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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Getting kindergarten students into all their outdoor clothing is a lot of work.

With snowpants, coats, hats, mitts, scarves and boots it can take 10 minutes to get all 19 kindergartners at Bompas elementary school in Fort Simpson ready, said Tyler Pilling.

Amie Charlie took over the driver's seat from her father Stephen Charlie, the superintendent of Environment and Natural Resources for the Deh Cho, during Take Our Kids to Work Day. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Pilling had a hands-on look at the process while job-shadowing his mother Val Gendron, the kindergarten teacher, during Take Our Kids to Work Day on Nov. 5.

"Now I know what my mom has to put up with," said Pilling.

"It's not that they're bad, there's just so many of them."

The students need to get dressed or undressed eight times a day and "at 10 minutes a pop that's 80 minutes out of your day," said Pilling.

After a day in the class Pilling said he might pursue a career in teaching but not at the kindergarten level.

"It's just too hard," he said.

Eight Grade 9 students from Thomas Simpson school spent Wednesday job-shadowing at five workplaces around the village. Spending a day on the job is the culmination of a unit on careers. The unit also includes writing a resume, doing a job interview and researching a career.

"The kids get an idea of what it's like to be on the job," said Steve Nicoll, the teacher who organized the placements.

At the Nahanni National Park Reserve office Jordan Villeneuve was learning about the responsibilities his step-dad Olinto Beaulieu has as a member of the maintenance team. During the course of the day Villeneuve cleared snow, loaded drywall, helped install a door and painted a floor.

"It's fun," said Villeneuve.

"It's better than the classroom."

Villeneuve said he enjoyed the hands-on work outdoors and is considering working for Parks Canada when he graduates.

Getting hands-on is also what Tyrone Stipdonk liked about working at P.R. Contracting.

Stipdonk was put to work checking tire pressure and finding holes in tires. He was also challenged to take apart and reassemble a motor that opens and closes vehicle windows.

Stipdonk said the experience helped confirm that he wants to pursue a career as a mechanic.

Amie Charlie experienced a different kind of workplace while spending the day with her father Stephen, the superintendent of Environment and Natural Resources for the Deh Cho. The job involves a lot of paperwork, emails and answering the phone, said Amie.

"I think it's a pretty responsible job," she said.

Take Our Kids to Work Day is a good program because it lets youth see the importance of education and how adults interact on a professional level, said Stephen.

"I think it's great she gets the opportunity to see me work," he said.