28 Local Youth Complete New Picnic Pavilion and Interpretive Nature Sign at Genesee County Park
Today, Camp Hard Hat held a Dedication Ceremony at Genesee County Park & Forest in East Bethany to officially dedicate the new picnic pavilion and Interpretive Nature Sign to the community. Families, sponsors, community partners, and members of the public were all in attendance.
Video of Ribbon cutting
Press release
East Bethany, NY – Twenty-eight students entering Grades 6-10 spent the week learning valuable skilled trades while
leaving a lasting impact on the Genesee County Park & Forest during the 12th annual Camp Hard Hat.
Camp Hard Hat is a unique partnership between the Genesee County Business Education Alliance (BEA), Genesee
County Park & Forest, and the Genesee Valley BOCES Building Trades Program.
The week-long summer camp provides students with hands-on experience using professional construction tools, practicing job site safety, applying math and problem-solving skills, and learning the importance of teamwork while completing a real community construction project.
Provided photo
Under the direction of certified Genesee Valley BOCES Building Trades instructors, campers spent the week constructing
a beautiful picnic pavilion near Pavilion E and building a new Interpretive Nature Sign that will help park visitors learn
more about the area’s natural environment for years to come.
Now in its 12th year, Camp Hard Hat continues to inspire the next generation of skilled trades professionals by exposing
students to rewarding careers in construction and the building trades. Throughout the week, campers also had the
opportunity to learn from skilled trade professionals and industry partners about careers in construction, electrical
work, carpentry, HVAC, heavy equipment, and other high-demand fields.
In addition to construction activities, the Genesee County Park & Forest staff provided educational nature programming,
allowing campers to explore and appreciate the park’s unique environmental resources while giving back to the
community through their construction projects.
Camp Hard Hat has become one of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance’s signature summer career
exploration programs, demonstrating how hands-on learning can introduce young people to meaningful career
pathways while making a lasting contribution to their community. Over the past 12 years, hundreds of local students
have developed valuable construction, leadership, and teamwork skills while completing lasting improvement projects
throughout the Genesee County Park & Forest. The program continues to inspire the next generation of skilled trades
professionals while showcasing the importance of career and technical education.
Campers:
- Jaiden Biletskiy
- Johnathan Bogan
- Ophelia Breidenstein
- Blake Brewster
- Kyle Cifelli
- Kiptyn Cone
- Jacob Copeland
- Silas DeMars
- Lauren Emerson
- Teaghan Freeman
- Broderick Fry
- Logan Garner
- Zachary Garner
- Olivia Gillard
- Dylan Grice
- Cole Hardie
- Johannah Haurik
- Ian Johns
- Ellie Meyer
- Steaven Montesano
- Axl Mullen
- Maia Nichols
- Adam Schmidt
- Alaric Smith
- Klaus Smith
- Rowan Smith
- Daniel Sutherland
Sponsors
- Presenting Organizations
- Genesee Valley BOCES
- Genesee County BEA
- Genesee County Parks & Forestry
- $5,000
- Laborer’s Local 435
- Construction Industry Association of Rochester
- Tambe Electric
- WDI
- $2,500
- Burnett Steel
- $1,000
- GCEDC
- Graham Manufacturing
- Kennedy Mechanical
- Lapp Insulators
- Liberty Pumps
- Monroe Roadways
- NFP
- O’Connell Electric
- Oxbo
- Passero
- Quatro Construction Consulting Group
- Rochester Davis-Fetch
- Rochester Regional UMMC
- Stark Tech
- Village Construction
- $750
- Batavia Downs
- Nortera Foods
- Tompkins Community Bank
- Withum
- $500
- Council Rock Associates
- Manning Squires Hennig
- Orcon Industries
- South East Area Coalition Tool Shed
- SRS Building Products
- $250
- Christa Construction
- Lamb Farms
- $100
- Corfu Machine Co, Inc.
- Double Diamonds Financial Solutions
- Ontario Shores Federal Credit Union
- SJF Construction, Inc.
- S&S Engineering, P.C.
- Karyn Winters, Genesee County BEA
- Anita Strollo, Genesee County BEA
- Kate Garner, Genesee County BEA
- Jodi Wolcott, Camp Health Director
- Jared Radesi, Livingston Associates
- Rich Monroe, GVBOCES
- Kelly Mileham, GVBOCES
- Paul Osborn, Genesee County
- DJ Snyder, Genesee County Park & Forestry
- Claudia Nusstein, Genesee County Park & Forestry
- Isabella Bucci, Genesee County Park & Forestry
- George Squires, Genesee County ACORNS
- Julia Haurik, Camp Hard Hat Counselor
- Ian McGary, Camp Hard Hat Counselor
- Bryce Thompson, Camp Hard Hat Counselor