UNIVERSITY CENTER -- Green technology is likely to be a big factor in this area's future.
At this week's Mitech+ Construction and Technology Camp, area youths are trying to get ahead of the green technology curve.
The camp at Delta College runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., a deliberate move to make the camp similar to a workday. Campers are able to take part in hands-on activities in a variety of construction-related areas.
The campers started the day Tuesday with a visit from guest speaker Tom Begin, an area manager for Consumers Energy. Begin came to talk to the students about the "working system," the process of making and transmitting electricity. He used volunteer campers to illustrate.
"Demand makes the system work," Begin said.
After talking about subjects such as how a meter is used to measure energy use, Begin shifted his focus to green technology. He noted that wind and solar are the most viable forms for Michigan.
"I think it's good for the kids to understand what's happening," Begin said. "Price is a big, big driver because people care about what they pay for electricity."
Consumers already is using some wind-produced energy, purchasing electricity from a massive wind farm in Huron County that is owned by John Deere. Begin said the company is planning two of its own wind farms, with one to be located in Ludington and the other in Huron and Tuscola counties.
The push for green energy moved from Begin's speech to the classroom as some of the camp's students received more in-depth instruction on the issue. After a brief lecture including some discussion about reducing carbon footprints, the class worked on a project to construct a small windmill.
"It's pretty fun," Midland camper Brett Brillhart said as he worked to make his group's windmill, using a cut up cardboard Coca-Cola 12-pack box to make a Savonius rotor. "It's a lot of hands-on stuff."
His partner, Joe Flori, also of Midland, was in agreement. Both Brillhart and Flori found out about the camp through their parents, who work at Hemlock Semiconductor and Dow Corning, respectively.
"I like the hands-on part and being with friends," Flori said.
The green technology class was taught by Dave Brown, a teacher at Bullock Creek Middle School. After Tuesday's lesson on wind energy, lessons on hydroelectric, geothermal and tidal power were scheduled for later in the week as well as several on solar power, including demonstrations involving solar-powered air and water heaters.
"I'm hoping more students become aware of renewable energy," Brown said. "That's where jobs will be in the future, so it's good to learn about it now."
Another lesson on Tuesday had a group of campers hard at work on the construction of a shed. Once completed, the shed will be donated to a non-profit organization.
Tuesday saw the group putting the siding on the shed before starting construction of the ridge, the main backbone of the roof. Camp volunteer Kyle Whitson said a shed was chosen for the construction project because it is similar to building a house without the difficulty of needing a basement.
"It has all the proportions," Whitson said. "It helps them out with learning the different trades."
The camp also offered lessons in welding, auto repair and computer-aided design. The CAD group was an offshoot of the shed project, with their main goal being to design a cupola to be added to the shed project.
"I'm getting a taste of what I'd be doing if I go into construction," Midland camper Chris Carter said while working on the shed project before rotating around to the other areas of the camp. "I'm looking forward to welding."
Carter was not sure if he wanted to go into construction, but said he enjoyed working with the instructors at the camp.
In addition to the classes on the Delta campus, the camp also includes tours at Hemlock Semiconductor, Alloy Construction and TIC Energy & Chemical, Inc.
