Nonprofit plans inclusive manufacturing camp for summer

Nonprofit Imagine Technical Institute is accepting applications for an inaugural month-long inclusive manufacturing summer camp in Springfield.

The four-week program is set to kick off July 13 at Red Monkey Foods Inc., 6751 W. Kings St., according to a news release. The hands-on camp is designed for high school students with intellectual or developmental disabilities interested in exploring careers in manufacturing. Participants must be at least 16 years old.

Interested students can apply online for the camp, which is free to attend and limited to just five participants, ensuring a highly personalized experience, according to ITI officials. Dee Gerstenkorn, ITI’s director of marketing and communications, said the camp is funded by a $7,000 grant from SparkForce, the charitable foundation of Elgin, Illinois-based Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. 

The instructor-led program offers participants the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities, learn foundational job skills, tour local manufacturing facilities and complete a capstone project that highlights what they’ve learned.

“This camp gives students the chance to explore their interests, build confidence and gain real-world exposure to the manufacturing industry in a supportive environment,” said Josh Clair, ITI’s director of competitive employment, in the release. “Experiences like this can play an important role in helping young people discover potential career paths and take meaningful next steps toward their future.”

Gerstenkorn said the instructor for the program is yet to be finalized, adding that St. Peters-based Boone Center Inc., the nonprofit operational partner for ITI, is in the process of hiring a job coach to help facilitate the camp experience. She said Boone Center also received a $26,700 grant from SparkForce to support two additional camps this summer that will run simultaneously in St. Peters and the St. Louis area.

For Springfield’s camp, Gerstenkorn said most of it will take place in several Red Monkey facilities, but additional manufacturer tours are being pursued. Those interested in hosting students for a few hours can contact Clair at 417-240-7630 or jclair@imaginejobs.org.

ITI is a vocational training and employment services provider for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in southwest Missouri. ITI officials say its primary focus is Christian, Greene, Stone and Taney counties. Services of the nonprofit, which opened a Hollister office in 2023, include job placement assistance and on-the-job coaching, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.