Earlier this week, we told you about the tremendous growth in the agbioscience industry here in Indiana. It’s now a $58 billion economy in the state, growing more than $6 billion from 2019 to 2021. Along with that total growth comes job growth.
Huntington University, a Christian university in Huntington, Indiana, is seeing that growth. They want high schoolers who have an interest to see what the agbioscience space is all about.
“So, we created a week-long educational, interactive, hands-on camp with our professors and our current students to kind of get your hands dirty, if you will,” says Matt Gerlach, Director of Academic Camping at Huntington University.
He says they received a Lily Endowment grant to start a number of summer camps, including their new Agbioscience Academy for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
“In class sessions, in a chem lab, and working with hands in the soil, but also getting into our Animal Health and Sciences Department. Also, into the field to work with pest management and do honey extraction and all kinds of unique things.”
The overnight camp on campus is from July 10th to the 14th. Gerlach points out this is a great way to get some of the college experience before these students actually get to college. Other camps will be hosted that week on campus as well.
“So, those kids will actually all interact through evening activities that are social and doing a bunch of really unique, kind of more traditional ‘campy’ summer camp activities. But it’s an opportunity to get a really good look at the university, a really good look at the ag program or these other programs, meet professors, spend time with them, and also learn whether or not you think you want to do this. I think it’s a really great selling point for both parents and kids. ‘Oh, I’m interested. What is it?’ They have a chance to come figure it out.”
Scholarships for the camp are available. You can find more information at huntington.edu/camps.
