The Workforce Alliance of South-Central Kansas’ Youth Employment Project (YEP) is back for the eighth consecutive year with its Camp HYPE (Helping Youth Prepare for Employment) .
YEP is a collaborative program that works with a wide array of community businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Services offered through YEP include assistance in resume creation, job search and interview preparation, as well as education in soft skills, customer service and money management.
As part of its services, YEP holds a series of free 4-day summer camps – Camp HYPE (Helping Youth Prepare for Employment) – where youth ranging from ages 14 to 18 learn firsthand about career fields they may be interested in. Each camp is sponsored by a different industry or business, and those who participate are paid a stipend of $200 at the end of the program for their punctuality, attendance and participation.
After participating in YEP, many individuals can find jobs independently, or by attending a YEP job fair.
This year, 10 four-day workshops will be held through Camp HYPE, with focus areas ranging from financial services to healthcare. A schedule of the Camp HYPE workshops is included below. More information can be found on the Workforce Alliance’s website.
“When young people are connected to employment and real-world workforce experiences, they earn a paycheck, learn how to navigate the professional world, and gain many other valuable skills, experiences and perspectives. Programs like YEP and Camp HYPE can make all the difference in the lives of youth who don’t have access to the resources or opportunities to navigate the workforce confidently,” said Keith Lawing, Workforce Alliance of South-Central Kansas President and CEO. “Thank you to Bank of America for its continued support.”
This year, Bank of America has awarded a grant of $30,000 to assist young professionals in finding their first job or work experience opportunity. Since 2017, the bank has provided $340,000 in grants to the Workforce Alliance of South-Central Kansas (WA) to ensure that area youth are workforce ready
“As Bank of America consistently seeks ways to serve Wichita, we’re proud of the longstanding partnership with Workforce Alliance and are eager to continue to support programs such as YEP. Employers inevitably benefit from an ever-evolving workforce, and YEP ultimately helps diversify the skillsets available among the young people in our community,” said Shawn Lancelot, President, Bank of America Wichita.
Since 2017, the Workforce Alliance has served over 20,000 youth, resulting in more than 8,000 jobs through YEP with Bank of America’s support.
Schedule of Remaining Summer Camp HYPE sessions
All Camps will be held at the Wichita Workforce Center, 2021 N. Amidon, Suite 1100, Unless Noted Otherwise
June 17 – 21 Healthcare Camp SOLD OUT
Sponsored by Ascension Via Christi
Held at Urban League of Kansas
2418 E 9th St N, Wichita, KS 67214
June 24 – 27 Trade Skills Camp SOLD OUT
July 8 – 11 Financial Camp Reserve A Seat
July 8 – 11 Technology Camp SOLD OUT
Sponsored by FlagshipKansas.tech
Held at Groover Labs
334 St Francis, Wichita, KS 67202
July 15 -18 Reserve A Seat
Spirit AeroSystems Camp
July 22 – 25 Reserve A Seat
Bombardier Camp
July 29 – August 1 Reserve A Seat
Textron Aviation Camp
August 5 – 8 Reserve A Seat
McConnell AFB (military-connected students only)
Held on Base at Youth Center
What are the ages that can participate and how do they reserve a seat?
Ages 14-18