SUMMER CAMP — Gracie Henderson, a student at Conotton Valley Junior High School, was one of 60 students to attend the Jefferson County Vocational School held its annual Summer Camp in June. Henderson visited the criminal justice lab, where students were permitted to wear drowsy goggles while trying to complete an obstacle course. -- Contributed

BLOOMINGDALE — The Jefferson County Vocational School held its annual Summer Camp for students entering fifth and sixth grades.

Approximately 60 students in Jefferson and Harrison counties took part in the camp, featuring visits to the JVS program labs. Participants enjoyed making crafts, taking part in simulations and spending time with new friends, while learning more about the high school facility.

Carina Aulicino, a career and workforce specialist at JVS, exclaimed youth had an opportunity to learn about the career-technical school, while having fun.

“The idea is to get students interested in career-tech education,” Aulicino said. “They can see what the JVS has to offer when they become a junior or senior.”

The summer camp was offered prior to COVID and then halted. When the camp resumed three years ago, Aulicino became part of the program. Those attending this year’s camp had the option of visiting one or both days of the June event.

Labs offered included: Building and painting miniature wooden cars in the auto body collision lab; making crafts and homemade bouncing balls in the early childhood education program; practicing braiding on boards in the cosmetology lab; learning handwashing and personal protective equipment through a health care simulator in health technologies; working with remote-controlled mini equipment and a simulator in the heavy equipment operation lab; or learning about forensics, fingerprinting and mugshots in the criminal justice program.

The JVS staff manned each lab, while some of the school’s students assisted. The children rotated classes, each approximately a half-hour long. Lunch consisted of hot dogs or pizza. Several campers commented on how they enjoyed the activities, many indicating they want to return as students.

Aryanah Hanlin, a sixth-grader at Indian Creek Middle School, stated, “I liked the different stations and loved cosmetology.”

Evelynn DeFabio, a sixth-grader at Harrison Central Elementary School said she liked the criminal justice program best. Visitors of the program were given drowsy simulation goggles to wear through an obstacle course.

“I looked forward to cosmetology,” exclaimed Beatrice Moore, a sixth-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Junior High. She noted she would be interested in perhaps attending JVS one day.

Dawson Bennett, a sixth-grader at BJKM, stated, “I might like to go to the JVS one day. I like animals and I also like cars.”

Their options are many and they still have time to decide which program interests them the most. The camp has helped many middle-school students decide if they want to attend JVS once they reach their junior year of high school.