Grade 11 and 12 students from Lake City Secondary School learned how to operate heavy machinery during the annual Heavy Metal Rocks program in Williams Lake.
There were 22 students participating in the program which took place at the gravel pit on Bond Lake Road in Williams Lake. Twenty machines were donated by local industry for the program, and experienced operators volunteered their time to pair up with students and tour, guide and supervise as they learned how to operate each machine.
From small and large excavators to rock trucks, graders, dozers, skidders and dump trucks... students were able to glimpse what working in mining and forestry is like, and consider whether they want to pursue a career in industry.
"It just opens up a lot of doors, it's really good," said Sam, a Grade 12 student.
In fact, some of the operators volunteering their time had themselves gone through the program when they were in high school.
"They now are giving back every year because this is invaluable," said Kelvin Parent, district principal for career education with School District 27.
From April 24 to the 26, students were on site, getting safety training from Work Safe BC and local industry, trying out each machine and showing off what they've learned to their caregivers on the final day. Mount Polley Mining Corporation, Gibraltar Mines, West Fraser and Tolko all sponsored awards for students who excelled in their respective areas from safety, operation, forestry and mining.
With lunch provided by the Williams Lake Lions Club, which served spaghetti on Friday, students were feeling excited and grateful.
"It's pretty cool that we're able to do all this in high school and have these trainers that are so experienced and they're so patient and great," said Grade 11 student Amina.
