Virginia Western Community College will introduce rising 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to multiple career pathways through transformative education and experiential learning. Thanks to the support of Roanoke-area employers and organizations, these camps will illuminate fulfilling careers and enable students to explore their vocational passions and develop essential skills.
Camps are limited to rising 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade students in the Virginia Western service region including home school students.
Camps are free to attend. All supplies and materials are provided. Students may participate in one camp.
To register, email Regina Cook at rcook@virginiawestern.edu or register in person at one of three camp sign-up sessions on the Virginia Western campus. Students 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult to register.
Saturday, March 22
9 AM – 12 PM
STEM Building ST112
Thursday, March 27
5 – 7 PM
STEM Building ST112
Saturday, April 12
9 AM – 12 PM
STEM Building ST112
July 7-11 Camps
Entrepreneurship
Location: Virginia Western Campus
Time: 1 PM – 5 PM
Details: Become a business owner. This camp will introduce students to the special nuances of entrepreneurship. They’ll learn how to create a working and viable business plan, develop branding and marketing strategies for their product or service, identify distribution channels for marketing, and establish a working budget.
Event Planning
Location: The Hotel Roanoke
Time: 1 PM – 5 PM
Details: Become an event planner extraordinaire. This camp will introduce students to a wide range of event planning, from formal to informal. They’ll learn how to plan and cost out events, as well as how to complete project management plan. The cohort of students will design and develop the 2024 Summer Career Exploration Camps graduation event.
Criminal Justice
Location: Virginia Western Campus
Time: 1 PM – 5 PM
Details: Students will be introduced to law enforcement and criminal justice career pathways. They’ll learn how these critical careers improve the overall wellness and livability of our communities. Students will visit the new crime lab on the Virginia Western Community College campus for hands-on learning.
July 14-18 Camps
Biotechnology
Location: Virginia Western Campus
Time: 1 PM – 5 PM
Details: Learn what’s possible with a Biotechnology degree. This camp will have students work with questions and scenarios faced by scientists in different careers, from Epidemiology to Microbiology and research and development.
Mechatronics & Manufacturing
Location: Virginia Western Campus
Time: 1 PM – 5 PM
Details: Manufacturing is a widespread sector in our region with numerous employment opportunities. During this camp, students will learn the fundamentals of innovation and mechatronics skills, which are critical to career pathways in manufacturing. They’ll also gain foundational knowledge in electricity and precision measuring. Students will apply what they learn for a take-home project they create.
Introductory Culinary
Location: Claude Moore Culinary Arts Center
Time: 1 PM – 5 PM
Details: Students will be introduced to culinary arts and career pathways. They’ll learn knife cuts, equipment uses, knife skills and safety, egg cookery, meat fabrication and cookery, soups, sauces, and biscuits. Students will also earn their ServSafe Food Handler Certification, making them very marketable when seeking employment. The capstone project is a grand buffet where students will display their creations for a guest of their choosing.
July 21-25 Camps
Hospitality, Tourism, Fairs and Festivals
Location: TBD
Time: TBD
Details: Learn about the variety of career pathways available in tourism, one of the most vital industry sectors in the Commonwealth. Learn why tourism and hospitality shape so many other industry sectors in the Roanoke Valley, hear from several guest speakers, and collaborate through hands-on activities to form a new fair or festival by the end of the camp that will be presented to Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge.
July 28 – August 1 Camps
Healthcare & Health Sciences
Location: TBD
Time: TBD
Details: This camp is designed for high school students interested in the medical field. Students will discover a variety of healthcare professions including nursing, emergency medicine, lab sciences and mental health careers. Each day focuses on a different sector of healthcare and features interactive activities, guest speakers, and real-world skills practice. If you are considering a career in patient care, diagnostics, or medical technology, this camp provides a valuable opportunity to explore your options and gain insight into the many pathways available in healthcare.