Summer Camps for Youth Interested in Skilled Trades

Youth across Nova Scotia will learn more about the skilled trades this summer with funding from the Province.

Safe, fun and interactive camps for youth aged 12 to 15 will encourage exploring careers in the skilled trades and help meet the future demands of Nova Scotia’s labour market.

In partnership with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), industry and various community partners, 10 week-long camps will be offered in the construction, industrial/manufacturing and cooking sectors throughout the province. They will focus on safety training, promoting teamwork and community building, career exploration and hands-on skilled trades experience. Similar camps will be offered during March Break in 2025.

“Introducing youth to the skilled trades at such a young age is an excellent way to shape the future of Nova Scotia’s workforce,” said Jill Balser, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “These summer camps are a great way for youth to learn hands-on and gain exposure to practical skills, while exploring career paths in the skilled trades before starting high school.”

Camps will take place in July and August at these NSCC campuses: Akerley (Dartmouth), Annapolis Valley (Middleton), Burridge (Yarmouth), Digby Learning Centre (Digby), Institute of Technology (Halifax), Pictou (Stellarton) and Strait Area (Port Hawkesbury). The first will be held July 8-12 at the Pictou campus.

The $1.25-million investment over the next two years for summer and March Break camps is part of the $100 million announced in October 2023 to recruit, retain and train more people in skilled trades. The government is accelerating growth in the skilled trades and modernizing the apprenticeship and trades qualification system to meet the needs of a growing province.

Quotes:

“Young people are the future of Nova Scotia’s workforce. Many youth are not aware of the career opportunities within the skilled trades, so exposing them to practical skills and hands-on learning is a great way to generate awareness among their age group. We hope these fun exploration camps spark an interest in participants and that they consider a rewarding career path in the skilled trades.”
— Michelle Bussey, CEO, Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

“There are so many choices when trying to first determine your educational and career pathway. The college is so pleased to support new opportunities for youth to explore an important field of study and determine if it might shape their future.”
— Don Bureaux, President, Nova Scotia Community College

“The Africadian Empowerment Academy is excited to collaborate with NSCC on their skilled trades summer camps. These camps provide an invaluable opportunity for our youth to explore and develop their talents in the trades, empowering them with practical skills and inspiring confidence for their future careers. We believe this initiative will have a lasting positive impact on our community, and we are proud to support such a meaningful program.”
— Omolara Ogunbosi, Executive Director, The Africadian Empowerment Academy

Quick Facts:

• participating youth will have access to approved personal protective equipment
• the community partners supporting this project are:
  • Africadian Empowerment Academy
  • Black Educators Association
  • Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia
  • LOVE Nova Scotia
  • MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning
  • Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey
  • Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council
  • Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network
  • Skills Canada - Nova Scotia

Additional Resources:

Skilled trades exploration camp registration: https://www.nscc.ca/tradescamps

News release – Actions to Accelerate Skilled Trades Growth: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/10/19/actions-accelerate-skilled-trades-growth