A summer of discovery: Royal Academy camps connect students to future careers

Chapel was a new feature this year, too. Students heard from Lead Campus Pastor Nick Cocalis and worshipped together. Julie Hedlund, director of Royal Academy, says this addition was important. “We want visitors to understand what Bethel is all about, and this is a chance to share one the most important elements of who we are,” she says.

Students participated in six distinct camps, each with a career-oriented focus—from healthcare and business to artistic endeavors in videography and piano performance. 

Here’s a taste of how students stepped out of their comfort zones, tried something new, and took meaningful steps toward discovering their calling.

Bethel Business Academy

At the Bethel Business Academy, students didn’t just hear about business—they experienced it. Over three days, they explored how their personal interests align with potential careers through hands-on activities and face-to-face interactions with professionals and professors.

The week began with a career assessment and a fast-paced simulation game that challenged students to run their own hypothetical businesses. Faculty from Bethel’s six business emphases introduced their fields—marketing, HR, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, and data analytics—helping students see a range of possibilities. One student says the “human library” and faculty-led passport sessions were “an absolute highlight of the whole experience.”

Students met individually with professionals from companies like Wells Fargo, Target, Chick-fil-A, and Allina Health, gaining real-world insight and career advice. In addition, they collaborated in small groups to tackle a business case competition—researching, preparing, and presenting their problem solving ideas to a panel of judges.

They ended the week by joining students in the BUILDing Independent Skills Summer Camp to pack meals at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), connecting service to their business learning. Because of their camp focus, Business Academy students also toured the FMSC facility and connected with several department heads at the nonprofit to hear more about their careers. The camp wrapped up with an awards dinner that included their families.

BUILDing Independent Skills Summer Camp

For students ages 17–21 with intellectual disabilities, the BUILDing Independent Skills Summer Camp offered a taste of college life—and a supportive space to explore independence. Activities focused on practicing healthy habits, cooking, cleaning, faith development, social skills, career exploration, elective class options, and even an integrated learning experience with another camp. These hands-on sessions were designed to build confidence in everyday tasks while encouraging curiosity and creativity.

According to end-of-camp feedback, favorites included making mug cakes, hygiene bingo, social skills conversation starters, making trail mix, and completing an interest assessment. A new highlight this year was a combined session with the Bethel Business Academy at FMSC, where students packed meals and explored related career paths that the nonprofit offers.

Another highlight was the Royal Academy Chapel experience. “Chapel gave students in the BUILD camp an opportunity to worship together with all of the other students. This was a highlight for many of our students who especially loved being able to sing along to the worship songs!” says Dawn Allen, the director of Bethel’s BUILD program.

Forensic Science Camp

In the first-ever Forensic Science Camp, high school students became crime scene investigators in a fictional case dubbed “The Case of the Poisoned Chili.” Here’s the premise: when a lunchtime favorite at the Dining Center mysteriously sickened more than a dozen people, it was up to students to uncover what happened—and who was responsible.

Students approached the mystery like real forensic scientists, using professional lab techniques and high-end equipment to test for poisons and trace evidence. “Some students in particular were very excited about analyzing real data from an $80,000 gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy instrument,” says James Christenson, associate professor of chemistry. “Many were surprised that they got to run samples on such an expensive instrument.” Students used gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, and chromatography to track down everything from iron levels to DNA fingerprints.

As each new piece of data came in, students formed and revised their theories, slowly unraveling the web of motives, materials, and missed details that pointed to a culprit. “Students ‘came alive’ when they got the opportunity to be creative with explaining the crime scene story,” says Angela Stoeckman, professor of chemistry.

The camp was a true collaboration between students and faculty in the chemistry department. “The students carried out five analyses led by five different Bethel professors,” says Rollin King, professor of chemistry. “Faculty and students alike enjoyed seeing The Case of the Poisoned Chili come together. The students actually knew which of the suspects was guilty before I did!”

Scrubs Camp

At Scrubs Camp, high school students didn’t just learn about healthcare—they lived it. Over three days, students explored a wide range of medical professions, gaining hands-on experience alongside nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, veterinarians, and more in Bethel’s nursing facilities.

Students rotated through hands-on healthcare stations, learning to take vitals, use defibrillators, practice splinting, insert airways into mannequins, and even compound medicine by making slime. They examined pets with a veterinary team, applied sports medicine techniques, and toured a senior living facility to understand long-term care. “I thought it was so fun to learn about all the different careers in healthcare and get real life experience with people who have those jobs,” one student shares.

“I really enjoyed all of the workshops and speakers that came in,” another student says. “I learned so much these past three days.” The experience helped students connect their interests with real-world career paths—and for some, it confirmed a calling. “It helped me solidify my decisions about future careers,” one student reflects.

Summer Piano Academy

At the Summer Piano Academy, students entering grades 4-12 gathered for a week of music, mentorship, and meaningful connection. The academy blended rigorous piano instruction with creative expression, offering students a chance to grow as musicians—and as people.

Each day was a blend of structured practice and personal growth. Students practiced solo and ensemble pieces, attended master classes, and learned directly from faculty through lessons and performance sessions. “We really want to model to our students what it takes to perform,” said Camp Artistic Director and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Tina Park. “We’re teaching them the courage to perform and how to really express themselves through music.”

Performance was central to the week. Students played in recitals nearly every day, including junior and senior concerts, a faculty showcase, and even a community outreach performance at a local assisted living facility. Many of these performances took place in Benson Great Hall, Bethel’s premier performance venue—offering students the rare opportunity to play on a professional stage.

Outside the practice rooms, students bonded quickly through movie nights, a boba tea event, slip-and-slide fun, and a Sunday ice cream social. “It’s really about people,” Park reflects. “We’re providing a community so the kids know they’re not alone. They feel supported. They’re learning and growing—and they’re doing it together.”

Video Production Camp

At Video Production Camp, students stepped behind—and in front of—the camera to create their own action-packed short films. With just three days and a common script to work from, students split into teams and took on the full production process: writing, shooting, editing, and premiering their very own chase scenes.

The first day focused on preproduction and planning, where students broke down the script and reimagined it through their own creative lens. Day two was all about filming—choreographing action, capturing footage, and learning how to direct and collaborate under pressure. 

By day three, students were huddled around computer screens, piecing together their edits, adding music and effects, and perfecting their stories. Associate Professor of Communication Studies Christopher Shofner says the best moment came at the very end.

“Everyone’s completely worn out—then we screen all three short films, and suddenly everyone’s countenance changes. They remember how much fun they had and how rewarding the experience is.”

The same is true for all of Bethel’s Royal Academy camps—it’s a fast paced week, but at the end, students look back and are amazed at all they learned and experienced together. 

Explore your passion at Bethel

Whether you already know your path or you’re still discovering it, Bethel offers over 100 areas of study designed to help you turn your interests into impact. Here, you’ll find mentors who care, opportunities to grow, and a Christ-centered community ready to walk with you as you pursue your calling.

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