Camp Nitro-X: An Introduction to Automotive & Beyond

August 24th, 2021 by

 

Forget the macrame art and talent shows—summer camp just got a whole lot cooler. Nitro-X is a hands-on, weeklong summer camp designed to let kids explore transportation careers, learn technical skills, and gain exposure to a number of transportation industries. The camp, hosted by the Minnesota Transportation Center of Excellence, is all about building confidence and having fun with the coolest car of all—a 4×4 RC car.

Kids spend the week creating their own RC car, designing the body, and learning how the car works. They prep for a Race Day at the end of camp which includes installing the body they designed and painted, adjusting tire pressure, checking connections, and final touches.

 

 

Before they hit the track, campers tour a part of the transportation industry—this year they learned all about automotive. Walser Polar Chevrolet General Manager Mike Fechter hosted a group of 25 kids on a tour through the dealership, showing them the ins and outs of the dealership including the show floor, service drive, service bays, and parts department.

While on the tour, the students were able to recognize a lot of specific items in the shop like the overhead hoists and built-in toolboxes, and air conditioning! They were drawn to the Corvettes on the showroom floor, which created quite a buzz. And in the Parts Department, students had tons of questions, which stemmed an in-depth conversation on all things EV and its impact on our business and the market. These were smart kids!

To see a video on a previous year of Nitro-X camp, click here.

 


Walser Polar Chevrolet General Manager Mike Fechter takes campers on a tour through the dealership, showing off the Modula, a vertical lift and storage system for automotive parts.