Career camp gives Yuma middle schoolers a head start
Adrik Vargas
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – While many kids are sleeping in this summer, a group of Yuma middle schoolers are spending the week exploring their future careers.
The 2025 Career Exploration Camp introduces students to hands-on careers in fields like cosmetology, biomedical technology, animation, and law and public safety.
The four-day camp is a partnership between Yuma ABEC, STEDY, Elevate Southwest, and the University of Arizona’s Yuma campus, and it’s being held at the STEDY campus.
“I really want to be prepared when I’m older, because adulting is a real thing,” said student Savannah Pope.
Yuma ABEC Project Manager Rusty Tyndell says middle school is the ideal time to start those conversations.
“Research has shown that if you wait until your junior or senior year to think about what you wanna do in life, it’s too late,” he said.
Some students, like Angel Valle, are still figuring things out, and that’s the point.
“I think this is a perfect opportunity for me to explore more into careers,” Valle said.
Pope agrees, saying it’s about more than just picking a job.
“It opens like a window for all these kids to realize it’s not just one thing…there’s other things you can do with your life,” said Pope.
About 160 students are attending the camp this summer, learning new skills, making friends, and dreaming big.