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Community Corner

Summer Career Academies offers unique learning opportunity

The Summer Career Academies aren’t your typical weeklong summer camp. Not only are the programs hands-on and designed to captivate students in grades 5-9, but also provide students with the opportunity to explore career choices in professional learning labs with experienced professionals.

Offered by the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU), from Monday, July 8, through Friday, July 26, students will participate in weeklong sessions focused on careers with topics including: Animal Science; Aquatics and Fishing; Beauty, Fashion and Fun; Building Technologies; CSI Investigation; Commercial & Graphic Arts; Cooking & Culinary Arts; Game Design; Girls Explore Their Future; Health Careers; Lego Robotics; Small Engine Technology; Sustainable Energy; and Writing Workshop.

According to Summer Career Academies coordinator Deborah Watson, every experience includes a career component and an overview of related safety precautions.

“The career exploration helps students narrow down their interests so they can make informed decisions in high school,” added Watson. “Many students have found their career passions at Summer Career Academies."

Academies are offered this summer at three convenient locations in the county, including the Technical College High School (TCHS) Brandywine Campus in Downingtown, TCHS Pennock’s Bridge Campus in West Grove, and TCHS Pickering Campus in Phoenixville.

Students who choose to spend a week or two (or even three) exploring at the Summer Career Academies will not only have some exciting responses to the typical back-to-school “What did you do this summer?” question, but they will also leave with valuable skills, knowledge of career options in high-priority fields, and important life lessons, such as the fact that occupations know no gender.

The Girls Explore Their Future and Health Careers programs are being offered at a reduced fee of $25 per student, made possible in part by a grant from CCRES.

But students are not the only ones invited to learn this summer. As an added benefit, parents of children in the Health Careers program will have the opportunity to get certified in CPR/First Aid for a $25 fee.

The Summer Career Academies are designed for students entering grades 5-9 who are interested in exploring careers through fun, hands-on learning activities.  Professionals in professional learning labs teach all sessions. All academies are now 3 hours a day for $215, unless otherwise noted. Space is limited. For more information about or to register for the Summer Career Academies, please visit www.cciu.org/summer.

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