp2s.org.
