‘Mind Over Metal’ welding camp engages NPSS students

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A large group of North Peace Secondary School (NPSS) students got to learn the ins and outs of welding at a recent week-long camp provided by the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB).

The “Mind Over Metal” camp was held at NPSS from February 3rd to 7th, with more than 20 students ages 12 to 17 taking part.

Josee Poirier, a member of the CWB who assisted with the camp, said it went extremely well in an interview on Thursday, February 6th.

“It’s gone really good,” Poirier explained. “The kids are very engaged; they’re all in it. They want to learn, they’re keen to learn, so it’s great to see.”

Each day, the students created five new welding projects, meant to teach them the skills necessary to operate different pieces of equipment.

Two ninth-grade students taking part in the program, Easton Falk and Natalie McNabb, said they hope to pursue careers in the skilled trades once they finish high school. They both felt the camp was doing a good job of preparing them for what that could look like.

Falk said his favourite part of the camp up to that point was making a cowbell, saying he felt it took “more skill” than other projects.

McNabb, meanwhile, enjoyed creating a sculpture of an axe with its blade embedded in a log.

“It was pretty fun to put it all together,” she said.

According to Poirier, the students were tasked with a wide variety of different projects, including creating a fire poker for roasting marshmallows and a metal rose made from pieces cut by the students and shaped with an oxyacetylene torch.

Poirier encourages anyone interested in learning more about the CWB and its programs, including the Mind Over Metal camp series, to visit the CWB website.

Another week-long Mind Over Metal camp is scheduled for early March at NPSS. Staff members say registration is closed as the camp is already set to be at full capacity.