The pounding of hammers filled the South Central College carpentry room Wednesday as middle schoolers raced to be the first to hammer in nails. The seven boys and one girl, ages 10 to 15, were participating in the college’s Zap! Camp — a four-day program that introduces the campers to technical fields.

Charles Knutson, 13, measures a board at South Central College while his partner holds the measuring tape.

An instructor holds an electronic “bug” that Zap! Camp students made. The bug follows light in a darkened room.

Noah Goodwin, 12, (left) and Aaron Anderson, 10, measure a board at South Central College.

A bucket of nails sits on a sawhorse while 10-year-old Aaron Anderson practices his hammering skills.

Aaron Anderson, 10, practices his hammering skills.

A camper times 14-year-old Sam Davis while he hammers in a nail during a race to see who can hammer in a nail the fastest.