In addition to speaking to the importance of STEM jobs in Ohio, Brown specifically remarked on how important manufacturing is to the state's industry.
Since 2013, Brown has helped to organize camps for students around Ohio.
Starting on July 24, Lorain County Community College, 1005 N. Abbe Road in Elyria, hosted Brown's "Dream It! Design It! Make It! Manufacture It!" camp, also known as D2M2.
"Ohioans are proud of our state's long manufacturing history," Brown said. "To keep up that tradition, we must get a new generation interested in our changing manufacturing sector.
"That's what these camps are all about. The camps will help students across our state learn about manufacturing jobs right here in Ohio and the proud history of opportunities our manufacturing sector has created for their parents and grandparents."
Ryan Corrigan, an instructor at LCCC, helped to host the camp, which covered a variety of topics.
Corrigan runs the college's Fab Lab inside the Campana Center for Ideation and Invention, and also helps run the camps during summer.
"I've kind of taken a lead on some of our outreach initiatives this summer, including our STEAM camp," Corrigan said. "I attended the Sherrod Brown summer camp summit, kind of a kickoff event two months ago.
"We made sure that we met all of the requirements for that by doing this camp."
Camp co-organizer Alecia Gorski said she and Corrigan were thrilled to be able to take the reins of the camp this year.
"We are so excited to be able to offer the opportunity to these young students to explore advanced manufacturing applications and career pathways through technology and nature," Gorski said.
Corrigan said the camp provided free lunches, and was free to the students, in order to meet requirements set by Brown.
Shirts made in the United States also were provided to camp students, Corrigan said.
The camp focused on a wide array of topics throughout the week, he said.
Not only did students get hands-on experience, but the camp included speakers from field professionals and college staff members.
"We had to have a focus in manufacturing," Corrigan said. "Basically, we're introducing our teenagers to STEAM-based learning.
"We're tying in nature and STEAM, so, how does manufacturing relate to nature? (We're) going through that with role model speakers from around the area."
In addition to tying in nature, the camp had hoped to give students insight into career paths of the future in the manufacturing field, Corrigan said.
The week of camp also was designed to help foster leadership skills and personal maturity, he said.
"We are thrilled to be able to provide this unique summer experience to the young minds of Lorain County," LCCC communications manager Kimberly Carrasquillo said. "Through the D2M2 Camp, we aim to ignite a passion for learning, spark curiosity, and empower the next generation to become the innovators and change-makers of tomorrow."
©2023 The Morning Journal, Lorain, Ohio. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
