Brown Announces Return Of In-Person Summer Manufacturing Camps To Connect Young Ohioans With Manufacturing

Brown Partners with Ohio Businesses, Schools to Host the Camps Every Summer

WASHINGTON, DC – June 16, 2021 – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today hosted a news conference call about the return of in-person summer manufacturing camps around the state. For the ninth straight year, the camps will allow Ohio businesses, educators and community leaders to partner together to help young Ohioans learn about manufacturing jobs available in Ohio.

Last year, students participated in virtual camps due to the pandemic, and while safety concerns related to the pandemic have made it harder to access manufacturing sites this summer, students in at least nine counties will be able to learn in-person about modern manufacturing at this year’s camps.

“Manufacturing is an important industry in our state, and these camps allow students to find out more about real-world opportunities in the field,” said Brown. “While last year, campers were able to learn about these careers from their own living rooms, I’m excited that this year students will be able to visit manufacturing facilities, connect with mentors and participate in person in hands-on projects with other students.”

Brown’s office started organizing these camps in 2013. Last year, three camps were held virtually in three counties around the state and this year at least nine camps will be held in nine counties.

Summer manufacturing camps started in early June and will run through August.

This summer, camps have taken place or are scheduled to take place in:

  • Defiance County: June 14-June 16
  • Jackson County: July 27-28
  • Knox County: July 25-30
  • Lake/Geauga Counties: June 7-25
  • Mahoning County: June 28-July 2
  • Portage County: June 7- June 11
  • Richland County: July 19-23
  • Summit County: June 7-June 11
  • Trumbull County: August 2- August 6

More camps may be added in the future, and Brown’s office will alert local media ahead of the start of the camps. 

Brown was joined on today’s call by Tyler Shinaberry of EPIK Ltd., a business automation, applied technologies, economic development and workforce company in Morrow County. Shinaberry started the camp in Richland County and last year expanded into Knox County.

“I’ve seen firsthand what a difference these camps can make in the lives of the children who participate,” said Shinaberry. “They give children in Ohio a chance to learn more about opportunities in manufacturing, to learn new skills and in many cases to gain confidence they may not have had before.”

Brown’s summer manufacturing camps help introduce kids and their parents to an up-to-date, real-world understanding of American manufacturing, while teaching them the role manufacturing has played — and continues to play — in building and maintaining our economy and our middle class.

Campers visit local manufacturers, tour plants, and work with their peers on hands-on projects specific to their communities. The ages or grades for each camp are determined by local organizers.