Lakeshore College in Cleveland, Wisconsin, is hosting a summer camp that introduces children and teens to hands-on, in-demand jobs in the region. The camp offers classes in culinary arts, manufacturing, and information technology, giving students a taste of what these careers entail.
Hands-On Learning
Students between the ages of 11 and 18 learned the basics of these careers, with some even considering them as future career paths. Haiden Taylor, a senior in high school, learned to cook various dishes, including hummus, tzatziki, and doner kebab, and is now considering a career in culinary arts.
In the manufacturing class, students assembled a mousetrap-powered car kit, learning about trial and error and how different factors impact speed and distance. In the welding and fabrication lab, students learned to shape metal into spatulas, with many considering engineering gifts for Father’s Day.
Addressing Worker Shortages
The summer camp is part of a growing push by education and workforce leaders to expose students to high-demand careers early on, hoping to fill worker shortages in the region. According to state data, restaurant cook gigs are one of the fastest-growing jobs in northeast Wisconsin, with an average salary of $34,550 in 2025.
Technical college job training programs for careers like welding and metal working usually set students up to make at least $15,000 more than the average high school graduate, and sometimes up to nearly $30,000 more.
The summer camp is funded by the college and has been running for years, with the subjects and careers explored varying annually based on feedback from faculty and campers.
Original reporting: Wisconsin Watch — read the source article.
