While school may be out for the summer, that doesn’t mean students aren’t getting a lesson or two.
Inside St. Georges Technical High School June 30, sixth-grade students were hard at work changing tires, baking cakes, building toolboxes and searching for aquatic life in a nearby stream.
Nearly 150 students from across New Castle County took part in the four-day New Castle County VoTech Summer Career Camp, which allowed them an opportunity to examine the ins and outs of their possible future careers.
Kathy Demarest, public information officer for the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District, said the district has held the camp for the past 15 years, but this is the first time it took place at St. Georges.
“We’re trying to give students a good experience to be able to explore some career possibilities,” she said. “It’s like buying a new outfit. Until you try it on, you don’t know what’s going to fit.”
Demarest said the district targets middle-school-aged children so that the students can begin to decide what they want to study in high school. A seventh-grade camp will take place at Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School later this month.
“Students really need to start thinking about what they like, what they’re good at and what they’re curious about,” she said. “All three of those things can make for somebody who’s satisfied with their life choice and career.”
As camp got underway, students chose between various career areas such as environmental science, culinary arts, business, automotive, medical, early childhood education, carpentry and electrical trades. They then spent the rest of the week learning the various facets of their chosen area from teachers in the district.
Jake Mottola, 12, of north Wilmington took part in Top Chefs, the culinary arts segment of the camp. He said his father is a chef and he has spent his entire life watching him cook.
“It’s hobby for me,” he said. “It’s just fun.”
Mottola and his peers spent the week baking breads, cooking pasta and creating international dishes to take home with them.
“I like cooking Italian pasta dishes the best,” he said. “I’m mostly Italian, so I like to cook the foods from where I’m from.”
Mottola isn’t the only kid looking to follow in his family’s footsteps. Jake Diacont of Odessa said his father his a mechanic, which is what made him interested in the automotive technology area of the camp.
“I find cars fascinating,” he said. “I like pretty much everything about them.”
Jim Hill, auto technology instructor at St. Georges, said he wanted the students to have fun while really interacting with automobiles.
“The students were very involved and excited, “ he said. “They asked a lot of great questions about issues that can occur with the motor.”
Camp Coordinator Debbie Dolde said the program brings in a great group of children that are eager to get their hands dirty.
“The kids are so enthusiastic and open to new experiences,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun to watch them try something new for the first time.”
