From programming robots to bending copper pipes into triangles and learning about heavy machinery, some students from Tillicum Community Elementary packed a wide range of experiences into just a few hours.
Camosun College hosted the first of two hands-on introduction days to post-secondary education on Monday (April 28), with buses of students arriving at the Interurban campus at 9:30 a.m. for a four-hour tour.
During their visit, the young learners took part in activities including programming robots in the computer science lab, team-building exercises, business workshops, and a pipe fitting class.
For teacher Jessie Morrison, the event offered a unique opportunity for her class.
"This has been a fantastic day of learning," she said. "It's been so many cool hands-on experiences. This is a really unique opportunity for students to come see things firsthand and learn about jobs in the trades that they may not otherwise have seen."
Camosun’s Larry Chung, who helped make the day a reality, said the event is about sparking passions that might have been dormant in students and finding tomorrow’s leaders.
"Some of these kids might never have thought about college before," he said. "We want students from every part of Victoria to see themselves here. When they try welding a pipe or programming a robot, college suddenly becomes real to them."
The full-day program included transportation and a pizza lunch offered at no cost to families.
On April 30, Camosun will host Victoria’s Ecole George Jay Elementary, with a total of 160 students scheduled to participate in this year’s event.
