Exploring local history and learning different career options were just two of the exciting activities undertaken by students at the 2023 Jefferson County Career Camp offered by BOCES during the month of July.
The camp, open to students entering 8th and 9th grade, was an assortment of team building, hands on activities, field trips, and guest speakers, meant to spark creativity and career planning for those who attended.
For the second consecutive year, the historic Village of Sackets Harbor was the epicenter for student learning. Each camper spent a day in the village, speaking to local business and emergency services, to gain an understanding of its history and how that plays a role in how the village operates economically today. Businesses and institutions visited included the Sackets Harbor Marina, the Sandwich Bar, the Sackets Harbor Ballroom, the Sackets Harbor Fire Department, and the Sackets Harbor Police Department.
Final projects focused on designing recreational items for the village. Students in the first week designed prototypes for benches while students who attended the camp’s second week were tasked with designing bike racks. Broken up into different groups, the campers worked together to fine tune their designs to incorporate what they have learned about Sackets Harbor. This included its involvement in the War of 1812, its proximity to Lake Ontario, and how all of it incorporates into how the village promotes itself in 2023.
Students presented their findings at the end of each week at the historic Sackets Harbor Ballroom, owned by Hospitality Services Instructor Margaret Coe.
Other camp activities included making no-bake cookies under the instruction of Culinary Arts-Baking instructor, Chef Janet Ramsey, touring each of the classrooms at the Bohlen Technical Center and learning about the different Career & Technical Education programs available at BOCES, getting fingerprinted and learning about Criminal Justice with Instructor Mr. Robert Gorman. The camp also featured guest speakers such as New York State Police Trooper Joshua Cox, who discussed careers in law enforcement.
The 2023 Career Camp was very successful and provided both a fun and education experience for campers. A thank you to The Sackets Harbor Ballroom, the Northern New York Community Foundation, and the Jefferson County Youth Bureau for sponsoring the camp.
Visit the BOCES Summer Camp webpage for a photo gallery of the 2023 Career Camp.