Camp hosted by Inverness business helping students prepare for life after school

INVERNESS, Fla. — A Citrus County business is offering a free engineering camp to students.

Though lasting only a week, the camp is teaching them important life skills. It’s bringing a sense of meaning and purpose to both students and teachers.

Under the cool shade of this garage, Citrus County High School students are getting their hands dirty. Working hard and learning a few life skills in the process. 

“These are good skills to have and you can use these as you move forward in life,” says Tim Herndon, owner of Tim Herndon Plumbing.

From changing a tire, to building a toolbox, the skills these students are learning are wide-ranging. It’s part of the school district’s summer engineering camp. A week-long program dedicated to working on machinery and life skills. All under the watchful eye of Herndon, who owns the business where the camp is held.

“Not only do we build these things, but we repair vehicles,” said Tim Herndon. “We have repaired small engines this week. Matter of fact, we put an old go-cart together. Got it running, and these boys were so excited when they got to fire up that engine.”

One of those students is rising senior Gabriel Carey. A first-year camper, Carey says his interest is in the automotive industry. What he’s learning here, he says, will help prepare him for that path.

“All of this isn’t taught in school unless you’re in a special academy,” said Carey. “Like the construction academy, it teaches you how to use a tape measure, different tools and stuff. This teaches you responsibility, work ethic, respect. Everything in this academy is not taught in school.”

The camp is also a chance for students to learn from volunteers. And how they pursued their careers.

“We are growing students’ ability to work with different people, to work collaboratively to learn hands-on skills, and to really find themselves and what their passions are,” said Dr. Holli Herndon, with Career & Technical Education for Citrus County Schools.

It’s providing these students with a sense of identity, learning about themselves along the way.

“If you teach somebody on their level, they can learn anything,” said Herndon. “And if you have patience on teaching either children or adults, then everybody can learn. And that’s our goal here.”

Preparing these students for life after high school.