Indian Lake Schools hosted a recent camp for middle school students, sponsored by the 21st century grant, Career@ILS, where pupils had the chance to explore various career fields with a variety of hands-on experiences.
The program was organized by curriculum director Kelli Tebbe, with support from administrators from all three buildings. Teachers and administration helped to lead the activities.
Careers@ILS is a competitive five-year grant that provides up to $200,000 per year to Indian Lake Schools for before and after school learning programs with a focus on math, reading, social and emotional learning, lifeskills and careers.
The first two days of the camp were centered around STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects. Students participated in engineering activities, such as building catapults.
Ohio Hi-Point Career Center also provided information about educational opportunities they offer through their programs. Students honed their cooking talents by learning how to make a sweet pasta salad.
The last day of camp was focused around the Lake Effect, Indian Lake’s version of R-Factor. Students participated in activities planned by administration and the Laker Leadership Council, a group of students on the superintendent’s advisory committee.
Activities consisted of group discussion, card games relating to proper responses to situations, and team-building activities, including constructing a spaghetti bridge. Also during a game called toxic waste, students had to move a bucket of balls to another bucket using supplies given to them without crossing into the toxic area. Students tried to come up with many ideas, such as self sacrifice and lassoing the buckets.
Superintendent Rob Underwood said the strong turnout for the Career@ILS Summer Camp is an excellent example of staff and student commitment to the district’s mission in regards to R-Factor and the Lake Effect.
“Our staff and students have embraced the ‘Lake Effect’ approach to social and emotional learning and we have experienced a significant improvement in school culture with a reduction in student disciplinary occurrences and an increase in the acquisition of student skills to compete in the 21st century.
“Our goal is for students to learn to overcome personal and collective adversity so that they can live a productive life and become positive contributors in their community. “