Mind Over Metal Welding Camp Is Making Futures Bright

CWB Welding Foundation Mind Over Metal camps encourage youth to explore the welding skilled trade through hands-on experiences. The camps bring light to potential career opportunities available in the welding industry and aim to increase the number of individuals in Canada who are entering welding skilled trades training, and work to address the need for skilled welding professionals. The Canadian welding industry provides many great and diverse career opportunities, including welder, welding inspector, in welding research and engineering. The CWB Welding Foundation hosted its first welding camp in Edmonton in the summer of 2014, and to date has completed nearly 170 camps across Canada.

The Hope camp will be hosted by School District No.78 (Fraser-Cascade). This camp is funded by the CWB Welding Foundation and will running during June 27^th – June 30th, 2022.

These camps are always a ton of fun to put on as we have a bunch of keen participants that really take advantage of the opportunity to dive in, get their hands dirty and be creative.  I’m always impressed how much these students grow through the short four days.  Many come in green and timid, but eager.  They leave with projects they’re proud of, a new confidence in their own abilities, more questions than they came with and a good understanding of the welding industry.

This young summer group is always fun to work with.  Participants typically arrive with no experience, but come eager to learn.  The program kicks off with learning about welding safety, various welding forms and techniques, and career paths related to welding.  They will also discuss the impact that welding has on our daily lives and the related spill-off metal industries, among other things.

Once the theoretical and safety portion is complete, students are able to have fun putting their practical welding skills to the test.  They plan and create projects via collaboration with peers and the instructor. They dive in, get their hands dirty and build confidence in their own capabilities.

During this camp students will also be educated on the Industry Training Authority (ITA) and our district trades programs available to students. We have seen a number of past participants access district sponsorships to pursue a trades certification in their grade 12 year of high school.  We find the earlier students and parents learn about these programs the more likely they are to access these great opportunities.   We look forward to working with more young participants interested in the trades! said Jeremy Smith, Camp Instructor.

Welding safety, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), introduction to weld symbols, and a brief overview of the impact welding has on our daily lives will be part of the camp. Once the theoretical portion is completed, students will have fun putting their practical welding skills to the test while they create their very own projects like cow bells, and a metal rose.

For more information about camp programming for 2021-22, contact the CWB Welding Foundation at info@cwbweldingfoundation.org

CWB WELDING FOUNDATION

The CWB Welding Foundation is a national not-for-profit charitable organization, working to address the need for skilled welding tradespeople and professionals in the workforce. The future of the welding industry depends on attracting young people to the trade, removing barriers for underrepresented groups to access pathways to training, and supporting their success. Our mission is to forge partnerships between industry, education and government that enable Canadians to build great careers in the welding industry. We do this by developing and delivering educational programs; funding capital, equipment, consumables and protective equipment for quality learning environments in school technology programs; training welding educators; and supporting welding students through bursaries, awards applied research grants. Learn more about our programs, partners and donors at www.cwbweldingfoundation.org.

“As much as CWB Welding Foundation has been a strong supporter of the welding program over the years, Fraser Cascade school district also wants to recognize and thank our local industry partners that make this camp successful. RIMEX,” building better wheels”, has been one of our long time suppliers of metal for students to practice and hone their skills. Another industry partner in Agassiz is Machine Tech, focusing on fabrication and machining, and enabling our more creative enthusiasts a partner to explore these career paths. Tycrop Trailers, in Chilliwack, along with Tycrop Manufacturing in Rosedale is another one of our long-standing supporters in this career field. Both divisions of Tycrop continue to donate supplies and materials to our various programs. All three local partners are strong supporters of sponsoring Youth Work in Trades programs, industry tours and presenting within our classrooms the diverse and lucrative career paths within welding and metal fabrication. Lastly, we would like to thank TRU welding instructor Michael Grainger who has been the welding instructor of our ITA welding foundations program since 2015. Michael continuously impresses us with his desire to give back to our community with his time and donations. These passionate businesses and individual help make our program a success and allow our students to forge a new career path for themselves.” – Karl Koslowsky, District Vice Principal Careers and Transitions.

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