NORTHERN LAKES COLLEGE
Northern Lakes College Hosts Trade Camps

Youth from various communities in the region are participating in trade camps hosted by Northern Lakes College. Carpenter and heavy equipment technician camps are occurring in High Level, High Prairie, and Slave Lake.

Youth aged 14 - 17 participated in a carpenter camp offered at the Northern Lakes College, High Level Campus April 3 - 5. The Fort Vermilion School Division sponsored the camp to provide an opportunity for youth in High Level and surrounding area to try their hand at the trade. The Slave Lake Trades & Technology Centre has youth aged 13 - 15 participating in a carpenter camp running April 12 - 14. During these same dates, the High Prairie Campus is hosting 16 - 18 year old youth in a heavy equipment technician camp.

The carpenter camp is instructed by a Journeyperson and involves safety practices in the shop, demonstrations, and hands-on experience with wood working tools and materials. Students learn the basics of safe tool usage, an introduction to standard and metric systems, measuring, marking out, and cutting material, filing, drilling and fastening. Students create and take home a completed project at the end of the camp.

The heavy equipment technician camp, instructed by a Journeyperson, introduces the career pathways available in the trade, such as specialized repair shops and organizations with a focus on heavy equipment, including construction, mining, forestry, materials handling, landscaping, agriculture, and transportation industries. Students learn proper power and hand tool usage, safety protocols, and the use of personal protective equipment. The camp provides exposure to a variety of concepts including internal combustion engines, components, and maintenance, diagnosis, repairs, and proper performance of equipment. The camp includes a hands-on approach with shop-style projects that include disassembly, reassembly, and adjustments on a 4-speed transmission.   

"Trade camps can be the pathway to a career," explains Angie White, Chair of Trades & Resource Technology at Northern Lakes College. "Camps create the opportunity for youth to be in a shop, get some hands-on experience, and get a sense of the work environment. Students learn about the trade while learning skills and building confidence."

Participants who wish to pursue further training may choose to enrol in Dual Credit opportunities. Dual Credit allows high school students to participate in apprenticeship courses and obtain both high school and post-secondary credit. Through Dual Credit, high school students are able to complete the first year of a trade, which is a huge benefit to students and their parents, and also contributes to building the future workforce of their communities.

To learn about Dual Credit apprenticeship opportunities, visit northernlakescollege.ca/future-students/dual-credit.