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Telecom recently hosted a busload of summer campers, who visited the Telecommunications Center in July for a tour.
Telecom Supervisor Ray Price welcomes groups, especially students who might enroll in the program when they are in high school, to check out the production facilities and learn about TV and video production.
The group who visited recently arrived on a bus as part of NNPS "Bus Camp," a transportation department summer program that gives kids an opportunity for enrichment activities while allowing new school bus drivers to get training hours behind the wheel.
The campers, NNPS students through middle school age, came to the TV station on a Monday morning.
Price started in the classroom, welcoming the group and talking about the Telecom program and its graduates who are working in the industry. He spoke about where they work and the opportunities in the TV production field.
He noted that Telecom graduates played a big role in NNPS-TV productions during the COVID-19 pandemic because Telecom students couldn't come to class and receive training. The graduates became a steady team who produced school board meetings, football games, and graduations.
He also talked about music - something he says young people are always interested in - and producing music using a computer and how it's used in video production.
He described the evolution of television recording equipment, and showed the campers and counselors old tapes so they could see firsthand the different formats used throughout the years. The large and heavy tapes like 3/4 (inch), BETA, and VHS have been replaced by tiny SD cards.
Telecom's current BlackMagic ATEM video switcher is likewise tiny compared to equipment used in the past.
Throughout the visit he emphasized the importance of technology, and how it allows for video production processes to modernize over time.
Price then took the campers to see the video production truck, which is used to produce high-quality live productions like high school graduations and sporting events.
The campers were thrilled to line up and go inside the truck that is outfitted with computers and production equipment.
Back inside the Telecommunications building, Price told them about the facility and that it is a school and a student workspace. He showed them the control rooms and studios, and then they were able to produce their own talk show using the set in Studio A.
"Who likes to be on camera?" Price asked, and three kids volunteered to be the "talent." One was the show host and the other two were guests before they rotated so all could try hosting.
They discussed topics like sports and video games, just talking and saying whatever came to mind.
The students did three recordings with the different hosts. The "off-camera" students manned the cameras and controls in the control room.
Price guided the students who were the director, technical director, and graphics technician. He stressed that communication is key for a successful production.
Sandra Hunter from the transportation team led the group, some of whom were quite small. Even the little ones were able to try out the controls and pose for photos.
Three or four of the campers said they want to come to the Telecom program in high school, Price reported.