This camp will not be held in 2023. Please check back for summer 2024, or check out one of the college's other camps.
Sponsored by the Mississippi State University Department of Building Construction Science and the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation
The Mississippi State University ibuild Summer Camp is designed for students ages 16 and up to explore hands-on building activities with other students. Over the course of a week, students will build a small structure from start to finish. They will explore building design, architectural plan reading, hammering, soldering copper, concrete, roofing, electrical, and much more – all with students their age and taught by certified professionals.
Eligibility
The Mississippi State University ibuild Summer Camp is designed for students ages 16 and up to explore hands-on building activities with other students.
Application and Deadlines
All applications and payment should be received by us before May 15. Anyone considering applying after this date should call to see if space is still available. It will be first-come, first-served; space is limited.
Camp Cost
The total cost of the camp is $500. This includes a non-refundable deposit of $100.
The primary cost of the camp includes instruction by faculty and counselors, a T-shirt, supplies that the student will receive throughout the week, and university fees for health services, equipment, facilities, and libraries.
Upon notification of acceptance to the iBuild camp, the remaining $500 fee is due by May 15. If for some unforeseen reason you must cancel your attendance, you will receive a full refund (of the remaining amount minus the deposit) prior to May 15 and 50% (of the remaining amount minus the deposit) prior to May 31. No refunds will be available after May 31.
Scholarships
- Full scholarships are available for students attending Mississippi public schools in Lee, Pontotoc, and Union Counties through the Create Foundation’s Toyota Wellsprings Education Fund. Please contact us to inquire.
Room and Board
Both male and female students must stay in MSU residence hall rooms. The residence halls will be supervised by the counselors who will be assisting throughout the week, as well as by trained MSU residence hall assistants. Roommate requests may be made at the time of application or at any time prior to registration deadline. No room assignment may be changed after 5 p.m., June 1.
Tentative Schedule
Sunday
Plan & Ask: Analyze architectural drawings, visualize 2D drawings in 3D, brainstorm
- 4 p.m. - Registration at Howell Building, meet counselors
- 4:30 p.m. - Get settled in residence hall
- 5 p.m. - Dinner
- 6:30 p.m. - Planning meeting in Howell construction studios
- 8:30 p.m. Community building activity/ice cream social
- 9:30 p.m. - Return to residence hall
Monday
Understand: First build day, understand materials and processes, review safety procedures
- 8 a.m. - Breakfast
- 9 a.m. - Begin work at Howell studios
- 12 p.m. - Lunch break
- 1 p.m. - Resume work
- 5 p.m. - MSU activity
- 6 p.m. - Dinner
- 7 p.m. - MSU activity
- 9 p.m. - Return to residence hall
Tuesday
Create: Continue building, safely use hand tools
- 8 a.m. - Breakfast
- 9 a.m. - Begin work at Howell studios
- 12 p.m. - Lunch break
- 1 p.m. - Resume work
- 5 p.m. - MSU activity
- 6 p.m. - Dinner
- 7 p.m. - Activity: Popcorn movie night
- 9 p.m. - Return to residence hall
Wednesday
Evaluate: Continue building, inspect, make plan to finish
- 8 a.m. - Breakfast
- 9 a.m. - Begin work at Howell studios
- 12 p.m. - Lunch break
- 1 p.m. - Resume work
- 5 p.m. - MSU activity
- 6 p.m. - Dinner
- 7 p.m. - Activity: Popcorn movie night
- 9 p.m. - Return to residence hall
Thursday
Inspect/Communicate: Project inspection, evaluation
- 8 a.m. - Breakfast
- 9 a.m. - Project completion and cleanup
- 12 p.m. - Awards banquet, Howell Building
- 2 p.m. - Checkout
What to Pack
- Blue jeans or equal
- Closed-toe shoes
- Pillow, bed linens
- Towel
- Toiletries/hygiene
- Snacks, water bottle
- Spending money
- Pajamas
- Athletic wear
- Safety glasses*
- Work gloves*
*provided at camp
Additional Information
A maximum of 25 students are accepted per summer.
Campers will be divided into groups of tour to build a small structure. Each group will be assigned one current MSU student and one construction industry professional. The industry professional will be hand-chosen by the camp organizer, Mike Barkett.
Five current MSU Building Construction Science students will serve as camp counselors. These students are hand-chosen by the program’s director and must undergo a background check based on MSU’s counselor policy. The camp counselors will be with the campers 24/7 with a counselor to camper ratio of 1:5.
The ibuild Construction Camp will conclude with the Awards Banquet honoring each camper’s achievements over the course of the week.
The camp cost includes the banquet lunch for each camper and two guests.
Camp Gallery
iBuild 2020
- iBuild 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
iBuild 2019
- Video
- Day 1: Tool safety and processes and framing
- Day 2: Framing, plumbing, and electrical
- Day 3: Exterior and finishing touches
- Day 4: Banquet
Camp News
For regular updates during the camp, visit us on Facebook.
MSState Building Construction Science on Facebook
Contact
Michele Herrmann, interim associate director
mherrmann@caad.msstate.edu