Campers attending the Girls Explore Their Future show off their LEGO robotics.
DOWNINGTOWN – The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) held the Summer Career Academies (SCA) at the Technical College High School (TCHS) Brandywine Campus last week. The program offers more than 15 different academies that are engaging, fun and hands-on for fifth through eighth grade students. These camps are unique because they allow campers to explore different careers while learning new things and having fun.
Campers have a lot of programs to choose from, including Animal Science, Cooking and Culinary Arts, Small Engine Technology, Game Design, Health Careers, Robotics or Girls Explore Their Future.
The Girls Explore Their Future camp provides girls the opportunity to try a variety of career paths they might not otherwise consider. It is meant to empower girls to explore new things that they might be discouraged from trying or that are traditionally viewed as “for boys.” For example, the girls spent one morning working in the automotive shop learning how to use a torch. They made their own videogame one day and put together their own LEGO robotics kit. They also spent time learning about animals in the TCHS Brandywine Campus Animal Science program.
“My favorite day so far was working with the animals,” a camper named Sanjana said about the various experiences. “But robotics is fun too.” One of her fellow campers jumped in. “It was hard putting all of the pieces on the robot and getting it to work. I’ve never soldered before, but once I learned how to do it, it was easy.”
The CCIU’s Summer Career Academies are held at locations throughout Chester County during the summer. The Girls Explore Their Future and the Health Academy camps are both sponsored by the Chester County Carl D. Perkins Consortium.
