AURELIUS - Taylor MacBain truly enjoys hairstyling and manicures, but she was unsure if she wanted a career in cosmetology.

The 12-year-old from Auburn got her answer this week while attending the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services' annual Career Connections Camp, an annual four-day camp during the third week of July that endeavors to teach rising seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders about various careers in a hands-on learning environment.

“I don't think I will,” she said of working in cosmetology as she placed a roller into the hair of a mannequin on Friday, “but I'll still do it for people I know.”

But that doesn't mean she didn't have fun, and it certainly doesn't mean she regrets coming to the camp.

“(The camp) helps you decide what you want to do when you get older,” she said, “and it helps you feel more prepared.”

According to camp director Ray Rutkowski, that is one of the major goals of the camp.

“I think it is a great opportunity for our community members to come in,” he said, “for young kids to experience careers they may be interested in later in life.”

That is the case for Sam DelFavero, 12, of Auburn, who has always liked to cook. Throughout the week he cooked foods from around the world - Chinese, Mexican, Italian - and learned that it is something he wants to do for the rest of his life.

“I definitely want to do it when I get older,” he said as he made his own personal pizza. “I want to learn how to cook better and definitely want to go into culinary arts.”

The camp, which took place at the Regional Education Center on West Genesee Street Road, began in 1998 in response to discussions held by the BOCES Shared Decision Making Team about what was offered for youths during the summer months. The team decided that BOCES was an ideal location to engage students in career exploration.

In 2000, BOCES began collaborating with Partnership for Results, a not-for-profit dedicated to forming communitywide collaborations that foster healthy development of children from infancy through secondary education.

Campers can choose a focus from baby-sitting training, computer graphics, cosmetology, culinary creations, house anatomy, heavy equipment operation, business buddies, automotive technology and video and animation.

The camp has grown every year, with 160 students taking part this summer.

Marissa Saurini, 13, of Auburn, spent the camp last year at the floral design station, which was not offered again this year. But that's okay; she believes she found her life's calling in the kitchen. On Friday morning, she and some of her fellow campers were baking a yellow cake smothered in white frosting.

“It's a chance to experience different foods and a different way of baking,” she said.

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net