Valley teens bring their ‘A’ game to workforce summer camp at DEC

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com

A group of Mon Valley teens are approaching the legal work age, and they’re using a summer camp in Monessen to gain some skills they’ll need as they enter the workforce.
As part of the “Bring Your ‘A’ Gamer Summer Camp” experience, the students are talking to local professionals, including Mon Valley Independent staff writer Jeff Stitt, to learn about different types of careers in hopes of getting a head start on pursuing their goals and dreams.
The majority of the students are entering eighth grade or are heading to ninth grade. They come from a variety of Valley towns including Monessen, Belle Vernon and West Newton.
The free camp, which is being held at a Douglas Education Center space on Donner Avenue in Monessen, is made possible thanks to the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc. It’s an eight-day camp for middle school students in grades six through eight in Westmoreland and Fayette counties. It is funded through a grant from the Westmoreland Fayette Workforce Investment Board.
At the end, young people in the program walk away with a “Bring Your ‘A’ Game” workforce development training certification that they can put on their resume and show to prospective employers.
To get the young people excited about the program and excited about earning money, they’re given a monetary daily stipend for attendance and participation, and are able to earn up to $200. They also walk away from the program as the owners of a brand new Amazon Kindle. They use the Kindles while in the classroom as well.
Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Vice President of Education and Workforce Development Michel Keller said the teens are using the “Bring Your ‘A’ Game” curriculum “to teach them to be work ready.”

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