Camp Discovery

Elmore County Schools

Principal, Mrs. Emilie Johnson

Superintendent, Mr. Richard Dennis

The Elmore County Technical Center (ECTC) hosted its annual Career and Technical Education (CTE) exploration experience, Camp Discovery, for 51 rising high school freshmen in June 2021. This program was provided at no cost to students. Over the four days of Camp Discovery, students were placed in small groups and visited all 13 CTE programs on campus where they participated in hands-on, STEM activities related to the curriculum – with an emphasis on fun. From hair-raising experiences with the Van de Graaff generator in Electrical to mapping 3D body systems in Medical Sciences to examining refrigeration principles by making ice cream in HVAC, students gained valuable insight into CTE programs, course content, and potential careers in each pathway. Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks as well as bus transportation to and from ECTC were provided for each camper. Participants also received promotional materials including t-shirts, drawstring backpacks, pens, cups, bracelets, and handouts of ECTC program information. On Friday, the final day of Camp Discovery, parents were invited to eat lunch with their camper and attend an open house to meet instructors, tour programs, and view the student’s work. Students who attended noted that this event was the first time they really understood that career and technical education could play a role in their future career pathways.