Grants available for manufacturing summer camps

ROCKFORD, Ill. – Organizations that offer overnight or day camp experiences that
introduce young people to careers in manufacturing and engineering are
now eligible for funding. Grants ranging from $2,500 US to $5,000 US
are available to not-for-profit organizations and educational
institutions in Canada and the United States who provide camp
experiences in the summer of 2009.

The grants are a collaborative
effort between the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association
Foundation (FMAF), an educational, research and charitable organization
that promotes metal forming and fabricating technology in
manufacturing, and the Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation (NBTF),
a charitable organization dedicated to introducing young people to the
joys of tinkering, inspiring the next generation of skilled manual
artists, engineers and inventors.
The purpose of the manufacturing
camps is to provide a positive, hands-on experience so that young
people will consider manufacturing as a future career option. Camps
must target young people between the ages of 12 and 16. Preference will
be given to organizations serving minority populations. Suggested
curriculum for a week-long manufacturing camp might include a day or
two of introduction to CAD software, a day or two in a fabrication shop
or training facility, and a day of touring regional manufacturing
facilities.
The funding may be used for expenses related to
curriculum development and instruction, as well as direct expenses such
as housing, meals, transportation and supplies. Expenses related to the
purchase of software or other capital expenditures do not qualify. The
application deadline is December 12, 2008.
Grant recipients will be
named at the Metal Matters 2009 executive summit at Carefree Resort and
Villa near Phoenix, Ariz., in March 2009.
More information and the grant application are available online at www.fma-foundation.org. Questions can be directed to (888) 394-4362 or foundation@fmanet.org.