Greater Lafayette’s manufacturers have spent years warning that the region’s talent pipeline isn’t keeping pace with its growth. Greater Lafayette Commerce’s answer starts in elementary school.
Robotics in Manufacturing Camp, now in its eighth year, has grown from 66 students in its 2019 debut to 361 last summer — a roughly fivefold increase that organizers attribute to rising demand from parents and employers alike. This year’s camps run May 26 through July 10 across five sites in Tippecanoe and Warren counties, with sessions split by grade level for students in grades 1-8.
Indiana’s manufacturing employment is forecast to soften further in 2026, even as regional employers like Caterpillar, Evonik and GE Aerospace continue to compete for skilled workers. Greater Lafayette Commerce’s bet is that the gap won’t close by recruiting workers after they’ve already chosen a career; it will close by reaching them years before that choice is made.
The camp is one piece of a broader workforce strategy for Greater Lafayette Commerce, which has spent recent years building programs aimed at filling jobs at regional manufacturers before those jobs come open.
“Every year, our manufacturers tell us the same thing. They don’t just need someone to clock in. They need people who can look at a problem, figure out what’s wrong and fix it. That’s not something you teach in a week on the job. It takes years of building that instinct, and this camp is one of the places we’re doing it,” said Kara Webb, director of workforce development at Greater Lafayette Commerce.
Designed to demystify the world of modern manufacturing, the program invites kids to explore the innovations powering the local economy and offers a chance to start learning the skills themselves. From building circuits to programming robots to navigating mazes, students interact with technology not just as consumers but as creators. It’s summer camp, reimagined for a 21st-century workforce.
Each week-long camp is built around rotating activity stations, where students engage with tools like KaiBots, micro, manual and electrical circuit building, and 3D printing software — skills that mirror those found on the floors of regional manufacturers.
One station simulates an actual factory floor, walking students through assembly-line production and logistics so they can connect what they’re learning to Greater Lafayette’s booming manufacturing sector.
“The Robotics in Manufacturing Camp is a tremendous investment in the future of our community. By introducing elementary and middle school students to robotics, coding, problem-solving and advanced manufacturing concepts at an early age, we are helping them discover exciting career pathways while building the skills that will drive tomorrow’s economy,” said Tony Roswarski, Mayor of the City of Lafayette. “Programs like this, hosted by Greater Lafayette Commerce in partnership with our regional manufacturers, show students that innovation is happening right here in Greater Lafayette. These hands-on experiences inspire curiosity, creativity and confidence, while strengthening the talent pipeline that will support our local industries and keep our region competitive for generations to come.”
2026 Robotics in Manufacturing Camp Schedule
- May 26-29: Warren County, grades 1-6. Call 765-764-1880 to register.
- June 1-5: Imagination Station, grades 1-6.
- June 8-12: Central Catholic Jr.-Sr. High School, grades 1-8.
- June 15-18: Lafayette Family YMCA, grades 1-6. Call 765-474-3448 to register.
- June 22-26: McAllister Recreation Center, grades 5-7.
- June 29-July 2: McAllister Recreation Center, grades 3-4.
- July 6-10: Central Catholic Jr.-Sr. High School, grades 1-8.
The camp is part of a longer-term workforce strategy connecting Greater Lafayette students to regional employers from elementary school through graduation. Robotics in Manufacturing Camp serves as an early entry point into that pipeline, alongside Manufacturing Week, now in its 13th year and held annually at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, where students from kindergarten through 12th grade tour facilities and meet regional manufacturers face-to-face.
Last year’s Manufacturing Week drew 2,637 students, including 529 high schoolers who toured manufacturing facilities directly.
Together, these early programs feed into Career+ Pathways, a K-12 program built with Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue University, Skyepack and the Region 4 Workforce Board that reached more than 31,000 students and logged over 61,500 career-connected experiences during the 2024-25 school year.
For students closer to graduation, GLC’s annual HireME! event connects juniors and seniors directly with hiring managers from nearly 60 regional companies, where students have secured internships and, in some cases, accepted full-time job offers on the spot.
About Greater Lafayette Commerce
Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, Greater Lafayette Commerce (GLC) has been the region’s premier chamber of commerce and economic development organization since 1927. By uniting business, education, government and civic partners, GLC drives growth, supports local enterprises and enhances the quality of life in Greater Lafayette.