The vocational high school holds a summer enrichment programÂÂ for youth ages 9 to 13 every year.ÂÂ
Kyle Mastalerz, 9, right, of Palmer, and other youngsters direct their robots to assigned tasks during the Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School summer enrichment program. On the other side of the table are Jack Hammond, 13, of Belchertown, Jacob Mastalerz, 9, and Pathfinder senior Kyle Lussier, 17.PALMER – In the cafeteria, the children already made whoopie pies, and were preparing ingredients for train-shaped cakes. Another group was busy mixing cheese ravioli.
In a different area, a robot battle had just finished. At the machine shop, students made dice and keychains. In carpentry, they crafted tool boxes and tic tac toe games.
All this was happening on a recent weekday at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, which holds an annual three-week summer enrichment program from July 9 to 27.
According to program coordinator Paul A. Bouthiller, the program allows students ages 9 to 13 to get a taste of what Pathfinder has to offer. Bouthiller said many of the children who attend the summer program end up choosing Pathfinder for high school.
“Obviously I’m a huge fan of vocational education because I think these kids get jobs,” Bouthiller said.
Culinary Arts instructor Anthony B. Bishop helped the students with cake ingredients. He said the students like taking their creations home.
Christopher J. Greene, 9, of Belchertown, and Alex J. Davis, 10, of Monson, agreed, and said they love the baking class.
“My family is always baking and I thought I would try it,” Christopher said.
They said the oatmeal cookies with heat bar chunks that they made went over particularly well at home. They both said people have been “bugging” them for the recipe.
Shannon Davis and Monica Roche, both 12 and from Palmer, said they look forward to attending the program every year. They were getting ready to make cheese ravioli – a combination of ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses - under the direction of culinary arts instructor Patrice Mercier.
“I like making new foods,” Shannon said.
Connor Seifel, 11, left, of Belchertown and Patrick Kennedy, 10, of Palmer, sand pine wood tool boxes during a woodworking class at the Pathfinder Regional High School summer enrichment program.Monica, who said she has “no cooking skills,” is hoping the week-long class will help her. The friends said they also signed up for the “Environmental Explorers” program, in which they go on field trips every day to places like Worcester Ecotarium, Titanic Museum in Springfield and Connecticut Science Center.
In carpentry, instructor Matthew J. Rickson supervised the tool box making. The students use hand saws and power saws to make the projects.
Jourdan A. Laflamme, 11, of Bondsville, said he had a good teacher to help him with his tool box and tie tac toe projects. He said he planned to give the wooden tool box he made to his baby brother.
Rickson said the atmosphere is relaxed, and the kids enjoy learning how to use the tools.
“Year after year, they love taking something home. It’s ownership. They built it. They sanded it,” Rickson said.
The cost to attend each week is $200. Children who sign up for all three weeks are charged $525. Other programs featured include science, cosmetology, and photography and webpage design.