By Jennifer Sheppard
Madison College
For some middle and high school students, summer means sleeping in, spending time with friends and taking a break from school. But it can also be a chance to try something new.
At Madison College’s Truax and Commercial Avenue campuses, located on the Northside, youth day camps give students hands-on opportunities to explore their interests. Instead of sitting in a classroom, kids spend their day building, creating and learning by doing.
The camps, for youth in grades 5–12, run June through August and provide an affordable way to learn new skills while exploring career paths. Camps are held during the day, making them a convenient option for families looking to balance summer schedules.
Camps are geared toward a wide array of interests, including STEM, culinary arts, trades, art and fashion design.
One camp, Dream, Design, Prototype, gives innovation-minded students a close look at engineering. Participants design and build their own devices from scratch while learning mechanical and electrical systems. Students also use tools like 3D printing and basic programming to bring their ideas to life.
In baking-focused Fancy Desserts camp, students learn baking basics while crafting gourmet desserts of macarons and marshmallow buttercream, helping them gain confidence in the kitchen.
Health care camps introduce students to medical settings and basic skills, offering a glimpse into careers in the field. In skilled trades camps, students work with tools and materials while learning building and design fundamentals.
These programs are a larger effort to show students what different careers might look like.
Across Madison College’s summer camps, participants can explore fields like art, health care and skilled trades in a low-pressure setting where trying something new is encouraged.
“The camps’ hands-on approach helps build confidence and gives students a better sense of what they enjoy,” said Madison College Continuing Education Manager Linda Nellen. “For some, it may spark long-term interest. For others, it is simply a fun way to spend part of the summer.”
Families are encouraged to explore Madison College’s youth camp offerings and register early, as space is limited. More information is available on the Madison College Continuing Education website: madisoncollege.edu/academics/youth-programs.
