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 17-19, 2025
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 24-25).
Career Academy for Kids Locations:
Career Academy for Kids will be held in three locations in 2025, Harbor Springs Shay Elementary 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. 2025 Bus Routes here!
Need more information?
Please contact Tory Thrush, Char-Em ISD Career/College Readiness Consultant, (231) 308-0287.
2025 CA4K Camp Class offerings
*Check back for offerings as we will continue to add to our class offereings before registration
Harbor Springs Courses: Shay Elementary in Harbor Springs
Be a Kid-Preneur
Current Grades: 3, 4, 5Â
Instructor: Hannah SandersonÂ
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!Â
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.
Char-Em Street STEM
Current grades: K, 1, 2
Instructor: Madelaine McShannock
Description: A STEM challenge each day will have students exploring science, technology, engineering and math in this fun 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 Street STEM traveling trailer will be on-site providing the creation tools – like 3D pens and virtual reality goggles! – for three days of exploration.Â
Fishing Explorers: Bait, Cast, and Catch
Current grades: 6, 7, 8
Instructor: Joshua Hudson
Description: An exciting hands-on class designed for students eager to dive into the world of fishing. Over the course of this 3-day camp, students will learn essential fishing skills such as how to choose and use different types of bait, cast a fishing line, and identify a variety of fish species. They’ll explore fishing rods, lures, and equipment while discovering the basics of conservation and safety. The camp combines practical demonstrations, group activities, and plenty of outdoor fun, offering students the perfect introduction to the exciting sport of fishing.
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.Â
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.
Boyne City Courses: Boyne City Middle School
Street STEM 2.0
Current grades: 3, 4, 5
Instructor: Roger Coates
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.
CA4K Chopped *Boyne City High School
Current Grades: 6, 7, 8
Instructor:Â
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.
Leonardo Da Vinci: The Science of Art / The Art of Science
Current grades: 6, 7, 8
Instructor: Martina HahnÂ
Description: Step into the world of Leonardo da Vinci, where the boundaries between art and science blur in exciting and creative ways! This 3-day camp is an immersive journey into the genius of Da Vinci, exploring his groundbreaking ideas and applying them to fun, hands-on projects. Campers will discover the scientific principles behind some of his most famous works while creating their own masterpieces including building a Da Vinci Bridge and learning about the Golden Ratio and the Fibonacci Sequence.
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.
