Maybe it takes place at the controls of an airplane simulator. Or perhaps it happens at a flour-dusted pastry station. Or maybe it transpires during a robotics project, working as a team. Moments of eye-opening discovery are awaiting curious minds at this year’s YouthCamp@COCC, an innovative, hands-on camp experience for middle schoolers.

For almost a decade, YouthCamp@COCC, run by Central Oregon Community College’s Continuing Education department, has brought fun-filled, educational opportunities to young students throughout Central Oregon. Open to ages 10-14, each camp takes place over a four-day period, with each day consisting of three to four hours of immersive learning.

Nearly 50 camps are scheduled between June 18 and August 30. Categories for this summer include aviation, junior police academy, unmanned aerial systems, stop-motion film, computer programming and coding, robotics, science, virtual reality and culinary.

“We’re offering 13 brand-new camps this year,” said Kirdy Molan, coordinator of YouthCamp@COCC. “There will be an aviation exploration camp in Redmond this year, in addition to Bend. And this summer we will be offering an archaeology camp with lots of hands-on activities to spark an interest in the sciences.” This year’s computer technology and culinary camps are even featuring advanced learning options to build upon prior skills.

Discovering new interests is a huge part of the camp experience. And so is learning with others while making new friends. For instance, in last year’s video design camp, students worked in teams or pairs to hash out creative choices and problem-solve challenges. At the end of the week, parents were invited in to see how the project came together.

There are morning and afternoon camps to choose from, and the camps take place at one of COCC’s four campuses in Bend, Redmond, Prineville and Madras. The career- oriented nature of the camps, combined with the fact that they take place on an actual college campus, makes for a rich learning environment—and a lasting impression.

“Our goal is to get kids thinking about their futures,” said Molan. “Research shows that the middle school age is when you can make a great impact on whether a child will go to college or not.” Molan pointed out that the camps have an academic connection to COCC degree programs.

Prices for the four-day camps this year range from $199 to $229; a limited number of scholarships are available based on financial need. The camps are popular—almost doubling in enrollment between 2014 and 2015—and have grown steadily. They also tend to fill fast.

“My favorite part was learning something new … and to do what I love,” one student wrote in an end-of-camp survey. And at YouthCamp@COCC, there’s always something new to learn.