2026 CTE Summer Academies

Academies begin at 8:30 am and we ask parents to come into the building promptly at 3:30 pm to pick up their student(s).  ** Lunch is provided

Go Cart Build                

June 15th - June 19th     6th - 8th grade

24 spots          K. Thomas, D. Sullivan & A. Hoskins                        

Are you ready to transform a pile of parts into a high-speed machine? This summer, join a pit crew of your peers for a hands-on engineering adventure where you are the lead mechanic. Starting from the ground up, you’ll master the mechanics of the "skeleton" by engineering the braking, steering, and suspension systems before moving on to the "armor," where you’ll fabricate custom body panels and safety roll bars. Finally, you'll install the "heart" of the machine as you mount the engine and align the drive chain for maximum power.  We don't just build these karts to look at them; on the final day, you’ll take the wheel and experience the thrill of driving the very vehicle you built from scratch! Parents and fans are invited to join us on Friday to witness the "Driving Experience" and see these custom machines in action on the track. Vroom, Vroom! Spaces fill up fast—grab your spot in the garage today!

** NO SHORTS or OPEN TOE SHOES

5 days                        $150

Welding                                           

June 17th - June 19th     5th—8th grade 

20 spots C. Dzieszkowski, J. Toland, & S. Winget

Get ready to turn up the heat and learn the coolest trade around! In this hands-on camp, you’ll step into the shop and transform raw metal into awesome projects you can actually take home. We start with Safety First, teaching you how to gear up like a pro with welding helmets, jackets, and gloves while mastering shop etiquette. Once you've got the basics down, you’ll dive into MIG and Stick welding, learning how to strike an arc, control the "puddle," and fuse metal together with incredible strength.  But we aren't just practicing—we’re building! You’ll apply your new skills to create functional shop tools and decorative metal art. Plus, you’ll get a high-tech edge by using a CNC Plasma Cutter to design and cut out your own personalized metal sign. Whether you’re running your first bead or operating modern fabrication tech, you’ll walk away with real-world skills and the pride of saying, "I built this!"

  ** NO SHORTS or OPEN TOE SHOES

3 days                        $90

Butterflies, Birds, & Bat Houses                                         

June 22th - June 26th 7th—10th grade

20 spots J. Shaw & M. Shaw

Are you ready to trade the digital world for a high-tech workshop and become an architect for the great outdoors? Butterflies, Birds, & Bat Houses is an immersive, hands-on academy designed specifically for students in grades 7–10 who want to master real-world trade skills while making a tangible impact on the environment. This isn't your average summer camp; it’s a mission-driven construction lab where you’ll transition from a student to a maker, using professional tools to solve real-world ecological challenges

** NO SHORTS or OPEN TOE SHOES

5 days                        $150

Capture the Moment:  Intro to Photography                                         

June 23rd - June 24th 5th—8th grade

15 spots J. Holladay & M. Chandler

Ready to move beyond basic phone filters and finally ditch "Auto" mode? This high-energy Photography Academy is designed to transform middle schoolers into true visual storytellers. Whether you’ve never held a professional camera or you're a hobbyist looking to level up your game, you’ll step behind the lens and gain total control over your gear. We believe great photos aren't just captured by accident—they are created with skill and vision! From technical mastery to artistic expression, you’ll spend two days seeing the world through a whole new perspective. By the end of the Academy, you’ll walk away with a portfolio of stunning shots, a boost in creative confidence, and the skills to make every single click count!

** NO SHORTS or OPEN TOE SHOES

2 days                        $60

CODE BLUE!  First Response & Surgical Skills Lab

June 29th - July 1st 7th—10th grade

16 spots S. Reynolds & R. Case

Step into the fast-paced world of emergency medicine with the Junior Medic Academy, an intensive three-day residency designed for rising 7th–10th graders ready to trade the classroom for the ER. From the moment you receive your white coat, you’ll be immersed in high-stakes training, mastering life-saving skills like CPR, "Stop the Bleed" tourniquet application, and AED operation during our "Golden Hour" emergency simulations. You’ll transition from the field to the clinic to perform heart dissections, master diagnostic tools like stethoscopes and BP cuffs, and even "scrub in" to our surgical clinic to practice professional suturing techniques. This hands-on journey culminates in a "Grand Rounds" final challenge where you must diagnose and treat a patient in real-time, earning your Junior Medic Certificate and a clear roadmap toward a future career as a doctor, nurse, or first responder.

** NO SHORTS or OPEN TOE SHOES

3 days                        $90

Spark STEM Academy

July 6th - July 10th 4th—9th grade

45 spots D. Grimes & K. Grimes

Step into the ultimate high-tech playground with The Innovation Lab: Tech, Tools & Tomorrow, a fast-paced engineering experience where the lines between imagination and reality blur. You’ll become a master creator by using TinkerCAD to 3D model custom toys and fidgets, slicing your designs for the 3D printers, and even donning Meta Quest VR headsets to walk inside your virtual creations before they are built. The hands-on excitement continues as you operate laser engravers to customize gear and dive into the Robotics Arena, where you’ll construct VEX Clawbots for head-to-head competitions and program Sphero Indi and Bolt+ robots through complex obstacle courses. Whether you are mastering electronics in our Snap Circuit labs, assembling high-end Kiwi Crate kits, or coding the next generation of bots, this academy offers you the chance to experiment with the coolest technology on the planet and bring your most innovative ideas to life

** NO SHORTS or OPEN TOE SHOES

3 days                        $90

Camp Cunning Cos

July 13th - July 17th 6th—7th grade 

July 20th - July 24th 8th—9th grade 

15 spots C. Cunningham

**Location – This camp is being held at Grondin’s in Lapeer.  Please be sure to drop your student off in the back of the building at the following address:

Grondin’s College of Cosmetology

371 W. Nepessing St.  

Lapeer, Mi.  48446 – Phone:  810-664-7683 

Get ready to dive into the glamorous world of professional beauty at Camp Cunning Cos, the ultimate summer destination for hair, skin, and nail enthusiasts! This isn't just about looking good—it’s about the science and skill behind the style. We’ll kick things off with vibrant coloring projects and interactive demos to discover the "how" behind our hair, skin, and nails. Once you've mastered the theory, you’ll head to the styling floor for hands-on practice with professional manikins, perfecting your techniques in a real shop environment.  Students will take home the Manikins.

** NO SHORTS or OPEN TOE SHOES

5 days                        $150

Lights, Camera, Action!  A TV Production Academy

July 14th - July 15th 6th—8th grade 

15 spots J. Holladay & M. Chandler

Step into the spotlight and behind the scenes with Lights, Camera, Action!, a high-energy TV Production Academy. This hands-on experience turns the classroom into a professional broadcast studio where you take total control of the airwaves! From the anchor desk to the control room, you’ll learn exactly what it takes to produce a show from start to finish.  Throughout the week, you’ll master the art of media making by brainstorming segments, writing scripts, and directing your peers. You’ll gain real-world experience operating professional cameras and managing sound to produce both a lively talk show and a professional news broadcast. Whether you want to be the famous face on screen or the technical genius calling the shots, you’ll walk away with the confidence and skills to be the next big name in journalism!

2 days                        $60

Intro to Cosmetology 

June 17th - June 18th (2 days) 5th - 6th grade

June 23rd - June 25th (3 days) 7th - 8th grade

June 30th - July 2nd (3 days) 9th - 10th grade

14 spots available for each camp M. Grossbauer

**Location – This camp is being held at Grondin’s in Lapeer.  Please be sure to drop your student off in the back of the building at the following address:

Grondin’s College of Cosmetology

371 W. Nepessing St.  

Lapeer, Mi.  48446 – Phone:  810-664-7683 

Step behind the stylist’s chair and into the spotlight at our high-energy Cosmetology Camp! This is your chance to master the professional secrets of hair and nail care in a real salon atmosphere. You’ll start by learning the art of the perfect shampoo and scalp massage, then dive into the world of intricate braiding and precision setting to create runway-ready looks. But we don't stop at hair—you’ll also become a nail technician, mastering the techniques behind flawless manicures and relaxing pedicures.  The best part? You’ll get to put your skills to the test in our "Live Salon" sessions! You will perform professional services on your fellow campers and, in return, be pampered with full treatments yourself. Between practicing on each other and perfecting your techniques on your very own professional manikin (which you get to keep!), you’ll walk away with the confidence and style of a true beauty pro.

2 days $ 60

3 days                      $90

Broadway Kids Bootcamp

July 28th - July 31st 4th—8th grade

50 spots         R. Brewer & D. Brewer

**Location – This academy is being held at the Imlay City High School Performing Arts Center.  Students will enter through the big glass atrium at the front of the Performing Arts Center

1001 Norlin Dr. 

Imlay City, Mi.  48444 

Join us for a high-energy, confidence-building week of musical theatre magic! The ICHS Kids Musical Theatre Camp invites students entering 3rd–8th grade to step into the spotlight as they bring Shrek The Musical KIDS to life.  Campers will spend the week immersed in singing, dancing, acting, and performance preparation in a supportive, professional-style rehearsal environment. Through engaging theatre games, character development exercises, and ensemble work, students will build stage skills, teamwork, and self-confidence—all while preparing for a staged reading end-of-camp performance on July 31st at 5:00 PM at the Imlay City Performing Arts Center.  Directed by Don and Rebekah Brewer alongside the ICHS Thespians, this camp offers students the opportunity to learn from experienced theatre educators and high school mentors in a fun, structured setting. Lunch is provided daily, and each camper receives a camp t-shirt which will be used as their "costume" for the staged reading performance.  Whether your child is brand new to the stage or already loves to perform, this camp is designed to help them grow, shine, and discover the joy of musical theatre.

 4 days $ 120

If paying by cash or check, please register with Maria Martz at mmartz@lapeerisd.org or 810-664-1124 ext. 83901.  Payment is due upon registration.  

Credit Card registration will be located on our website at www.lapeerisd.org

For further information, please contact the Educational Services Director, Dawn Cappell at DMosher@lapeerisd.org or 810-245-3983