Career Accelerator, one of LCPS’s five summer camps, offers students the opportunity to explore a range of interests, from aviation to art to agriculture, but all the sessions feature hands-on learning.

Whether it’s piloting a drone or building a robot or getting good a gardening, LCPS middle school and high school students can dive deep into what interests them at Career Accelerator, a series of one-week and two-week summer learning camps with 17 different opportunities for exploration.

Career Accelerator begins July 10 and online registration is open at https://bit.ly/lcpssummer2023. Sessions are free and run Monday-Thursday with breakfast and lunch provided, as well as transportation. Unless otherwise indicated, they are open to LCPS students in grades 7-12 next school year.

“Our camps provide a fun and engaging week of learning for students in a variety of possible career fields of interest,” said Nichole Hathaway, the assistant principal at Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School who coordinates Career Accelerator. “We have something to offer every student that we serve.”

Here’s the Career Accelerator lineup:

ACE Academy -- Students will learn about the history of flight, the basic principles of flight and the progression of aviation careers in Lenoir County. Students will experience hands-on learning, take field trips to aviation focused industry and will even fly drones! (July 10-13 and July 17-20)

Drones and Careers -- Students will interact with drones, learning basic flight principles and how drones are used in many career fields. (July 24-27)

District C Teamship: This camp is designed for rising 10th, 11th and 12th graders who are future entrepreneurs! Students in this camp will work in teams and will partner with a local business to solve a business problem. (July 10-13 and July 17-20)

It’s Time for Health – Students considering a career in health care can learn the basics of first aid, CPR and a variety of health careers in this hands-on camp. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

Exploring Agriculture – Students will get their hands dirty preparing, planting, and cultivating lush green plants as well as learning how to care for our animal friends. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

Automotive Customizing and Repair -- Students will learn how to create designs that can be transferred to a vehicle and will also learn some basic automotive repairs. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

STEM – For students interested in coding or robotics, this camp will show them how to design, build and program robots. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

First Tech Challenge -- Students in the First Tech Challenge camp will design and build a robot to complete a challenge course. FTC students will learn about the Lego Robotics League and all of the opportunities available to students through competitive robotics. (July 24-27)

Spanish and Cultural Studies – At Spanish camp, students learn some of the basics of the language, discover a vibrant culture and develop insight into why learning a second language can be a valuable headstart on a career. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

Masonry – Students (grades 8-12) learn all the basics of masonry including tools and safety, machines and material handling, as well proper use of various masonry structures. Motivated students will be able to earn their OSHA 10 credential during this course. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

Food Prep and Nutrition 101 – Aspiring chefs will learn all about food preparation, nutrition and careers in food. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

Art – Students in art camp will learn the fundamentals of creating art and will work with different creative mediums, as well as discover career opportunities in art. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

Theater – Students in theater camp will learn the basics of performance and theater management. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

The Art of Interior Design – Creative students with an interest in designing interior spaces can learn the the art of turning ordinary into exceptional. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

Band – Whether students play an instrument or want to play an instrument, they’ll find a place to make music in Band Camp. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

Introduction Twirling Class -- Students will learn basic techniques about being part of a flag squad. Participants will learn about parts of the flag, proper technique, holding and twirling the flag as well as basic movements. (July 10-13, July 17-20 and July 24-27)

Student Leadership Development -- This week-long student leadership development course will provide students the opportunity to develop skills that will allow them to be successful in achool and their community. Students will participate in different activities each day to demonstrate these newly acquired skills. (July 24-27)