Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By CHARITY SMITH
Ironwood — Registration is open for the second annual Gogebic Community College and Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District summer camps.
“It is really exciting. It’s the second year we have tried to do some programing targeting middle school students,” said Glen Ackerman-Behr, director of workforce development at GCC.
Last year’s program consisted of one camp in Gogebic County and one in Ontonagon County and Ackerman-Behr is excited about expanding the camps this year to include five different camps aimed at middle school-age children. Camps will focus on entrepreneurship, biology, cooking, welding and outdoor survival skills.
“There are a variety of fun and engaging camps to choose from in both Ironwood and Ontonagon for sixth, seventh and eighth graders,” said Ackerman-Behr.
The GCC campus and Skilled Trades Center in Ironwood will host entrepreneurship, biology, cooking and welding camps June 6-10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The GOISD’s CTE center in Ontonagon will host welding and a survival skills adventure camps June 13-17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT.
Ackerman-Behr said the Cooking Ninja Camp is targeted at middle school kids who have to do their own food preparation. It will teach how to safely prepare meals and tips for making healthy diet choices.
The “Show Me the Money” entrepreneurial camp will introduce students to the basics of business. “They’re going to put a business plan together. They’re going to start a business. They’re going to make product. They’re going to sell it and pitch it,” said Ackerman-Behr. “Like, they’re doing the whole thing in one week. It’s going to be fun.”
The Creepy Critter Crawl Camp will be taught by GCC biology instructor Chenin Limback and forestry instructor Bill Perkis. The camp will take place both indoors and out in the woods.
“It’s really hands on and very active,” said Ackerman-Behr. “They’ll be some stuff out in the field where they can get there hands dirty. There will be some stuff in the lab as well.”
At the welding camps, students will create, build and take home a product. Students will be able to tour manufacturing facilities, learn about the trade and meet people in the industry.
At the Survival Skills Adventure Camp, students will be taught basic first aid and CPR skills. They will also learn basic wilderness survival skills and take a two-mile hike at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
Ackerman-Behr said that last year the camp was full with 20 students enrolled and many more on a wait-list. This year, they have space for 70 students. The majority of the camps have a minimal registration fee which includes a daily lunch and supplies.
For more information, visit gogebic.coursestorm.com or call: 906-307-1234.
