Summer Finishing Camps
In 2023, CCAI FEF and CCAI launched industrial finishing camps as part of the Nuts, Bolts & Thinagmajigs Foundation’s (NBT) successful Summer Manufacturing Camp Program. Held at technical colleges and universities, the week-long camps aim to expose students aged 11-17 to manufacturing and the wide range of careers it offers.
The Finishing Camp Program provides an overview of all facets of finishing including pretreatment; powder coating, liquid coating, and Ecoat; curing; masking, and more. Videos and hands-on activities provide additional explanation of curriculum concepts for increased comprehension. Plant tours enable campers to see real world finishing operations and offer hands-on experiences including part hanging, part cleaning, and powder coating.
A color themed project exposes campers to another aspect of the finishing industry - color trends and theory. Throughout the week, campers work to create and name their "color of the year" along with supporting inspiration boards which are presented to fellow campers on the final afternoon.
Guest speakers with diverse finishing experience round out the program by sharing their career journeys and engaging campers in discussions about the industry and the opportunities it offers.
Four Finishing Camps were held in 2023, two at the State College of Florida (Bradenton, FL), one at Triton College (Chicago, IL), and one at Mississippi State University (Starkville, MS).
Funding to support camp startup and operations costs are provided through contributions to CCAI FEF.
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