Career Academy for Kids (CA4K)
What is Career Academy for Kids?
CA4K is a three-day summer program of enrichment classes operated by Char-Em ISD. Classes are designed to help students experience a particular field of interest in-depth and hands-on.
Career Academy for Kids Dates: June 23-25, 2026
Career Academy For Kids Times: 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. each day
Career Academy for Kids Grades: Students in grades K-8 (current school year 25-26).
Career Academy for Kids Locations:
Career Academy for Kids will be held in three locations in 2026, Harbor Springs High School, Boyne City Middle School, and Pellston High School (PowerSports).
Career Academy for Kids cost: The cost for Career Academy for Kids is $100, which includes registration, a light snack each day and a T-shirt! Change from previous years: Lunch will not be provided. Please pack a lunch each day for your student(s). Light snack will be provided during the day.
Is transportation available?
Char-Em ISD will provide specific transportation routes at no additional charge. Look for transportation registration details during the online course registration process. (Note: transportation is not provided to Pellston High School.) Transportation routes are detailed in the online registration process.
Need more information?
Please contact Tory Thrush, Char-Em ISD Career/College Readiness Consultant, (231) 308-0287.
2026 CA4K Camp Class offerings
*2026 class offerings will have additional offerings added up until the week before registration officially opens. Check back
Harbor Springs Courses: Harbor Springs High School
Be a Kid-Preneur
Current Grades: 3, 4, 5
Instructor:
Description: Be the CEO of fun! Let your imagination run wild as you dream up an idea for a business. Take your brain off-road and choose a cutting edge product or service that you are passionate about or invent something brand new. Working with a business partner, you’ll launch your own invented business and sell your product or service to your fellow kidpreneurs. Game on!
Char-Em Beauty Salon
Current grades: 7, 8
Instructor: Kaela Vandermus
Description: Char-Em Beauty Salon offers hands-on experiences in hair styling, makeup application, skincare, and nail art. Participants learn techniques from professionals, explore industry trends, and develop their creativity. It’s a fun and educational environment where aspiring beauty enthusiasts can enhance their skills and passion for cosmetology.
Drones 101
Current grades: 6 7, 8
Instructor: Rob LaPoint
Description: This course is designed to provide basic knowledge of drones, also known officially as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). It will include the essential topics of operational training, safety, flight basics, drone building and careers utilizing UAVs. Drones are on the forefront of technology; their many uses are just being realized for organizations, businesses, public safety, deliveries, and individual hobby enjoyment.
Fun with Nature Link to Video!
Current Grades: 2, 3, 4, 5
Instructor: Kris Dey
Description: If you enjoy being outdoors, exploring nature, and being an active observer, you’ll love our daily hikes or outdoor activities to explore animals, birds, plants, landscapes, insects, fish, and more in nature. Dress for the weather and outdoor adventures.
Memory Book Builders: Scrapbooking
Current grades: 3, 4, 5
Instructor: Madelaine McShannock
Description: In this hands-on scrapbooking class, students will design their own personalized scrapbook pages using fun supplies like patterned paper, stickers, and creative layouts. They’ll learn simple crafting techniques, build confidence, and bring their favorite memories to life. This class will emphasize imagination, personality, and letting the creative juices flow!
Photography: Tourist in your own Town Link to Video!
Current grades: 4, 5, 6
Instructor: Beth Anne Piehl
Description: Do you love Northern Michigan and want to share its beauty with the world? We do, too! In this course, you will learn basic photography skills first, then we will visit some of Harbor Springs’ most treasured spots to capture creative photographs. Next, we’ll turn your images into promotional pieces to share through social media and in print brochures by learning graphic design basics. Cameras will be provided, or bring your own! Students are also welcome to bring their own phones for capturing photos. Questions about equipment provided can be directed to the instructor at (231) 330-5701 or via email at piehlb@charemisd.org.
Pellston Public Schools: Powersports Building
PowerSports Technology
Current Grades: 6, 7, 8
Instructor: Tommy Lorencz
Description: PowerSports Technology offers students the opportunity to learn to identify engine and chassis components while using repair manuals to repair different types of small engines and outdoor equipment. In the class you will disassemble, measure, and reassemble small engines and equipment in order to gain experience and skills that will be useful moving forward.
Boyne City Courses: Boyne City Middle School
Bake It ‘Til You Make It
Current Grades: 4, 5, 6
Instructor: Lisa Clavier
Description: A hands-on, three-day baking adventure where kids turn the kitchen into a creativity-filled flavor lab! Students will mix, measure, bake, and decorate delicious treats while learning kitchen safety, baking basics, and the cool science behind their favorite sweets. From baking gooey cookies and fluffy cupcakes to practicing pro-style decorating and piping, campers will discover that mistakes aren’t failures — they’re part of the fun. Along the way, students build teamwork, confidence, and problem-solving skills. By the final day, each baker will head home with a box of homemade treats, a custom recipe book, and the confidence to take on any recipe —because here, you bake it ’til you make it!
CA4K Chopped *Boyne City High School
Current Grades: 6, 7, 8
Instructor: Chef Cole Thornton
Description: Kids will have an exploration in cooking with fun and tasty recipes while gaining valuable experience that can be used in their home kitchens. Chef-led cooking activities and instructions are designed to help students familiarize themselves with a home kitchen.
Char-Em Med
Current Grades: 6, 7, 8
Instructor: Riley Peterson
Description: Put on scrubs and enter the world of medicine. Learn about many fields in healthcare and what it takes to be a nurse, paramedic, or a surgeon. Discover how to take a pulse and blood pressure, start an I.V. and experience a state-of-the-art simulation lab. Students will get the opportunity to see North Central Michigan College’s anatomage (anatomy) table, tour a health care program, and visit the local humane society.
Escape Room Challenge: 3-Day Adventure
Current Grades: 4, 5, 6
Instructor: Judy Falk
Description: Can you beat the clock? In this high-energy camp, students become master detectives as they dive into the world of Code Breaking and Logic Puzzles. Campers will race against time to open Break Out Boxes, sharpen their deductive reasoning with One Minute Mysteries, and navigate a high-stakes Scavenger Hunt using a hand-drawn Treasure Map. The excitement reaches its peak with a field trip to a real escape room, where teams must put their problem-solving skills to the ultimate test. Think fast, work together, and prepare for suspense and discovery. Ready, set, escape!
Explore, Observe, Draw: A Nature Field Guide Camp
Current Grades: 6, 7, 8
Instructor: Martina Hahn
Description: This class is a hands-on summer art program that invites children to slow down, look closely, and discover the beauty and importance of the plants growing all around us. Participants will explore common outdoor plants — often called “weeds” — through guided nature walks, drawing, painting, and simple research. Using art and storytelling, they will learn how these plants support pollinators, ecosystems, and people. Each camper will create a handmade mini-field guide filled with original artwork, observations, and discoveries to take home and continue adding to long after camp ends.
Future Dreamers: Career Exploration Camp!
Current Grades: K, 1, 2
Instructor: Shelby Thrush
Description: Spark your child’s imagination at our Future Dreamers Career Camp! This three-day adventure for grades K–2 introduces young learners to the world of work through hands-on play, from saving the day as community heroes to designing skyscrapers as engineers and conducting experiments as scientists. Through dress-up stations, building challenges, and creative crafts, students will build teamwork skills and discover their passions in a fun, supportive environment. Give your little leader a head start on dreaming big—register today for a week of discovery, creativity, and our grand finale Career Parade!
Street STEM
Current grades: K, 1, 2
Instructor: Brandon Beltz
Description: A STEM challenge each day will have students exploring science, technology, engineering and math in this fun new offering! Who can build the tallest tower, the strongest bridge, or the balloon car that travels the farthest? Solar cooking is on the menu, as is exploring the many ways that STEM impacts our lives in fun and exciting ways! Char-Em ISD’s new Street STEM traveling trailer will be on-site providing the creation tools – like 3D pens and virtual reality goggles! – for three days of exploration.
