Career Center STEM Camp educates youth

At the beginning and end of each day at the Barnwell County Career Center’s (BCCC) STEM Camp, campers teach director David Augustine something new they learned in their classes.

“They have all shared with me, every morning and every afternoon, what they've learned and some of the things that they've picked up on,” said Augustine, who learned from both returning campers and newcomers.

The second annual free STEM Camp, was held from July 25 to July 27 and joined together students from all schools in Barnwell County to learn about how technology impacts our world.

Students learned about how technology affects the fields of health science, marketing, automotive technology, agriculture, mechanical engineering, and cyber security. Each class was taught by a BCCC educator.

Natasha Broxton teaches marketing, and aims to “incorporate service activities to teach them more about giving back instead of just receiving,” she said.

Broxton has a passion for teaching marketing because it incorporates creativity. She finds the creative element of marketing encourages students to bring their own ideas into their work.

“When students are creative and they bring their own spin into it, then they're more excited about their work,” said Broxton. Marketing students are responsible for the bulletin boards depicting student successes and career opportunities displayed in the hallways of BCCC.

BCCC marketing students have made Christmas cards for local nursing homes, supported breast cancer awareness in October, and distributed candy canes for every student in the school.

“I like how a lot of the things are hands-on and more interactive,” said camper Maddie Lynch, whose favorite courses at camp are marketing and automotive technology.

Automotive technology taught by BCCC educator Mark Epperson, seemed to be a favorite of many campers.

“I like all the classes and learning new things. Mr. E, he's funny, I like doing all his classes,” said Ashley Williamson, a BCCC camper.

Campers Evie Hindman, Anthony Barrett, and Trinity Jordan all concurred they enjoyed Epperson’s classes because he made important life lessons like learning to change a tire fun.

“I'm just as mature as they are and they just enjoy it,” said Epperson with a laugh.

“I've worked them like rented mules and they've loved it,” he said. “They changed a tire and liked it, they balanced a tire and they liked it. It's such great exposure.”

Epperson refers to BCCC STEM Camp as a ‘win-win,’ because not only are students learning essential life skills, but they are making friends from other schools that they may not otherwise make.

On the last day of camp, students did a project resulting in pink pig hats. While wearing his handmade hat, camper Rylan Johnson explained the knowledge and skills he learned in Epperson’s class will stick with him forever.

“I liked changing tires and stuff,” said Johnson.

“You learn how to fix tires, change tires, balance tires, put weights on them,” said camper Tanner Jackson, who sat with fellow campers and friends, Colton Uldrick and Sylas Tolbert.

“We've been learning about agriculture, plants, and animals. And it gets really detailed,” said Tolbert. “We also learned about social security and stuff like that, and we had fun doing it, too.”

Tolbert explained that on the first day of camp students were learning about artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

“We played this little game where we had to write specific instructions for our teammate to follow to get you to a certain location. If you make a mistake, you have to erase it, and rewrite it,” said Tolbert.

BCCC guidance counselor Mercedes Walker spent her first week at BCCC welcoming students to the summer STEM program and was impressed with how smoothly the program runs.

“I was very impressed with this program and the way that it operated,” said Walker. “I walked into a well organized system. The schedule was already mapped out so the students were ready and then when they came in, they got into their groups, and then they went into their classes and it was a smooth rotation.”

Even though it was her first week at BCCC, Walker felt students were highly motivated and engaged in learning at this school.

“They could answer every question that Mr. Augustine asked them and they could share about what they learned in the classes,” said Walker. “I've been a part of programs like this before, and this one is very impressive to me.”

Walker asked each student if they were to consider coming to BCCC after camp was finished and what program they would be interested in. Each student asked named a career or an interest that was taught at BCCC.

BCCC is a vocational school that allows students to work toward certifications like Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and many more. Certifications are specific to the course in which students are enrolled.

BCCC offers students training in their areas of interest to further their career possibilities. Students are getting a taste of what attending BCCC looks like through their three-days at camp.

BCCC student Anna Walling plans on coming to the school for health science and has aspirations of a career in the field.

Camper Kazor Morgan finds BCCC helpful in fulfilling his future career goals as a welder. Welding and automotive technology were two of his favorite courses.

BCCC offers programs in agricultural education, auto technology, building construction, cosmetology, criminal justice, cyber security, electricity, health science, marketing education, mechatronics, mechanical design, pharmacology, and welding.

For more information about Barnwell County Career Center programs, visit https://www.bccc80.com/ or call (803) 259-5512.