Summer Fun: Career
Camp and
Academy For “At
Risk” Middle
School Students
Putting it Together and
Making it Work
Partnerships
 Anoka Technical College
 Anoka-Hennepin District 11 STEP
 Anoka-Hennepin District 11 Middle
Schools
Career Camp
The middle school staff approached STEP and ATC
about developing a short summer experience for their
“at risk” summer school students that would give
students hands-on career exploration.
They recognized the need for students to make the
connection between how their performance at school
and the life choices they are making now affect their
opportunities in the future.
They wanted students to see the options available to
them in high school as well as post secondary
opportunities.
2000
2003
•Six middle schools
•One middle school
•415 students
•120 students
•Fours mornings
•Two mornings
•Eleven career choices
•Six career choices
2002
•Six middle schools
•300 students
•Three mornings
•Ten career choices
•Parent component
2001
2004
Six middle schools
•Two middle schools
259 students
•105 students
Three mornings
•One morning
Ten career choices
•Nine career choices
Pathways to
Success
Auto Service
Small Gas Engines
Machine Technology
Welding
Mechanical Drafting
Architecture
Carpentry
Electrical Careers
Landscape and Horticulture Careers
Aviation Careers
Medical Assistant
Surgical Technician
Optical Technician
Emergency Medical Technician
Nursing Careers
Child Care
Firefighting
Law
Enforcement
Electronics Careers
Information Technology
Computer Science
Media Technology
Art Technology
Restaurant and Bakery Careers
Planning Process





Meet with partners in February
Assign roles in the planning process
Middle school contact person
STEP contact person
ATC contact person
Brainstorm career areas to be taught
Discuss modifications—what worked and what
didn’t the previous year
Identify funding sources (Perkins Tech Prep
Grant, School-to-Work Federal Grant, Private
Industry)
STEP Contact Person
Planning & Preparation for the Day




Recruit teachers
Develop schedule
Dates
Times
Career choices
Assign classrooms and labs
Communicate, communicate, communicate plans
to partners
Career Camp Staff
Planning & Preparation for the Day



Develop a 45 minute session for 10-12
students
Hands-on
Applied academics
Post secondary and employment
information
Order supplies
Prepare classroom/lab for session
Middle School Staff
Planning & Preparation for the Day






Determine which grade levels of students they
plan to send to Career Camp
Make busing arrangements
Assist students in class selection process
Get permission slips
Assign students to each class so that there are
no more than 10-12 students per session
Have students make name tags with their name
and session I and session II selections
STEP Contact Person’s
Responsibilities at Career Camp




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

Post career choice signs in common area
Greet middle school students and staff
Troubleshoot
Take pictures
Talk to students at general session
Collect evaluations
Arrange payment of instructors
Analyze feedback from students and staff
Career Camp Staff
Responsibilities at Career Camp




Meet students in common area
Instruct students in career activity
Have students complete evaluations at the
end of each session
Return students to common area after
each session
Middle School Staff
Responsibilities at Career Camp



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
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
Take attendance
Distribute name tags
Ride the bus with the students
Help students find their correct session
Attend session and assist the instructor as
needed
Deal with discipline issues
Make sure all students get on the bus
Career Camp Schedule
8:20
Arrive at STEP building
8:25
Meet session I students and travel to
classroom/lab.
8:30-9:15
Session I (Have students complete an
evaluation at end of session.)
9:15-9:20
Travel to next session (Go to STEP link to
ATC to exchange students.)
9:20-10:05
Session II (Have students complete an
evaluation at end of session.)
10:05-10:15 Travel to general session (Take time for a
bathroom break on the way.)
10:15-10:30 General Session in ATC auditorium
10:35
Depart from ATC door A1
Welcome to Career Camp!
Finding Your Career Session
Horticulture
Emergency Medical Careers
Cosmetology
Careers
Art Technology
Firefighting
Careers
Auto Service Careers
Surgical Technology
Aviation Careers
Law
Enforcement
The choices you make now are
important!
Non-traditional Career Academy
Based on the success of Career Camp, a request was
made by the middle school staff to pilot a program that
would allow students to get more extensive experience
in a variety of career areas.
The target group was at-risk eighth grade girls who were
selected for the program by the middle school staff.
The emphasis was on non-traditional careers while
incorporating applied academics with the hands-on
activities.
2003
 Two middle schools
 15 students
 13 mornings
 Seven career choices
2004
 Six middle schools
 10 students
 11 mornings
 Six career choices
Law Enforcement
Welding
Fire
Fighting
Landscape
Careers
Small Engine Repair
Emergency Medical Careers
See you next year!
Students’ Feedback
What did you like best about the activities?
Art—“Using the computer and making a
magnet”, “All the different ways we can
make it cool”
Auto—“Taking the tires off the car”, “Got to
use the air tools”
Aviation—“Making the plane”, “Flying the
plane”
Cosmetology—“This was really cool to learn
about nails”, “Everything”
Emergency—“The fake cuts and bruises”,
“The whole thing”
Firefighting—“Learning about firefighting”,
“Putting out the fires was really cool”
Horticulture—“It was really fun learning how
to make a boutonnière”, “Trying to wire
flowers”
Law Enforcement—“Finding clues,
everything”, “You get to do a crime scene
and solve it”
Surgical Tech—“How everything was done!”
Our Students are Our
Future!
Presentation
produced
by…
Patti Gudmundson
Guidance Counselor
763 433-4031
Patti.Gudmundson
@anoka.k12.mn.us
Pam Durand
Career Center Coordinator
763 433-4030
Pam.Durand@anoka.k12.mn.us
Anoka-Hennepin
District 11