VPI Inc. in Appleton hosted NBT Inclusion Manufacturing Camp at its facility, August 21, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A camp in Appleton is empowering the future careers of those with disabilities.
VPI Inc. will graduate 16 students from its NBT Inclusion Manufacturing Camp.
The four-week inclusive manufacturing summer camp, in partnership with Nuts, Bolts, & Thingamajigs Foundation (NBT), is designed to help train and prepare young adults with disabilities for employment in manufacturing, while also showing local employers that this group of individuals is a viable option to meet their workforce demands.
“So not only is it just our mission, through and through, but we have an obligation to the students and I think to local manufacturers to show that this maybe is an untapped pool of resources but you’re going to find some of the best candidates around and people who are going to be there every day, doing their jobs, knowing exactly what they’re supposed to do and they have a great support system around them so it’s just really mutually beneficial and it’s a very cool opportunity for us to get out into the community and for the community to learn about our individuals who participate in programming,” said VPI Inc. education programs coordinator, Kaitlin Gassner.
Campers were able to sample different jobs each week. Those include packaging, banding, riveting, taping boxes, pallet jacking and building pallets.
Camper Clayton Foster said he enjoyed the tasks where he got to use his hands and make things.
A ceremony for the graduates will be held Friday.
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