Career exploration camp teaches youth about manufacturing and logistics industry

LEHMAN, Pa. — Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education is offering a new and exciting career exploration camp, “Supplying Pizza to the World,” for boys and girls entering grades six to 12. This camp will research global markets to identify pizza products matching the diverse tastes in each market. Participants will learn what critical skills are needed to manufacture and deliver products to these global markets — while enjoying pizza along the way.

Manufacturing ranks third as an industry in Pennsylvania with the highest proportion of jobs in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, as well as one of the fastest growing industries, according to the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development’s 2019 Indicator Report. The need for employees in production, transportation and material-moving occupations continues to grow, with greater than 16,000 jobs needed in this industry over the next five years.

In order to attract workers of the future, local manufacturing industry companies are asking higher education organizations to inform them about youth and adult programs and initiatives where they can market manufacturing-related career opportunities. Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s “Supplying Pizza to the World” youth camp is in response to this request. Through this camp, we are educating our future workforce about the manufacturing/logistics industry in a fun way with a product that they can relate to — pizza, of course.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s Youth Summer Camps run from June 24 through 28, and from July 8 through 12, at the campus in Lehman. The “Supplying Pizza to the World” camp is offered each week of camp.

Anyone interested in enrolling in this camp or any other camp can contact the Continuing Education office by calling 570-675-9253 or emailing wbce@outreach.psu.edu. For detailed camp descriptions, University policies, and online registration, visit https://wilkesbarre.psu.edu/ce/youth/summercamps.