

Tech Trek
July 21 - July 24, 2025
Registration/Check-in: 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Sessions: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Southwest Tech Campus Fennimore, WI
During Tech Trek, students who will be entering grades 7 through 9 in the 2025–2026 school year will participate in fun hands-on, exploratory activities related to technical careers.
The camp participants will receive:
- Hands-on activities lead by Southwest Tech program instructors to increase knowledge of technical careers
- Lunch each day
- Tech Trek 2025 T-shirt
- Lots of FUN!!!
Registration
$40 per participant material fee.
- Payment must be received by the registration deadline to hold your spot in your preferred sessions. If payment is not received by the deadline and there is a waitlist for the session, your spot may be given to another registrant who has paid. The $40 material fee is nonrefundable for cancellations received after July 7, 2025.
Please select from the following session choices to customize camp schedule to your interests:
Monday, July 21
- NitroX
- Cutting Edge CNC
- Welding is Fun
- Gearhead’s Tech Time
- Exploration in Surgical Technology
- Discover the World of Nursing
- Save a Life with CPR
- Building Trades-Carpentry
- Tie-Dye & Chill
Tuesday, July 22
- NitroX
- Cutting Edge CNC
- Hackathon
- Welding is Fun
- Lineman Challenge
- Gearhead’s Tech Time
- The Mighty White Blood Cell
- Discover the World of Nursing
- Building Trades-Carpentry
Wednesday, July 23
- NitroX
- Cutting Edge CNC
- Hackathon
- Crime Scene Escape
- Welding is Fun
- Exploration in Surgical Technology
- Discover the World of Nursing
- Glam Lab: A Cosmetology Adventure
- Building Trades-Carpentry
Thursday, July 24
NitroX

Maximum 12 Participants
George Whiteaker, Cory Bussan – Room 1709
Students will have an opportunity to explore, drive and race a remote control (RC) Nitro Revo 3.3 truck. Students will learn fundamentals in Nitro engine troubleshooting, RC steering and suspension and electronics. On Thursday students will compete in a course race and a 90 foot drag race for the piston cup WIN!
Please note: This is a four-day session.
*This session will have afternoon sessions on Monday and Wednesday with on-site visits to local automobile dealership sites to learn more about the industry and engage in additional hands-on activities related to the field. Transportation will be provided to and from the sites with a return time to campus of approximately 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Cutting Edge CNC
Maximum 10 Participants
Jason Robbins– Room 600
Explore the world of CNC machining and precision cutting! In this hands-on session, students will get up close and personal with CNC machines, learning how to program and operate them safely. You'll create custom designs, transform raw materials into cool projects, and gain valuable skills for manufacturing and design.
Please note that this is a 2-day session.
Welding is Fun
Maximum 10 Participants
Ed Anderson – Room 517
Students will learn multiple welding processes as well as plasma cutting. They will make projects with multiple machines and learn how to safely use these machines.
Gearhead's Tech Time
Maximum 10 Participants
George Whiteaker – Room 1707/1708
Participants will explore the worlds of Auto Tech, Auto Body, and Ag Power. Small engine repair, electrical circuit building, vehicle computer diagnostics, virtual paint booth, NASCAR pit stop simulator, plus more are all on the agenda for this session.
Exploration in Surgical Technology
Maximum 10 Participants
Rachel Huber – Room 2635
Students will learn about surgical technology and then do activities in the surgical lab to learn what it is like to work in this profession.
Discover the World of Nursing
Maximum 8 Participants
Angela Starkey – Room 2639
Ever wondered what it’s like to be a real-life superhero? Nurses help people every day, and this is your chance to step into their shoes! In this hands-on session, you’ll:
- Explore what nurses do and the cool places they work (hint: it’s more than just hospitals!)
- Learn lifesaving skills like checking vital signs (yes, you’ll get to use real medical tools!)
- Find out how you can start your journey toward a career in healthcare
If you’re curious about medicine, love helping people, or just want to see what it's like to be a nurse, this session is perfect for you! Who knows? It might just be the start of an amazing future in healthcare
Save a Life with CPR
Maximum 8 Participants
Kris Schoville – Room 2634
Students will learn how to perform lifesaving CPR and will have a certification at the end of the session. This will be a combination of classroom and hands-on skills.
Building Trades-Carpentry
Maximum 10 Participants
Andy Reynolds – Room 519
Participants will learn about Southwest Tech’s Building Trades Carpentry program and the various tools and equipment used in the building construction field. Participants will a build a picnic table squirrel feeder from wood.
Tie-Dye & Chill
Maximum 12 Participants
McKenzie Graf and Delanie Weber – Charley’s
Decorate a T-shirt with one of many different styles of tie-dye. Choose your own colors and watch the magic happen.
The Mighty White Blood Cell
Maximum 10 Participants
Karen Farner and Shannon Cathman - Rooms 1654
Participants will explore how our body uses white blood cells (WBCs) as part of our immune response to maintain balance and protect us from disease. We will be preparing blood smears and using the microscope to locate and identify WBCs. This is one of the many things that a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) does in the clinical laboratory to assist in screening, diagnosing, and treating disease.
Lineman Challenge
Maximum of 12 participants
Joe Randall & Kyle McCorkle – Building 2200 & EPD Pole Field
Learn how to operate a boom truck with a remote and to also be a lineman. This session will allow students to build an overhead and underground electrical distribution system from the ground up. What makes it so easily understandable is that short power poles will be installed so the students will be constructing the lines at eye level. Students will work in crews, learning how teamwork is a big part of a lineman’s day, and how each member of the team depends on others in the crew to get the job done safely and successfully. Students will be exposed to lineman tools, gear, line trade equipment, and learn the many different types of knots lineman use on a daily basis. Students will also learn about electrical safety.
Hackathon"
Maximum 10 Participants
Aaron Holverson – Room 227
Students will learn real-world hacking skills, solve challenges, and compete in a fun competition! No experience needed – we will teach you the basics before you put your skills to the test.
Please note that this is a 2-day session.
Crime Scene Escape
Maximum 10 Participants
Kris Wubben – Room 2008 & Public Safety House
Practice basic evidence techniques and then use your new skills to solve a mystery and escape the farmhouse. Investigators will receive a scenario and use their analytical skills to complete the mystery before the clock runs out.
Glam Lab: A Cosmetology Adventure
Maximum 12 Participants
Lauren Runde – Room 502
"Glam Lab" is an exciting summer school class designed to introduce students to the world of cosmetology. Led by experienced cosmetology students and instructors, this hands-on workshop gives a sneak peek into the skills and techniques taught in cosmetology school. From hairstyling and makeup artistry to nail care and skin treatments, students will learn the basics of beauty and self-care in a fun and interactive environment. With live demonstrations, creative activities, and expert tips, "Glam Lab" sparks curiosity and empowers students to explore the art of cosmetology while building confidence in their personal style.
Small Worlds: Microorganisms and Microscopy
Maximum 10 Participants
Tamara Griesel – Room 116
In this session, students will be able to view items that can’t normally be seen with the naked eye. We will be collecting samples from around campus to look at under the microscope, while familiarizing ourselves with its parts and how to use it.
Design and Print Your Own Stickers
Maximum 10 Participants
Alexa Weber – Room 205
Join us for a hands-on design session where you’ll learn how to create stickers like a pro! In this session, participants will dive into the world of sticker-making, from brainstorming ideas to crafting their very own designs using our asset collection to guide them. By the end of the session, each participant will take home their custom-designed sticker(s)—ready to share, trade, or display!
The Ag Experience
Maximum 10 Participants
Kaley Nelson – Room 107
The world of agriculture is broad! It includes livestock, crops, food production, technology and much more. In this session, you'll dive into a few different areas of agriculture.