Toward the end of the school year, SRTC was busting at the seams hosting nearly 1400 8th grade students from all 8 partner districts (including Kennebunk, Kittery, Marshwood, Massabesic, Noble, Sanford/Acton, Wells, and York) for what has been coined “TECHSPLORATION”. In advance of their visit, all students were asked to complete an Interest Inventory and do research related to SRTC and our 26 programs. During the visit, they were able to visit/experience three different programs for 15 minutes each.
Deanna Farrell, Student Services Counselor, said that “the timing of this event is purposeful in that these students are about to embark on a new leg of their educational journey transitioning to high school. We want to be sure they know that SRTC may be an option by giving them a visual of what Career and Technical looks like and also requires. The partner schools coordinate this field trip with us and report it being a favorite and beneficial.”
Approximately 100 students rising into grades 6-8 from all 8 partner school districts participated in a five day camp. They joined one of the six programs offered to learn the following.
Agriculture campers participated in planting ginger, basil, pumpkins and other herbs to be harvested and used this fall in the Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry programs. Students also learned how to use a wood splitter, how to plant an eye catching planter with spillers, fillers, and thrillers, how to plant and dry herbs, and how to make sage honey. In addition, they made terrariums, a succulent air plant, and an herb drying rack to take home.
In Carpentry, they participated in learning how to measure, to use a level, shop safety around machinery, to use speed squares, the term “flush and square”, and the importance of teamwork. Not to mention, they built tables and chairs during class to take home and they made a Chair Planter while teaming up with the Agriculture students to learn about spillers, fillers, and thrillers as they planted in those planters to take home.
Firefighting campers gained essential hands-on emergency response skills. Participants mastered hose connections to spray water, practiced climbing ladders with proper safety mechanisms, and learned forcible entry techniques. They also navigated emergency vehicles using a driving simulator. To finish the experience, students joined the Law Enforcement program for interactive K9 police dog demonstrations, emphasizing teamwork. Students ended their week with the grand finale ride on the fire stuck to refill the tank for super sized sprinkler fun.
Law Enforcement campers gained hands-on knowledge of policing careers, beginning with lessons on morals, ethics, and precise note-writing. They mastered physical discipline through facing movements and baton work, explored modern technology via a driving simulator, and interacted with cruisers and tactical gear. Hosted with the South Portland and Sanford Police Departments, the camp also featured fingerprinting science and live K9 demonstrations.
In the Manufacturing program, they learned about this field and job opportunities. They learned how to skim cut and a touch off pass using a CNC mill and facing on a lathe. Additionally they used a digital meter, drill press, polishing wheel, etc. to make several really cool projects including a metal die, “SRTC Rocks” keychain, pegboard game and a mini American Flag made out of aluminum.
Video Production campers learned about the three phases of film production that included preproduction phase project planning, then production phase where storyboards turned to all the filming, followed by post-production and the editing phase of filmmaking. On the last day the campers celebrated with invited family for a viewing party. Students used professional 4K video cameras, microphones, slates, lighting and perhaps most fun, props and costumes.