Grayslake Community High School District 127 is setting the bar for innovative, hands-on learning. This summer, middle school students from across Lake County took part in Grayslake D127’s manufacturing camps, designed to introduce them to in-demand skills and careers.
What made these camps stand out? The expert guidance of the same instructors who lead the district’s acclaimed programs during the school year, paired with partnerships that connect students to local and national industry leaders.
Created in partnership with Sparkforce, the charitable foundation of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, these camps aim to inspire, attract, and support individuals in discovering a passion for manufacturing and encourage their pursuit of a career in this field.
This year’s camps included:
Light Saber Manufacturing Camp — where middle schoolers designed and built their own light sabers and toured Laser Precision, a local industry leader.
Welding Manufacturing Camp — where students built fire pits from laser-cut steel parts provided by Laser Precision, learning both manual and robotic welding techniques.
Inclusion Manufacturing Camp — a specialized experience for students with disabilities, focused on employability and manufacturing skills, culminating in a project fabricating custom coat hooks.
The camps received national recognition in The Fabricator article “Learning to Appreciate a Job Well Done.” The feature spotlighted the dedication of Chris Ellingsen, Grayslake Central High School’s advanced manufacturing and fabrication instructor, who brings the same passion to summer camps that he shares with students during the school year.
“I want them to work on a product where they want to see it through to the very end,” Ellingsen told The Fabricator, explaining his philosophy behind student projects like stools, grills, and this summer’s fire pits. His goal: “Build it well, and they will come to believe that’s the way it should be done.”
Students echoed that enthusiasm. Jonathan Colon-Bailey, 13, said, “This has been super fun.” Despite having no prior welding experience, he relished the challenge, saying, “It seems like [welding] might be something that I could do as a job or career in the future.”
Cecilia Abalos, a Grayslake Central senior, helped guide younger campers after discovering her love of welding in Ellingsen’s class. “I really like welding a lot. It’s fun, especially using the robot,” she said. She’s now considering welding accreditation after graduation: “It would be good to have that in my back pocket.”
These camps exemplify Grayslake D127’s commitment to innovative education, community partnerships, and preparing students for success. As Ellingsen shared, projects like these inspire students to take pride in their craftsmanship and see new possibilities for their futures.