OCNews

DIYers, hobbyists and makers: mark your calendars. Okanagan College is offering up a series of safe, distanced but still hands-on courses to help you build some new skills this spring.

The College’s Trades and Apprenticeship department is launching two new short courses this month.

Auto Master – Women is happening on Sat., March 27. This one-day, all-female workshop introduces the basics of car maintenance. Practical lessons will include learning how to change a tire, the purpose of coolant, oil changes, and what to touch and not touch under the hood of a car. Participants will have the opportunity to bring in their own vehicles to gain the confidences and skills needed to continue their regular maintenance at home. Tools and equipment will be provided, steel toe boots and masks will be required at all times. The course costs $156.45.

The second course picks up on the trending resurgence of little libraries – small wooden structures you can build and place near your home for people to drop off or pickup books for free to enjoy.

Those wanting to build their own Free Little Library can sign up for a two-day course running Sat.-Sunday, March 27-28. This will be a co-ed workshop for adults who love reading, book sharing and building. Learn how to use hand and power tools under the guidance of Red Seal endorsed Instructors. Materials and tools will be provided; masks will be required. The course costs $231.

“While there are many great online resources for DIYers, we often hear from the community that people really want guidance from the experts – skilled tradespeople – to ensure they are using tools safely, to ask questions and then get the feedback they need in real-time,” explains Teresa Kisilevich, Associate Dean for Trades and Apprenticeship at OC.

“These new weekend Trades Adults programs give adults the opportunity to explore the trades while learning new hands-on skills and techniques in our state-of-the-art Trades Training Complex at the Kelowna campus, all while following strict COVID-19 safety protocols.”

To learn more about these courses and register online, go to www.okanagan.bc.ca/tradesgeneralinterest.