By Lyonel Doherty

Seth Bolenback from Southern Okanagan Secondary School uses an air hammer to put the roof on a bat box that students are making (and selling) as part of the youth trades exploration program. (Photo by Lyonel Doherty)

It’s difficult for Seth Bolenback and Austin Thompson to get excited in a traditional classroom. But put them in a shop room with tools and machinery, and they’re engaged like never before.

The two students from Southern Okanagan Secondary School may have found their calling while enrolled in the youth trades exploration program taught by Okanagan College instructor Richard Frick, who is reinforcing the basic skills that young people need to enter the workforce. 

He noted the focus is maintaining the appropriate mentality that is required, such as showing up on time for work, keeping an optimistic attitude and leaving your problems at home. 

“We encourage students to act like adults and be treated as adults in an adult environment. When they come through the door here they are no longer in the high school system, they’re in the college system. I’m not a teacher, I’m an instructor; there’s a big difference.” 

Frick, a former electrical inspector for the South Okanagan, is exposing the youth to various trades, including plumbing, carpentry and electrical in a 12-week program involving students from across the district. 

Frick admitted that he was an at-risk youth while growing up. “I didn’t fit into the box that society created.” 

He said a lot of students in this program may not fit into the box that the school system created, but that doesn’t mean they are discarded. 

“That means we just have to find a different shaped box for them to fit into.” 

And it looks like Thompson may have found his. 

“I’ve always been interested in the trades, working with my hands and building things. I’m especially interested in plumbing, putting pipes together.” 

For Thompson, sitting in the regular classroom all day didn’t work for him. 

“I don’t pay attention, especially when I’m sitting at a desk and looking at a teacher, and the teacher is going ‘blah, blah, blah.’ My brain kind of just wanders.” 

So, he used to skip a lot of school. But since enrolling in the trades program, Thompson has been motivated to show up every day because it’s fun. 

Bolenback, a fellow student, was in the same boat at the age of 17. 

“I wasn’t going to graduate. I didn’t really care. But doing this, I graduate and that makes my parents happy which makes me happy.” 

Bolenbach said he was really bored in the traditional classroom setting, and to make matters worse, he had high anxiety trying to sit still and listen. 

But there is excitement in his voice when he talks about the trades, especially about an upcoming project where the students work together to build a mini home that involves electrical, plumbing and framing. 

This summer Bolenback hopes to complete a welding apprenticeship with his dad’s friend. 

But for now, he’s as happy as a bee in a bee house. 

“Here I am always doing something. At the end of the day I’m tired and I actually feel that I did something.” 

Osoyoos Secondary School student Jeremy Collier said he’s learning a lot about how the workforce really works and what is expected of him. He’s interested in welding because that’s what his dad does. 

“I like building stuff. I started in Grade 8 wood shop with Mr. Turnbull, making cars and building tables. Now (in this program) we’re building bat houses and bee houses and trying to sell them.” 

Collier said he thinks work attitude and reliability is more important than completing the actual job. “Employers look for reliability, respect and trust; they need those to get the job done.” 

And if Frick was an employer right now, he’d be impressed. 

The students have built some quality bat and bee houses that can be purchased through the school by contacting Rod Kitt. You can also contact Frick at [email protected] or by calling 250-770-0806. 

Kitt, the school’s work experience coordinator, said he has seen quite a positive transformation in these students, some of whom were falling through the cracks while others were in danger of failing or dropping out of school. 

He stated the trades program really “blows their hair back” compared to what they were trying to learn before in the regular classroom. 

“A week ago they were not in school or missing time, now they’re here every day, all day long.” 

He pointed to Osoyoos where some of these students are catching the bus at 7:30 in the morning to come here when they had difficulty even getting to school before. 

At the end of the day these kids are walking out of the shop room a little taller with a sense of pride, he said.

Jeremy Collier from Osoyoos Secondary School works on a project in the youth trades exploration program. (Photo by Lyonel Doherty)