A different kind of summer camp this week using a blooming technology, brought a new twist to Statesboro summers.

The first “Charge Your Life” camp, hosted by the Averitt Center for the Arts, showed Statesboro youth the intricacies and benefits of 3D design and printing.

Throughout this week, the 12 campers are learning how to develop an idea beginning with a concept into an actual product, camp instructor Tim Cone said.

“The first thing we did was talk about the design process,” Cone said. “We wanted them to learn how to take a concept from their mind and make it into a product.”

Tim Cone has taught at a Savannah high school for five years and has instructed numerous camps of all ages. The 3D printing and electronics camp is the first 3D design camp to be held in Statesboro.

The students gained knowledge of 3D design software and acquiring hands-on experience with a 3D printer.

A 3D printer uses plastic filament that is heated during the printing process and thus able to be formed according to a specific instruction design given to it.

Camper Sarah Harvey said her first experience 3D technology was different, but very interesting.

“It’s always been intriguing and interesting to me how people can design something and actually make it come to life,” Harvey said. “I thought it would be cool if I did that myself.”

The camp taught teens to learn how to use 3D software that is used to make animated movies and video games.

“We wanted to bring a more innovative idea to the camps at the Averitt Center,” Cone said. “We want to be able to offer more and more of these types of camps for kids to hopefully gain more interest.”

By the end of the week Cone and his students hope to print off portable solar powered phone chargers that will be usable by the campers on their cell phones. 

“The charger will give a little bit of charge to any USB device through the USB plug.” Cone said. “It won’t be able to charge a full battery, but it could give your phone that extra little percentage it needs to stay alive.”