Here's what makes Skills Work! Summer Camp stand out

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• Welding Workshops at Various Camps Across Ontario

  At Centennial College, campers had the opportunity to weld a pattern of their choosing on a small, rectangular piece of metal following a safety demonstration. Both workshop leaders explained the hazards of welding and taught the campers how to use the equipment. In Whitby, campers were each given metal piece and welded these 2 pieces together. After their first try, campers were allowed to get another metal piece and weld again. At Fleming College, campers had a rectangle of metal and welded on the feet to create the base of the lamp. They also welded their name onto another piece of metal to create the forth side to their box. At St. Clair College, campers were taught to use the V-Carve program and were able to choose a logo they wanted cut out. In Stoney Creek, campers had the opportunity to use the virtual welder. As well, the campers went into the welding shop to see demonstrations of different welding techniques by the welding workshop leader and Mohawk students.

• Automotive Workshops at Various Camps Across Ontario

  At Durham College and Mohawk College, campers began by identifying parts of the engine and other things under the hood, such as the location of the oil tank and windshield washer fluid tank. Campers also learned how to “jack up” the car correctly and safely, and how to change a tire using an air gun. This workshop ended with a tire changing race. At Fanshawe College, the campers were split into two groups for a tour of the different areas in the Transportation Technology Building. The campers really enjoyed this and were able to get inside of some big trucks and honk the horns. Campers then learned how to change a tire, something that they found very exciting. The campers at Loyalist College also had the opportunity to learn to change a tire. They also cut, bent, flared, and attached a break line.

• Carpentry Workshops at Various Camps Across Ontario

  During the camps at Cambrian College, campers were taught the proper way to hammer in a nail. Students then built and created tool boxes from pre-cut pieces of wood. This was a real hot amongst campers and staff. In Whitby and Waterloo, campers made a "bat box".  The workshop leader had all the campers cut their sides using the skills saw (with his guidance).  Campers then used the band saw or jigsaw to cut out their bats. To finish this off, a nail gun was used to put all of the pieces together. In Thunder Bay, safety and math skills were highlighted, and each camper was given the opportunity to build their own bird-feeder  using precut wood which they glued and hammered together. In London, campers spent four days working on their final project which was a bird house. In Peterborough, campers began buy building a three sided box for the body of the lamp. The kids used wood glue, nails, a chop saw and sander. Unlike most workshops, the wook pieces were not pre-cut. In Midland, campers used a drill, screws, connector pieces and screwdrivers to put their truss together. Once all the trusses were assembled, the campers tested them by applying pressure from a hydraulic pump specially designed for this project by Georgian College. At Lambton College and Northern College, the campers built bird houses from prefabricated birdhouse kits. At Loyalist College, campers were taught how to read a plan and measure correctly. They used hammers, drills and a drill press to build a birdhouse.

• Electrical Workshops at Various Camps Across Ontario

  In response to the financial commitment from Hydro One, a new electrical activity, featuring the wiring of an electric pulley system car, is offered at camps across the province. Most locations also included a three hour electrical workshop at the host college, which often integrated conversations about electrical safety and details about apprenticeship in the electrical trade. In Thunder Bay, campers learned to create an electrical circuit by making and using insulating play-dough and conductive play-dough. The circuit was powered by a battery and the electricity generated was used to light several LEDs. At Fleming College, campers learned how to wire and measure electrical boards. Once this was completed, switches were added to the circuits as well. This was one of the four steps the campers did in order to create their final project, an actual working lamp! At Georgian College, campers learned about circuits and used a series of diagrams to wire their own training boards. At Humber College, the campers worked with the workshop leader to create proper electrical drawings and then connected their drawings to a working circuit. The students liked this aspect of the wiring. The campers were then put in pairs to build electrical circuits based on a diagram. At Linamar, campers soldered the wires of their Kidder Cars that were previously built. At St. Clair College and Mohawk College, campers wired and built their own extension cord. This was extremely engaging for the campers. At Loyalist College, campers were taught the basics of electricity and then applied it by wiring several different coloured bulbs to different types of switches on their own personal board. At Northern College, campers were able to strip wires and put safety caps on them. At Sault College, each camper was assigned to a work station that was equipped with a soldering machine, wire, pliers, copper ribbon and voltage meters. Using these tools, the campers were instructed to solder and wire a key chain flash light together.

• Culinary Workshop at Lambton College, Sarnia

  This was a fun and exciting workshop for the campers. Patricia led this workshop and assigned various tasks to campers to get them involved in the pizza preparation. They prepared pizza dough from scratch and sliced and diced veggies. The campers were able to top their pizza any way they liked. The campers were all eager to get their hands dirty and take part in these activities, while learning about the importance of measurement and cleanliness in the kitchen.

• Hairstyling Workshop at Collège Boréal, Timmins

  Another unknown skilled trade and technology was introduced to campers at Collège Boréal in Timmins. The workshop was hairstyling and French speaking campers were unaware that hairstyling was considered a skilled trade and technology. During this workshop, campers learned the basic concepts of hairstyling and esthetics, along with how the concept of entrepreneurship is directly related to that of a hairstylist/esthetician. Campers learned how to do a French braid, a waterfall braid and how to curl hair. They also had the opportunity to use coloured hair gel and paint their nails.

• Entrepreneurship at Conestoga College, Waterloo

  On the Monday morning of camp at Conestoga College in Waterloo, the campers were introduced to the concept of entrepreneurship through a representative from the Small Business Enterprise Centre. Once the presentation was complete, the campers watched an episode of the television series “Shark Tank” to show them what was expected in creating their own business idea. Throughout the week, campers began working on a company name, company logo, product and commercial. Two 12 year old girls in particular created an amazing business idea in which was deemed the “self-regulating hand sanitizer door knob”. The girls claim this idea was created because they thought about how many individuals are constantly touching door knobs, in public places, on a regular basis. They then realized how many germs are spread through this process and wanted to create a product that could diminish the spread of germs. Each time you use a door knob, the turning motion of the knob would force the pump of the sanitizer down as well. The sanitizer would travel down a long tube to the door knob and successfully sanitize it. In the end, the girls were extremely proud in presenting their idea at the Camper’s Showcase. 

• Photography Workshop at Confederation College, Thunder Bay

  During the week in Thunder Bay, our photography workshop instructor was an entrepreneur herself. Ashley Kibzey attended our camp to not only teach the campers the technical skills needed to take great pictures, but to also stress to them how important it is to go after their dreams and the various skills need to open up your own business. Many of the campers were not aware that photography was even considered a technological trade, but were thrilled to see how accomplished Ashley became with her business. The campers enjoyed the photography workshop, as they were given a specific assignment to complete in groups. This was even more exciting due to the fact that the campers were able to take these pictures outside on campus.

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