Wisconsin technical college debuts NBT welding summer camp

The camp attendees and instructor pose with their completed garden flag poles on the last day.

Almost 200 people graduated from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College's Marinette, Wis., campus in December and May, earning an associate degree or technical diploma on their way to kickstart their professional careers.

Among the campus’ offerings is its one-year welding program, which culminates with a technical diploma. Some of the courses listed in the welding program include material cutting applications, blueprint reading, the four arc welding processes, metal fabrication, vocational math, and metallurgy.

Perhaps in a few years, the 12- to 15-year-olds who participated in the school's week-long welding summer camp will be enrolled in these welding classes. Last July, though, the preteens and teens at this camp learned a little bit more about jobs and skills highly coveted by local employers.

"If I’m not going to be doing anything this summer except for playing video games and stuff, I might as well do something good with it," said 13-year-old Jackson Hill.

For one week, this small group of students representing communities in and around Marinette, Wis., near the Michigan border, learned how to weld, cut, heat, bend, grind, saw, polish, and clean their welds. The kids ultimately used what they learned to fabricate garden flag poles made from carbon steel rods that they took home at the end of the week.

"They treat us like adults. They give you some freedom [to work]," said Jayden Gordon, 14.

The camp was funded through a grant from the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation (NBT), the official foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association. Local sponsors that included area employers and school systems also contributed in one form or another.

"One sponsor said, ‘That's not enough money, we’ll give you more money,’" said Jennifer Flatt, vice president of student services at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and former dean of the Marinette campus.

The NBT grant and outside funding meant none of the camp attendees had to pay the $99 fee.

It was the first year the Marinette school held an NBT welding camp. In 2021, the technical college introduced two NBT camps, one in CNC/machining and another in electromechanical and automation. All three camps ran in 2022 and will continue in summer 2023.

A small group of 12- to 15-year-olds spent one week of their summer break at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College's Marinette campus, learning how to weld as part of the college's welding camp. It was made possible through a grant from the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation, the official foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association.

Local industry provided 400 to 500 steel plates for the students to work with during the camp. Campus welding instructor and camp leader Tom Topper brainstormed and assigned the camp attendees the garden pole project and gave them the time and resources to practice their welds and work on different side projects at the college's 16-booth welding lab. On the final day of the camp, for instance, one student welded himself a tower using small I-beams.

Topper said the kids learned the four arc welding processes. By the end of the week, he could tell they liked some types of welding more than others.

"They didn't like TIG. Gas metal arc welding, I think, is their thing," he said. "You can see it a lot better. With flux- core [arc welding], your weld is covered with slag. The gas metal arc was a big hit—plus it's cleaner."

Topper also coordinated visits to Samuel Pressure Vessel Group in Marinette and Advanced Blending Solutions in Wallace, Mich.

The two businesses were willing to show the students around, Topper said. Samuel Pressure Vessel Group is a pressure vessel manufacturer/distributor while Advanced Blending Solutions builds and designs blenders for the plastics industry.

"They build the mixers that mix these different types of plastics together," Topper said of Advanced Blending Solutions. "A lot of TIG welding; a lot of fine welding. The kids got to see that."

The hope is that some of the camp attendees will consider welding as a possible career path as they progress through high school and ponder their futures. Topper said skilled welders are of particular interest in the Marinette area, which is known for its shipbuilding and pressure vessel industries.

"We get lots of calls for welders—lots. Everybody is looking for welders . . . baby boomers are going out and no one is replacing them," he said.

"Industry around here is great to me," he added. "Any tours I want, they will give to me. They're also looking toward their futures."

Furthermore, "If we can get them interested now, it can prepare them for grants and scholarships for the future," Topper added.

Besides welding, the camp attendees learned how to cut, heat, bend, form, grind, polish, and clean their welds, and they toured local manufacturing shops.

Will these welding camp students be the area's future welders? It's possible. Some of the attendees were considering it.

Hill said he could see himself become a welder or electrician and felt Topper taught him well. Topper and the camp instilled confidence in Hill on his welding skills and that one day he could weld professionally.

"He taught us very thoroughly. We're out here doing it. It's only our fifth day and we’re out here welding. I’m not as scared anymore," Hill said. "I can put my stuff on, go in a booth, and just do it. I don't feel like I need anyone watching me."

Welding camp participants worked on garden flag poles that they ultimately took home at the end of the week.