
Tech Trek
July 24 - July 27, 2023
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 2023–2024 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 2023 T-shirt
- Lots of FUN!!!
Registration
$40 per participant material fee.
- Registration deadline is June 23, 2023. Material fee is non-refundable for cancellations received after July 7.
Tech Trek Flyer
Please select from the following session choices to customize camp schedule to your interests:
Monday, July 24
- NitroX 1 seat open
- Exploring NursingThis class is FULL!
- Firefighting SkillsThis class is FULL!
- Welding ShopThis class is FULL!
- Design and Print Your Own T-shirtThis class is FULL!
- Gearhead's Tech TimeThis class is FULL!
- American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR 1 seat open
- The Mighty White Blood Cell 7 seats open
- Lineman Challenge 7 seats open
Tuesday, July 25
- Mapping Fields and Sampling the Soil 9 seats open
- Basic Salon SkillsThis class is FULL!
- Design and Print Your Own T-shirtThis class is FULL!
- Gearhead's Tech Time 3 seats open
- American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR 3 seats open
- Lineman ChallengeThis class is FULL!
- Creating Your Own BusinessThis class is FULL!
Wednesday, July 26
- NitroX
- Meat - It's More than Just a Steak 3 seats open
- Exploration in Surgical Technology 3 seats open
- Basic Crime Scene Processing/Investigation 3 seats open
- Welding ShopThis class is FULL!
- Introduction to Childcare 6 seats open
- CarpentryThis class is FULL!
- Creating Your Own BusinessThis class is FULL!
Thursday, July 27
- Microscopy: A Glimpse at a World Too Small to See 3 seats open
- Basic Crime Scene Processing/Investigation 1 seat open
- Welding ShopThis class is FULL!
- Introduction to Childcare 7 seats open
- Gearhead's Tech Time 4 seats open
- CarpentryThis class is FULL!
NitroX

Maximum 10 Participants
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 session meets only on Monday and Wednesday
*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.
Exploring Nursing
Maximum 8 Participants
What is a nurse? We will explore the role of a nurse and practice hands-on nursing skills. Come ready to participate in the Nursing Olympics!
Firefighting skills
Maximum 14 Participants
Participants will receive an introduction to basic firefighting skills including the operation of various equipment.
Ouch! That Stereotype Hurts
Maximum 20 Participants
Staying silent in the face of demeaning comments, stereotypes or bias allows these attitudes and behaviors to thrive. This session will focus on exploring communication skills for promoting inclusion and respect. We will come to understand the impact of stereotypes and bias statements, identify why people sit silently in the face of bias and stereotypes and develop skills for speaking up without creating blame or guilt.
Welding Shop
Maximum 14 Participants
Students will learn some basic welding skills and how to use machines safely. Various lab equipment will be utilized to make a project.
Surgical Exploration
Maximum 10 Participants
Students will learn about surgical technology and see how to gown and glove and then do activities in the surgical lab.
Design and Print Your Own T-shirt
Maximum 8 Participants
Learn how to design a t-shirt like a pro. In this session, participants will pick from our asset collection and assemble their own t-shirt design. From there, each participant will get to print their design and transfer it to a t-shirt using a heat press.
Microscopy: A Glimpse at a World Too Small to See
This class is FULL!
In this session, students will be able to view items that can’t normally be seen with the naked eye. Students will stain their oral microflora and yeast and will also extract DNA from strawberries. Students will receive a recipe for homemade yogurt to take home and try on their own.
Gearhead's Tech Time
Maximum 12 Participants
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.
American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR
Maximum 12 Participants
Students will learn life saving techniques through the American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR. At the end of the session, they will receive their Heartsaver CPR certification card. This will be a combination of classroom and hands on skills. Come and learn how to save a life!
The Mighty White Blood Cell
Maximum 10 Participants
Students will be introduced to the White Blood Cell (WBC) and learn about how the Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) uses the microscope to examine blood to assist in diagnosing infection. We will explore the functions of various WBCs and how the WBC is a mighty warrior in our body's defense against pathogens. The student will also learn how to prepare and stain a peripheral blood smear. The basic use of the microscope will be explained and utilized to visualize the various types of WBCS present in our blood.
Microscopy: A Glimpse at a World Too Small to See
Maximum of 10 participants
In this session, students will be able to view items that can’t normally be seen with the naked eye. Students will stain their oral microflora and yeast and will also extract DNA from strawberries. Students will receive a recipe for homemade yogurt to take home and try on their own.
Lineman Challenge
Maximum of 12 participants
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 and have the opportunity to operate a John Deere backhoe and end loader simulator.
Mapping Fields and Sampling the Soil
Maximum 20 Participants
The first step in precision agriculture is knowing where your fields are on a map. Get some hands-on experience mapping field boundaries and managing the field data that you collect! Explore digitalizing a field with SWTC's John Deere Gator equipped with field mapping technology. Continue to advance your precision skills by taking soil samples of the newly digitized field!
Basic Salon Skills
Maximum 10 Participants
Students will learn about a few of the basic skills of cosmetology. Students will have fun practicing nail art skills, braiding, and styling techniques for long hair.
Golf Club Fitting and Repair
Maximum 10 Participants
Participants will learn how golf clubs are fitted to match a golfer’s swing, how golf clubs perform, how clubs are constructed, and have an opportunity to repair a broken club.
Creating Your Own Business
Maximum 12 Participants
In this session, students will have the opportunity to be entrepreneurs: creating a business and product from start to finish. Students will learn about both entrepreneurship and marketing. To start this session, students will have the chance to come up with a brand and product of their own. From here, they will walk through what it takes to bring that product to life and create a marketing plan. Once students have finished creating their own brand and product, and have a complete marketing plan for that product, they will end the session doing elevator pitches to the rest of the class to "sell" their products!
Meat - It's More than Just a Steak
Maximum 10 Participants
Students will experience why the tenderloin is tender and round steak is tough. They will also learn how to select the best cut of pork or beef from the store. We will also take a look at what a farmer does to raise high-quality meat animals.
Basic Crime Scene Processing/Investigation
Maximum 12 Participants
Students will learn about basic crime scene processing. This will include evidence search techniques, DNA collection, fingerprint collection and analysis techniques, latent impressions, and processing a mock crime scene.
Introduction to Childcare
Maximum 12 Participants
Participants will learn about the “dos” and “don’ts” of caring for children. We will have fun activities that could be used by the session participants while caring for children.
It's a Great Day to be a CNA!
Maximum 10 Participants
This session will include some basic history of nursing, demonstration and "hands on" activities of nursing assistant skills. Presentation of a day in the life of a CNA and what career paths can start with being a CNA.
Carpentry
Maximum 16 Participants
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 complete a small project from wood.
Learning to be an Ally for People from Diverse Backgrounds
Maximum 20 Participants
An ally is a person who advocates for or supports a marginalized group but is not a member of that group. What makes a good ally? How can you be the best ally to those who are from diverse backgrounds? We will answer these questions through a session filled with activities and discussion. Come with questions and be ready to share your experiences. You will leave with the tools to be a great ally.