Summer camps return to Polk State for 2026
One longtime Polk State College summer tradition and another that is rapidly growing will return this year to keep young minds and bodies engaged while school is out of session. For the first time, Polk State will also offer a summer program for rising high school seniors interested in advanced manufacturing.
The College will offer a trio of summer camps that will take place in June and July. Kids at College, a summertime staple in Polk County, has sessions available at the Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses and JD Alexander Center in Lake Wales.
For the fourth year in a row, Polk State will also offer Civics Leadership Academies on the Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses. The first-ever Machining Summer Bootcamp will offer three weeklong sessions at the Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center in Bartow.
Civics Leadership Academies
Civics Leadership Academies offer hands-on learning at the leadership level. Over the weeklong camp, teams of students will identify an issue within their city, school, or community that they are passionate about and then work together to find a solution.
The camp, which runs daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., is available for students from sixth through ninth grades. Session 1 takes place on the Lakeland Campus from June 22 through 26. Session 2 will be held on the Winter Haven Campus from July 13 through 17.
The cost is $175 per session. Included in the cost of tuition are two camp T-shirts, a backpack and a water bottle. Students can register at polk.edu/cla. More information is available at www.polk.edu/summer-programs/civics-leadership-academy.
Kids at College
Kids at College will offer five sessions this summer, including the JD Alexander Center in Lake Wales for the second year in a row. The JD Alexander Center will hold the first session daily June 8 through 12 from 8:15 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.
As customary, the Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses will offer two sessions each. They will run from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily during all four sessions. Kids at College offers sessions at the Lakeland Campus from June 15 through 19 and from June 22 through 26. Sessions will be available at the Winter Haven Campus from July 6 through 10 and from July 13 through 17.
The camp, which also introduces many children to the idea of college, is available for ages 5 to 13. There will be three classes daily, each lasting two hours with a wide variety of topics. The class schedule is available here. Registration opens May 1. More information is available at www.polk.edu/kids-at-college.
Machining Summer Bootcamp
For students entering 12th grade, the free Machining Summer Bootcamp provides real-world experience with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology. Sessions will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily from Monday through Friday at Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center.
Weeklong sessions will take place for three consecutive weeks in June: June 1 through 5; June 8 through 12; and June 15 through 19. During the camp, students will get hands-on CNC training, explore high-demand careers and learn from industry professionals.
The camps are for rising high school seniors interested in manufacturing, engineering, technology or skilled trades. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, machinists make a median annual salary of nearly $58,000 per year. For more information, email Rosa Cellucci, Program Manager for Polk State Corporate College, at rcellucc@polk.edu.