Explore Future Careers at Kalamazoo Valley Summer Camps

Do have you a creative middle schooler at home? Someone who likes to draw, write stories, or take photographs? Or perhaps someone who is curious about the world around them, fascinated by the stars, or is good at math? How about someone who likes to cook, grow their own vegetables or entertain family and friends?

If so, put their creativity and imagination to work at Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s popular Early/Middle College Explore Your Future - Careers Summer Camps. Careers in graphic design, astronomy and culinary arts are just some of the fields that will be explored during the week-long camps that take campers to all four of the college’s campuses. New activities this year include an introduction to video film production and a workshop on diversity and inclusion.

The camps, said Dr. Deborah Coates, dean of instruction, Early/Middle College, are designed to introduce area middle school students to different careers through skill-building activities and one-on-one interaction with faculty who are experts in their field.“Keeping children engaged and learning over the summer months can be challenging,” Coates said. “The Explore Your Future - Careers Summer Camps offer students the opportunity to learn about a variety of careers through fun activities on a college campus. The addition of the diversity workshop, led by the college’s diversity and inclusion coordinator, will help campers learn how working with all types of people make us better.

Campers will be introduced to video production at the Center for New Media, create a “farm to fork” meal at the Food Innovation Center and Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, use robotics at the college’s Groves Center, go behind the scenes at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and enjoy scavenger hunts at the Texas Township Campus.

Camp is open to boys and girls entering 6th,7th, and 8th grades (2019-2020 school year)and is limited to 24 campers per session. The camp is $125 per week per camper(scholarships are available) and will be offered:

June 17 - 20 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 24 - 27 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

July 15 - 18 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

July 22 - 25 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

August 5 - 8 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

August 12 - 15 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Campers report Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 a.m. to Room 128ABC in Anna Whitten Hall on the Arcadia Commons Campus at 303 North Rose Street. On Thursday, campers should report to the college’s Food Innovation Center at 224 East Crosstown Parkway. Drop-off begins at 8 a.m., with all activities starting at 8:30 a.m. Campers should be picked up at Anna Whitten Hall each day at 3 p.m. with the exception of Thursday when the pick-up location is at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health building at 418 E. Walnut. Transportation to the different camp locations, lunch and snacks are provided by the college.

Online registration opens March 2, with priority registration for returning campers. To register visit: www.kvcc.edu/community.