Youth Camps Signal Summer at NMU

Upper Peninsula youth in grades 8-12 were exposed to technology-related degree and career options during a three-day residential technology camp last month at NMU. They participated in hands-on workshops in electronics, robotics, video editing, Web development and astronomy. NMU faculty led the sessions. NMU students fulfilled a service learning component by assisting with workshops and social activities, which gave the youth a snapshot of college life.

“The camp went well,” said Sandra Poindexter (Business). “Though enrollment was not at the level we had planned, it was reasonable for a pilot to have fewer participants. The smaller group allowed for more individual attention. On the last day, students edited video captured during other workshops and created a Web site using photos and videos from the camp. These materials were burned to a CD and given to each participant.”

Participants represented Gwinn and Baraga High Schools, Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy and North Star Academy. The camp was funded by a Brighter Futures Grant from Michigan Campus Compact (MCC) and Learn and Serve America, with matching funds from NMU.

MCC is a coalition of college and university presidents that promotes civic education for students.

“By helping with this camp, Northern students are able to apply what they’ve learned in class to the community around them,” said Michelle Snitgen, program manager for the MCC Investing in College Futures grant program, who visited NMU during the camp. “This grant program is also designed to let youth know that college is a choice and that they can do it, regardless of their backgrounds.”

Northern students, faculty and staff are assisting with a number of other campus programs for kids during the school break.

This summer’s offerings include art and design camps for drawing, sculpture and computer art; sports camps; economic education through courses titled cowonomics (pictured) and financial fitness for life; Seaborg Summer College for Kids programs in science and mathematics; reading camps; and writing camps ranging from graphic novels/comic books to “beginning songwriting for rock-star wannabees.”