Grade 8 students from across the region got to explore the many vocational learning options that will be available to them in high school, at a trades camp hosted by the Red River Technical Vocational Area Thursday.

A series of half-day sessions were held at various locations throughout the RRTVA catchment, allowing interested students to select which program they wanted to attend and learn more about. The trades camp also had students gain hands-on exposure by participating in safety instruction followed by a short project specific to the program. 

The goal, according to Lane Curry, RRTVA program services coordinator, is for students to broaden their horizons, to have meaningful hands-on experiences and to develop personal connections with RRTVA instructors.

"This is a good avenue to promote (the programs) and have the kids rub shoulders, get their hands dirty before they even are high school students," he said, adding the transition from junior high to high school can be quite intimidating for some. "It's another way to give them a chance to get in to the school and feel a little bit more relaxed." 

W.C. Miller Collegiate in Altona hosted two of the trades camp locations.

Dennis and Damien, grade 8 students from Roseau Valley School (RVS) in Dominion City, took in the Culinary Arts program where participants created sugar cookie french fries and a cupcake cheeseburger. 

Damien and Dennis took in the Culinary Arts program where participants created sugar cookie french fries and a cupcake cheeseburger. 

"Culinary was something I was really looking forward to," said Dennis, adding it was a fun morning. While he doesn't plan on being a chef in the future, Dennis said he would certainly consider taking the course when gets to high school. 

On the other hand, Damien, also from RVS, does plan on becoming a chef one day and is also planning to take the culinary program when he enters high school. 

"I just like cooking and I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to come here and cook," he said. 

Meantime, down the hall from the kitchen, students were learning all about the Carpentry program at W.C. Miller. 

Ethan from Ecole Morden Middle School wants to be an architect in the future, and feels taking the Carpentry course will help him on that path. 

"I just like designing things and making plans. It just seems interesting to me," he said. 

Already enrolled in woods classes at his school, Ethan says he fully intends on enrolling in the Carpentry program when he enters high school.

Northlands Parkway Collegiate in Winkler also hosted sessions of the trades camp. 

Jack from Hochfeld School was joined by Erwin, who attends school in Schanzenfeld, at the Electrical Program where the group learned how to wire a light bulb to a switch. 

Jack plans on following in the footsteps of his father, who works as an electrician, and the two have dreams of starting their own business one day.

"He is a very big influence, and yes it does influence me quite a lot," he said. 

As for Erwin, he says he's always been interested by electricity and likes to do little projects at home. He figured the trades camp would be a good opportunity to expand his knowledge.

After spending the morning with instructor, Trent Krahn, both Jack and Erwin agree the experience has them considering enrolling in the program when they arrive at high school.