Crestwood Students Get Hands-On With Careers at Manufacturing & Trades Camp at LCCC

Nearly a dozen students from the Crestwood School District took a deep dive into the world of skilled trades and advanced manufacturing during the 2025 Manufacturing and Trades Career Exploration Camp, held June 14--20 at Luzerne County Community College.*

The weeklong camp was a collaborative effort between the College and the Crestwood Creators Team, designed to spark interest in high-demand, high-paying careers among local middle and high school students. Each day, students rotated through hands-on workshops and presentations led by LCCC faculty and industry experts, gaining real-world exposure to careers in trades and technology.

"This camp is about opening doors for students," said President John Yudichak of LCCC. "It shows them what's possible right here in Luzerne County-- that careers in manufacturing and trades are innovative, rewarding, and critical to our local economy."

A Week of Discovery

Campers explored a wide range of industries through hands-on sessions, including:

Engineering Design & Manufacturing with Brandon Babbish

Plumbing and HVAC with John Weaver

Electrical Controls with William Liotta

Welding & Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) with Ed Kuehner

Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing with Kevin Jones

Technical Math & Physics Applications with Brandon Babbish

On Wednesday, the students visited i2M, a leading local manufacturing facility, for an up-close look at how modern technology is transforming the industry. The visit was hosted by Alex Grover and included a tour and a Q&A session with i2M professionals, followed by lunch at the facility.

In addition to hands-on learning, students attended career and student services presentations to better understand the educational pathways and resources available to support their success in technical fields.

Building Future Talent

"The camp was both fun and eye-opening," said Carl Riggins, a Crestwood 11th grader. "I didn't realize how much technology is involved in today's manufacturing jobs-- and how many different career paths are out there."

The camp's goal was to foster early exposure and interest in technical careers, a key component of LCCC's mission to strengthen the region's workforce pipeline.

LCCC plans to continue building partnerships with local school districts like Crestwood to deliver similar programs in the future.