A Week in the Shop: Summer Camp Gives Students a Real Look at TechKnowledge
More Than Just a Campus Tour
From June 22-26, we welcomed high school students from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska to the TechKnowledge program at Lake Area Technical College for our first Summer Camp of the year.
Instead of walking through the building for an hour and heading home, these students got to spend an entire day in the shop alongside our current first-year TechKnowledge students. They worked on the same assignments, asked questions, got their hands dirty, and saw what a normal day in the program really looks like.
That’s exactly what we wanted them to experience.
Learning the Important Stuff
This week’s focus was HVAC.
Let’s be honest…it probably isn’t the topic that gets most people excited about diesel technology. But every technician needs to understand it. Today’s equipment depends on climate control systems that are far more advanced than most people realize, and being able to diagnose and repair them is part of becoming a well-rounded technician.
More importantly, students got to see that being a diesel tech isn’t just turning wrenches. It’s troubleshooting, understanding electrical systems, using technology, and solving problems every day.
Learning From Students Who Were Just in Their Shoes
One of the best parts of camp was watching our current first-year students work with the campers.
Not long ago, they were asking the same questions and trying to decide if TechKnowledge was the right fit for them. Now they’re the ones helping the next group of students learn the basics and showing them what life in the program is really like.
It’s a great reminder of how much confidence and experience students gain during their first year.
Looking Ahead to July
Every student who attended left with a TechKnowledge t-shirt, lunch, and hopefully a better understanding of what a career as a diesel technician can look like.
If you missed the first week, there’s still another opportunity.
Our second Summer Camp runs July 13-17 and will focus on Machine Technology. Just like the first week, students will choose one day to attend and spend it working in the shop with current TechKnowledge students.
If you’re curious about becoming a diesel technician, there’s no better way to find out if it’s the right fit than spending a day doing exactly what our students do.
Lake Area Technical College- TechKnowledge program information
