Sparks are flying as this week Lethbridge College is hosting 25 young students for a welding camp.
Organized in partnership with the Canadian Welding Association Foundation (CWA Foundation) and CAREERS: the Next Generation, this five-day camp introduces 12 to 15 year old students to a career in welding. The CWA Foundation provided funding for the camp, including covering full tuition for seven First Nations students that are attending the camp this week.
“These camps are specifically designed to provide at-risk youth with an introduction to the welding profession and the great career options that are available, while being supervised by professionals in a safe environment,” said Deborah Mates, director of the CWA Foundation.
“A camp like this puts students on a path to a rewarding career at an early age,” says Jerry Heck, senior vice president, growth for CAREERS: the Next Generation. “It’s great to see how excited the students are about the welding trade by the end of the week.”
Lethbridge College is supplying instructional staff, equipment, and facilities to the “Mind over Metal” welding camp. Students get hands-on experience, creating a number of projects that they will take home after a celebration of achievement at the end of the week.
“It’s a different level teaching young kids compared to apprentices, but I really enjoy it,” says Lethbridge College welding instructor Dave Heinz. “I hope that it produces enough excitement in the trade that they’ll explore a trade later in life.”
“I’m an artist, and this is something I would like to do in the future, maybe, for a career,” says student Araya Herdman. “It’s been really fun, I’ve learned a lot of things, like different types of welds and all the safety.”
Next month, Lethbridge College will once again welcome students to campus, but with a different focus. From Aug. 3 to 5, Lethbridge College will partner with Alberta Health Services, the Rupertsland Institute and CAREERS: the Next Generation to offer the Health Sciences Careers Academy where grade 10 to 12 students will explore health sciences with hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations, and health care facility tours.