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Macon summer camp promotes careers in STEAM

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade participate in camp activities with focuses in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

Macon — When students come to Camp Zion at the Bibb Mount Zion Baptist Church in Macon, they do more than just fun activities. They're preparing for college and career.

The camp is part of the Next Level Community Development Center based out of the church. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade participate in camp activities with focuses in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

"Our mission here is to educate, enlighten, and empower youth and parents to make healthy lifestyle choices," said Lakesia Thomas, Executive Director of Next Level.

The camp offers a variety of activities, including a step team and scrapbooking or practical skills like how to write a check, but the emphasis lies in career-ready fields. Kindergarten through through 3rd grade students build "popsicle communities," and older students built entire playhouses to donate. Those playhouses will soon be given to prominent businesses like Navicent Health Children's Hospital and Habitat for Humanity.

Camp Zion E.L.I.T.E. gives students knowledge in career preparedness. Students in high school visit businesses based on their career focus and universities to help them narrow down where they want to go post-graduation.

"It helped me tremendously, said Kenya Thomas, a Camp Zion E.L.I.T.E. graduate. "When I came into the E.L.I.T.E. program I thought I was going to strictly stay with nursing, but as I went to different sites these four or five years, I’ve narrowed my choices down and now I’m going to Kennesaw State to become an orthodontist.”

Students even get the chance to travel. The program took campers to New Orleans to visit the city and two historically black colleges and universities in Xavier University and Southern University, all free of charge.

“We create what we call what we believe is a safe, nurturing environment," said Toomer. "We believe that the students come for the activities and the fun that we provide for them, but we believe that they stay because of the relationships that we build with them.”

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