Students Build Digital Literacy and Hospitality Skills During Easterseals Northeast Indiana Camp

Ava, right, and her mother, Beth Parsons, frost cookies together during an open house that marked the end of the Digital Literacy and Hospitality Camp at Easterseals Community Network in Fort Wayne.

Emma, with her mother, LIz Poling, left; and sister Shelby Lloyd, right, display the five certificates she earned during the weeklong camp at Easterseals Community Network. They included certificates in both Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows 10, the operating system in the computer Emma uses.

Emma holds cookies she frosted and is now showing to Joni Schmalzried, right, and Brittany McLaughlin, center.

These students who attended the Digital Literacy and Hospitality camp display certificates they earned.

Izzy is absorbed in the action during the Mario Kart tournament.

Mohammed and Emma work together at a computer during Easterseals Community Network’s Digital Literacy and Hospitality camp.

After winning a round in the Mario Kart tournament, Owen celebrates by dancing in front of other contenders. “Some humility, my dear,” his mother, Jen Potter, tells him as she photographs him.

Owen lounges on a couch, waiting on the gaming tournament to begin.

After a weeklong camp focused on digital literacy and hospitality skills, 10 students showcased what they learned during an open house at Easterseals Northeast Indiana in Fort Wayne.

The camp provided students with opportunities to strengthen their computer skills while learning more about cooking, food preparation, and kitchen safety. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday, students participated in hands-on instruction designed to build their knowledge in both technology and hospitality.

Students Develop Important Digital Literacy Skills

During the school year, all 10 students participated in Easterseals’ Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) at area high schools. The digital literacy portion of the camp focused on teaching students important computer basics and online skills.

Students learned about:

Online safety
Avoiding scams
Navigating internet browsers
Identifying the different parts of a computer

These lessons helped students continue developing their understanding of technology and how it is used in everyday life.

Open House Celebrates Students’ Accomplishments

During the open house, students’ parents, siblings, and others visited the gaming room and the hospitality lab at Easterseals Northeast Indiana to see what the students had accomplished throughout the week.

Families participated in activities including frosting cookies and cheering on gaming competitors during a Mario Kart tournament.

The event highlighted the students’ hard work and the skills they developed during the camp.

Recognizing Student Achievements

There was more to celebrate than a victory in a video game or a beautifully decorated plate of cookies. Paige Hart, who taught the digital literacy portion of the camp, presented certificates to recognize the students’ learning and accomplishments.

The certificates represented the progress students made throughout the week and were a highlight of an open house full of stars.

About Pre-Employment Transition Services at Easterseals Northeast Indiana

Through Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), Easterseals Northeast Indiana provides opportunities for students to build skills and explore areas that support their future goals. Programs like this camp give students hands-on experiences in areas such as digital literacy and hospitality.