We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
At Trades Day on March 2, Bryce Elliot sits in a chair similar to that found on a Vermeer Directional Drill. The virtual simulator recreates what a technician might find on a job site, and Elliot's goal was to situate a water line between two obstacles. "We were given certain degrees of angle changes to properly put a water line in without hitting the obstacles that were above and below," Elliot explained. Later that afternoon, he and Cooper Standiford were able to operate the actual Vermeer Directional drill outside where the controls were the same but the operator could actually break something if he misjudged.
Gearing up with the necessary equipment, RJ Engstrom prepares to climb a pole at Trades Day.
Students from surrounding communities attended the 4th Annual Opportunity in Trades Day hosted by Triangle Communications in Havre on Monday, March 2. At the event, students explored jobs available in the North Central Montana area related to various trades. Triangle Communications partners with multiple organizations to put on this event, which this year was open to eighth graders thru high school seniors. During lunch, there were presentations by MSU–Northern, Vermeer, and JKL Associates.
Among those attending were 20 students from Chinook High School, representing grades 10-12. Groups rotated through interactive zones exploring careers in Plumbing, Diesel, Welding, Construction, IT & Security, Mapping & Engineering, Telephone & Internet Technology, Electrician & Lineman, and other trade job opportunities. Additional schools in attendance were Havre, Rocky Boy, Box Elder, North Star, and Big Sandy.
In the morning, students selected four different tracks to learn more about a chosen area. After lunch, they returned to that area to more actively participate in the trade through a hands-on activity. For example, Zone 1 participants spent the morning gaining knowledge about careers in IT and Security. After noon, they participated in an interactive network troubleshooting event that highlighted the skills and equipment used by a network security administrator.
The Zone 2 group gained experience in using a GIS/Database for careers in engineering and mapping. Their after lunch activity involved building a treasure map using drone imagery and an active remote sensing system called Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR).
Zone 3 offered lessons in the different types of fiber optic cable and the process of splicing fiber. Following the noon hour, that group examined various models of construction machinery and operated a simulator from Vermeer.
Employing some of the skills of the Telephone & Internet Technician, those individuals selecting Zone 4 scoped and cleaned fiber optics in the morning and then learned how to set up and adopt security cameras and access points in the afternoon.
Students interested in a job in the trades stopped by Zone 5 to visit with employers who shared the skills, abilities, and qualities they are looking for in an ideal employee. Zone 7 specifically highlighted the plumbing industry for different job opportunities as well as a hands-on plumbing activity in the afternoon, and Zone 9 catered to those with an interest in welding.
Presenters at Zone 6 taught their participants how to wire a meter loop, load center, outlet, and light switch. Additionally, the group learned about the line trade, its tools, and equipment. For their hands-on activity, they made their own extension cords.
Finally, Zone 8 attendees explored a Vermeer Service Truck and discovered troubleshooting techniques for several pieces of diesel equipment.
About the event, Chinook High School Principal Brian Rayburn expressed his appreciation: "Thanks to Triangle Communications for organizing this for our region."
Chinook School Counselor, Fay Friede added: "We've taken students for the past several years, and they hear from employers and employees in different trades present about job opportunities as well as how training is done on the job. Students were able to fly a drone, put on gear and climb power poles with Hill County Electric employees, or gain knowledge from MSUN welding instructors who were there to facilitate welding opportunities. Others operated a line boring machine or a backhoe, among other things. It was a great event."
Students from neither Harlem nor Turner participated, given that they plan to attend the Aaniiih Nakoda College Job Expo in April this year. James Hodgson, Counselor at Harlem Junior/Senior High School, reported that he takes all Harlem junior high and high school students to that exposition.
