On Friday, 7/21 the fourth County Summer Manufacturing Camp ended with the closing program. The program started in 2019 with 8 campers and grew to 22 this year.
From Monday (7/17) through Friday (7/21) junior high students from Darke County who are entering the 7th or 8th grade had the opportunity to practice and grow their skills in communication, problem solving and teamwork. They also could look into the options they have at local manufacturers.
This year’s Manufacturing Partners were Whirlpool, Fort Recovery Industries, Midmark and JAFE Decorating. The Edison State Community College also shared information on career pathways available locally. The Upper Valley Career Center brought a welder in for students to try.
Tamala Marley, Workforce Specialist at DCED, who will be retiring this November introduced (and thanked) the Manufacturing Partners of this Camp and representatives of each manufacturers spoke very highly of the participating students, their commitment, enthusiasm, the way they got involved.
The manufacturers unison praised this program as a great learning opportunity and expressed their hope to see some of the campers after their graduation as new employees.
They also offered the campers to come back at any time if they have more questions.
Since the DCED is planning a program for 9th and 10th graders, the DCED thought it’s a good idea to involve students themselves in the planning process and invited 2 students, Navaeh Lewis and Austin Singer, to join the camp and come up with their ideas of a summer camp 2.0. Navaeh and Austin presented their suggestions such as changing the daily routine to going to the manufacturers first in the morning instead of doing it in later in the day. So they could discuss after the tour what they’ve seen and learned at the manufacturers facility. Another suggestion was having a challenge for the final product. Either the parents or the manufacturers should then vote to determine the winner.
Navaeh and Austin would like to add more local manufacturers to the list of Manufacturing Partners.
At the end of the ceremony, the campers as well as the members of the DCED surprised Tamala Marley by lining up and telling Tamala in a short sentence about the impact Tamala made in their life. Mike Bowers, director of the DECD, handed Tamala a special award. Tamala was the force behind this camp and made it what it is today.
Marley thanked everyone and said that she is so blessed to be a part of this community. She also said that they are blessed to have manufacturers willing and able to figure out a way to help the students any way that it takes and that she is very grateful for these opportunities.
The DCED thanked the parents and grandparents who brought the campers to the camp every day, Greenville City Schools and Superintendent Doug Fries for the use of the Advanced Manufacturing Lab and for providing transportation to tours, Heather Suerdieck of Inside Out Coaching for being the Camp Facilitator, Susan Ahrens for being the Camp Assistant, Mary Lee Moore for being the Career Tech Secretary, Edison State Community College, Mrs. Lori Hoover and the Interactive Media students at Greenville C-TEC.
The program is funded by donations through the Darke County Foundation, the West Tech Prep Region and Edison State Community College.
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