Be it exploring a potential career, honing skills on the basketball hardwoods or enhancing a musical skill, there are a wide variety of classes, camps and enrichment programs for teens and younger students this summer at Macomb Community College.
The college’s popular career academy programs are designed for high school juniors and seniors and provide an insight into the skills, training and education required for various professions, ranging from law enforcement and fire service to culinary arts, media and communications arts and veterinary technician. New in the career academy program this year is a renewable energy camp that offers hands-on experience operating hydrogen fuel cells, wind turbines and solar panels. Other science and technology-related academies focus on biotechnology and robotics.
“The career academies are popular with both students and parents because they allow the students to determine if they have an interest in a particular field,” said Ed Stanton, who coordinates the career academies at the college. “We have seen students in the past who have cemented their desire to enter a career based on the academy and, equally as valuable, others who have discovered that something may not have been for them.”
At the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, workshops in flute, drama and percussion instruments are available, as are opportunities to sing with the show choir or children’s chorus. The show choir is for students entering grades 7-12 and features vocal clinicians and choreographers preparing students for a grand finale show on July 18 at the Macomb Center. The children’s choir, open to those ages 7-13, culminates with a performance at the Romeo Peach Festival over Labor Day Weekend.
“The strides the young people make in these programs over a week in the summer is nothing short of amazing,” said Christine Guarino, director of cultural affairs at the Macomb Center. “We have seen some wonderful young talent in Macomb County in these programs.”
In the gym, Macomb offers individual skills camps for area volleyball players and boys’ basketball players. Team camps are available in volleyball and boys’ and girls’ basketball.
“The skills camps allow players to take the next step in their development,” said Henry Washington, Macomb men’s basketball coach. “The team camps feature teams from around the tri-county area and provides an opportunity to work on individual and team skills in game situations.”
Macomb’s College 4 Kids program turns 5 years old this summer and features a variety of classes for the younger set, including art classes, fashion design, movie making and crime scene investigation.
Students who participate in a C4K art class will be eligible to show their works in the 2nd annual Student Art Show at the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens, Sept. 27-Oct. 10.
Many of the camps and programs offer a discounted rate for early registration and partial scholarships are available for many of the programs for those who qualify. There are start dates in June, July and August, depending on the program.
Information on the various programs is available via the college’s web site at www. Macomb.edu or by calling the college’s main information line at 866.MACOMB1 (866.622.6621).
About Macomb Community College
Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges, providing learning experiences to more than 59,000 students annually. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded and as the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan. The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.