Free MADE Summer Camp Lets 6-8th Grade Students Explore Career Options

Students entering sixth to eighth grade in McMinn County have a free summer camp option to explore potential career paths. MADE (Manufacturing Assembly Design and Engineering) Camp is entering its first year with a cohort of 30 campers.

This weeklong camp runs from June 9-12, starting at 9 AM and ending at 3 PM, with a half-day on Friday. Parents can drop off their kids as early as 8:15 in the morning, and campers will receive breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day.

“There isn’t a lot of career exploration for students in McMinn County until eighth grade,” says Lindsey Ferguson, Executive Director of the McMinn County Economic Development Authority (EDA). “We wanted to create a hands-on, immersive, and exciting way for students to explore different fields.”

This free camp is “Made for Tomorrow’s Makers,” and enrollment is currently open. Secure your child’s spot today and let them spend a week exploring different career pathways and thinking about the future. 

Students Participate in Team Projects and Site Visits 

Each day offers something new for students at MADE Camp. Industry representatives will introduce their companies, the products they make, and the skills needed in the organization. Each presentation is paired with an activity related to the manufacturing concepts and skills discussed by the guest speaker. This allows for hands-on career exploration and interactive discussions between campers and professionals.

MADE Camp organizers are putting together STEM kits with individual projects and team activities that allow students to use soft skills like problem-solving and communication. There will also be a weeklong showcase project that students will work on together.

MADE Camp will be held at the McMinn Higher Education Center in Athens, but participants will also enjoy field trips to local manufacturing facilities. These site tours highlight the diversity of the manufacturing and engineering fields and introduce students to potential employers in the region.

The last day at camp is a graduation showcase, with superlatives and trophies for students. This is also when students will demonstrate their final projects. The Friday half-day ends at noon. 

MADE Camp Fills a Career Exploration Gap

MADE Camp was created to start workforce development discussions before students enter eighth grade. Currently, this is the earliest that local school systems build career development into the curriculum, and students are expected to select a career or college path by the sophomore year of high school.

“We recognized a need for early career exploration, and this camp is one step toward filling the gap,” says Ferguson. “Our students are the future workforce, and we are trying to get them involved in career and technical education at an earlier age.”

If students have a better understanding of different career options, they can make better choices to study what interests them as they enter high school. There is less risk of choosing a career path they aren’t excited about.

MADE Camp was developed by the McMinn County EDA and several local partners, including:

• Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
• Athens City Schools
• Cleveland State Community College
• DENSO Manufacturing
• McMinn County Schools
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Athens
• Tennessee Wesleyan University

By bringing together education partners, students can feel better prepared to sign up for specific classes and potentially participate in dual enrollment programs with local colleges. This creates a more seamless transition from high school to higher ed. 

This Camp is Possible Through Local Sponsors 

The McMinn County EDA has been working with local companies to create activities for the students and find supplies they can use. The MADE Camp team is currently accepting sponsors and in-kind donations to support the camp.

The McMinn County EDA would especially like to thank DENSO Manufacturing, the title sponsor for this camp. Simmons Bank and IronCraft Attachments have also contributed significantly as platinum sponsors, and Cleveland State Community College has joined as both a Gold Sponsor and home of the McMinn Higher Education Center, where the camp is held.  

“This camp is different from anything in our area,” says Ferguson. “No one else in the region is doing this, which is why input from local companies has been so important. We want to create a camp that is valuable to students but also employers in the area who are looking ahead to the future workforce.”  

If any company in the area would like to participate in the camp or contribute as a sponsor, contact Aryn Stewart, Office and Event Coordinator for the McMinn County EDA. She can be reached at Aryn@MakeItInMcMinn.org or via phone at (423) 745-1506. 

Enroll Your Child in MADE Camp Today

Even though the camp is free, space is limited. Enroll today and secure one of 30 spots for your middle school student. Complete this Google Form to register. This summer can be a fun time for teens to think about their futures and consider possible career pathways. Make career exploration with MADE Camp.