Register for CTE Summer Camps

Registration opens Thursday, May 1, for the career and technical education-focused summer camps organized by the Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Service District.

The camps will be available to all students in grades 7-12 who attend one of the 10 school districts COPESD serves. Healthcare, engineering, robotics, manufacturing, business, and skilled trades are some of the many subjects camp attendees will explore. Registration and more information on these opportunities is available at https://www.copesd.org/stem-cte-summer-camps-and-academies/

“Our mission is to foster growth and success and maximize the learning opportunities available to students across our region and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive,” said COPESD Superintendent Jamie Huber. “These summer camps and academies give students a way to develop new skills, gain hands-on experience, and learn more about potential career paths with educators and businesses in our communities.”

Expanding access and availability to CTE and vocational training and programs for middle and high school students was a common theme from a large percentage of respondents who took part in a survey last spring of COPESD parents, school employees, and community members.

Specifically, 67% of respondents acknowledged the growing need for high school graduates to be equipped with vocational-related skills, and 94% said that COPESD’s initiative to enhance and expand such programs would be beneficial to the community. Approximately 83% of survey respondents also recognized that employers in the region face challenges finding employees with CTE training.

“The message is clear that our employers, parents, and district residents see a critical need for an expansion of CTE programs and more accessibility to this type of training in our schools,” Huber said. “While only 4 out of 10 school districts in our region are currently able to offer CTE programs, these summer camps and academies provide a chance for all area students to connect with vocational opportunities, future career possibilities, and employers right here in our community.”