FIELD TRIPS COMPLIMENT CURRICULUM

(March 27, 2009)...In addition to the normal hustle and bustle in the program areas at the Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC), students have been participating in industry field trips specific to their program areas.

On March 20, Welding Technology students visited Brownsville Marine, a company located on the Monongahela River in Brownsville, PA that builds and repairs large river barges. Building these large steel barges requires a lot of welding to make sure that everything is securely fastened together and leak proof so the barge will stay afloat. Currently, Brownsville Marine is specializing in construction of a jumbo open fiber-glass covered hopper barge.  When asked about the field trip, Dylan Murdick, a junior from Marion Center commented that his favorite part of the trip was watching the barge launch into the waters.

On March 24 the juniors from Culinary Arts attended a Student Culinary Career Day at the Pittsburgh Airport Holiday Inn.  At the Culinary Career Day there were many opportunities for the students to meet and network with local chefs from Western Pennsylvania. The students also enjoyed cooking demonstrations, presented by Chef Chris O’Brien from Hyeholde Restaurant, and Chef Daniel Jeter, Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport. Throughout the day the students also enjoyed candid discussions with the chefs about their interesting career paths and work experiences.

Carpentry students are planning a field trip that will allow them to investigate practical application of their program area skills. On March 31, carpentry students will spend the day visiting Lezzer Lumber Truss Plant, Curwensville, PA and Appalachian Wood Products, Clearfield, PA.  They will have a chance to view manufacturing of trusses, walls, doors, and cabinetry used in construction.

Additionally on April 10th the Interact Club will be volunteering at St. Andrews Village.  Members of Interact will be assisting the maintenance staff by painting picnic tables and benches that are used by the residents.

The ICTC students, faculty, staff, and administration would like to sincerely thank the businesses who participated in these field trip opportunities. Not only do field trips provide the students with motivation and valuable technical knowledge, they allow the students to network and begin to establish professional relationships with our business and industry partners.

###