Some teens go to summer camp to kayak and hike. For a group of high schoolers from Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties, they also were going to camp, but the focus was on career preparation.

For four days, more than 35 teens ages 14-17 gathered at Oakland University’s Anton/Frankel Center in downtown Mount Clemens to take part in OU’s Career Exploration Camp.

Interactive, hands-on activities were planned in several in-demand disciplines: engineering and computer science; criminal justice and social work; nursing and health sciences; and, finally, business.

The camp experience cost each student $95 but they received a wealth of eye-opening career ideas in addition to breakfast, lunch and a T-shirt.

The goal of the Career Exploration Camp is to help teens focus on career options while still in high school. “The more undecided a student is, the more likely he or she will need to spend extra money on years in college earning a degree,” said Julie Trube, director of Enrollment and Community Outreach at Oakland University-Macomb. “Career exploration will help them to create a more realistic educational and career plan.”

Kids are receptive, too. “We actually had a waiting list for camp,” Trube said.

To learn more, visit oakland.edu/macomb or call 248-370-3910.