FPHRC Spotlight: The Automotive Department Is On The Move — Kirk VanGelder
It’s been an exciting time building on the work that Michael Webster started with regards to the Automotive Technology program here at Firmly Planted. There is much to share! Our workshop offerings have expanded each year. We started out last school year with two workshops of Basic Car Care while we waited for permission to use the shop. This workshop allowed us to teach students how to be responsible car owners, from purchasing decisions to inspecting them, and performing basic maintenance. That workshop will continue each year.
This school year in the Fall, and with access to the shop space, we added Automotive Technology 1. It allows students to dive into learning how all of the vehicle systems operate along with scheduled maintenance of those systems. It also prepares students for potential careers in the automotive service sector. Over time, we will continue to add higher level Automotive Technology workshops to build on this foundation.
This spring we added a Vehicle Detailing workshop. Students get to practice the skills and techniques of making vehicles look better than new! Not only can students use this to start their own business, but it prepares them for potential careers in the collision repair industry. We already have a shop waiting to hire our first completers!
Being a new program, we have started to acquire donations of tools and equipment for the shop. So far we have received a floor jack and jack stands, an air compressor, a small tool set, and a shop vacuum. We are looking to continue adding tools and equipment so that we can continue to expand students’ hand’s-on learning opportunities.
We are also thrilled to be the recipient of a very cool 1968 Mustang in incredible condition with less than 50,000 miles on it. This vehicle will allow us to practice both automotive and detailing skills. While we don’t have much room at this time to store vehicles, we are looking for a newer vehicle (within 7 years) so that we can train the students on newer technology. We would also like to acquire an electric or hybrid vehicle to introduce students to that technology. These will help prepare them for the workplace of today and tomorrow.
Lastly, our goal in the Automotive Department is to provide an opportunity for students to learn valuable life skills while exploring the wide variety of career opportunities available in the automotive industry. We encourage those that want to further their education to consider enrolling in Cascadia Technical Academy or Clark College.