MAKE It!
Manufacturing Camp
"I never thought manufacturing was
this awesome," said 13-year old Becky Malley on her second day
of the "MAKE It!" camp - a manufacturing camp started by the
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, Delaware Technical &
Community College, the Delaware Manufacturing Association and
the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP) in
2001. Judging from the Becky's reaction, this unique program
succeeded in its mission of exposing rising ninth graders to a
part of the economy that offers so much in the way of jobs and
benefits, yet is foreign to so many students.
To make an impact, it’s got to be fun
Approximately 33,500 Delaware men and women earn their living in
manufacturing, and employers report a constant need for
qualified workers. Delaware manufacturers offer a variety of
jobs in fields ranging from traditional to hi-tech
manufacturing. The jobs pay well and many employers offer
training to enable employees to advance professionally. But
higher-profile professions and misperceptions about
manufacturing often prevent manufacturing from getting onto the
menu of student career choices.
The goal of the MAKE It! Manufacturing Camp is to introduce
the benefits of manufacturing careers to rising ninth graders
while they're still open minded. The camp blends learning with a
big dose of fun.
The campers will gain hands-on experience working on a
manufacturing project - building a voice-activated robot. The
camp, which meets daily, is designed so that all math and
science concepts are tied to state education standards. In 2004,
campers visited Ciba Specialty Chemicals and DaimlerChrysler's Newark
Assembly Plant.
"A camp of this caliber not only improves the image of
manufacturing in the minds of our youth, it also helps them to
match their interests and skills with the great career
opportunities there are in manufacturing."
- James A. Wolfe, President/CEO of the Delaware State Chamber of
Commerce, and Delaware Manufacturing Association chairman.
For more information, please contact Janine Sorbello at (302)
576-6564 or e-mail her at
jsorbello@dscc.com
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