ALEXANDRIA, La. (WNTZ) – Louisiana Central and Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) are excited to host the third annual Manufacturing Career Camp. Manufacturing Career Camp 2025 will take place from June 9 – June 13 at CLTCC and participating industry locations. 

Parents and guardians can now submit an application for their student to participate in the program. Following a review of the applications, parents/guardians will be contacted if their student is selected.

Manufacturing Career Camp is designed to introduce high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to manufacturing careers available in Central Louisiana while showcasing the educational opportunities in manufacturing at local colleges. Over the course of the week, camp participants will explore key areas of manufacturing, including welding, forest products, machining, electronics/technology, and energy.

“Empowering high school students with hands-on experiences in manufacturing not only ignites their passion for innovation, but also opens their eyes to the amazing career opportunities within our region,” says Keisha Hamilton, Program Coordinator at Louisiana Central. “By providing exploratory opportunities, we’re nurturing the next generation of skilled workforce, which is vital for sustaining and advancing the manufacturing sector of our region’s economy.”

Camp participants will tour local manufacturing facilities, engage in hands-on activities, learn about the products made in Central Louisiana, and witness the manufacturing process firsthand.

Several manufacturing facilities have sponsored and hosted Manufacturing Career Camp in previous years, serving as tour stops and offering in-person learning experiences. Partners include: AFCO, Boise Cascade, CLECO, Crest Industries, Procter & Gamble, RoyOMartin, Hayes Manufacturing, UTLX, Manchac Technologies, LaSalle Lumber, Stella-Jones (Alexandria), and Plastipak Packaging.

In addition to local manufacturing companies supporting the program, Louisiana Central is proud to present this camp alongside Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC), with key contributions from the United Way and the Rapides Parish School Board. United Way provided dedicated volunteers to assist throughout the camp week, ensuring a smooth and engaging experience for participants. Meanwhile, the Rapides Parish School Board played a crucial role in facilitating student access to the program by providing transportation to various locations.

“CLTCC strives to ensure that Central Louisiana has a strong, skilled workforce,” says Lindsay Green, Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Grant Development at CLTCC’s Alexandria Campus. “With manufacturing being a key economic driver of the region, hosting a Manufacturing Career Camp is imperative to sharing with our local youth the diverse career opportunities right in their own backyard. Whether it be careers focusing on welding, machining, forestry, or electrical skills, this camp allows us to share those career opportunities with our young people.”

“We are grateful for the eagerness of our industry partners and CLTCC for supporting exploratory learning opportunities for area students,” said Lafe Jones, Louisiana Central’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President. “A key part of our business retention efforts is establishing workforce initiatives that not only lead people to high-paying jobs, but keep our local industry supplied with qualified and trained talent. Local manufacturers offer great career opportunities for area youth to consider, and the demand for a strong manufacturing workforce will increase in future years