Nicole Borman of Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 attended the Northwestern Lehigh School Board's June 18 meeting.

She wanted the board to know about the Youth Forestry Camp in Hickory Run State Park.

The camp, one of two in the state with a new manufacturing program, houses a maximum of 52 youth though it usually averages 25.

The average stay is four months, half a school year.

Sometimes a court will remand youth to the camp for as long as it takes for the student to obtain a GED.

Borman discussed one boy who had earned A grades and was in the National Honor Society until his junior year in school when his life circumstances began to fall apart.

After a stay at the camp, he earned graduation credits and did a nursing project for his senior requirement.

He was allowed to attend graduation with his class at his home school district.

Borman said the camp's mission is to provide problem-solving skills.

"We don't look at who they were but help them develop some goals," Borman said. "Even the test for the GED they earn at the camp looks like the Keystone Exam.

"They work with a 3-D printer and are learning that type of manufacturing."

Borman brought a miniature Egyptian pyramid with all the interior chambers, made on the printer, for the board to examine.

"If you can scan an object you can print it," she said.

A science teacher is leading the campers in researching marine life and a model will be made of Washington, D.C. so the students will become familiar with the city.

School board President Darryl Schafer said the Youth Forestry Camp is the final chance for some of the youth.