No need for sleeping bags, swim shorts or sunscreen at this summer camp. Instead of crafting and telling scary stories around the campfire at night, these kids are learning about manufacturing.
That’s right, Manufacturing Camp!
The four-day Tuscarawas County Dale Lauren Foland Manufacturing Camp, first held in 2016, introduces seventh and eighth grade students to the world of manufacturing allowing them to discover what careers are possible in the industry. This year's event, held July 18-21, welcomed 40 students to tour several facilities and participate in hands-on activities.
“Part of the reason to target kids in middle school is so they can get a chance to hear a little bit more about what manufacturing is like in Tuscarawas County,” Michael B. Hovan, chief operating officer of Lauren International told the Times Reporter. “The county has businesses and jobs associated with manufacturing in some form or fashion as the basis of the entire economy here.”
Kids, like many adults, can have a negative impression of what modern manufacturing and factory work is. This camp looks like a great way to dispel the dark and dirty myths of manufacturing and to expose people, of all ages, to the many career opportunities available in modern manufacturing.