Instructors at BCIT hope to spark a love of learning in at-risk students during a new spring break welding camp this month.
Dubbed Mind Over Metal, the camp is a partnership with the Burnaby school district, with funding from the Canadian Welding Association Foundation (CWAF).
“For a lot of kids that are in school, they don’t see anything that ties into a job or anything at the other side of their education,” said BCIT head welding instructor Mark Flynn, a CWA board member and one the instructors behind the Burnaby camp. “If we can get them involved, just turned on a little bit to a trade or something other than thinking about not going to school, then that’s a really good idea for the students.”
And when it comes to the trades, welding is ideal for grabbing kids’ attention, Flynn said.
“There’s sparks flying and it’s pretty cool for a lot of kids, where a plumber’s job is pretty mundane as far as trying to advertise it,” he said.
Sixteen kids in grades 8 and 9 will be at BCIT for five-and-a-half hours a day from March 14 to 16, learning a variety of welding processes and making a small project to take home.
They’ll be accompanied by two youth workers supplied by the school district, which is also picking up transportation costs where needed.
Mind Over Metal camps are supported by the Canadian Welding Association Foundation across Canada.
“I was so excited when the instructors brought this to us,” BCIT manager of corporate training and industry services Laurie McAvoy said. “It just matches BCIT’s mandate, so we’re thrilled to be part of it.”
