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INUVIK - While one student works to outfit a go-kart with skis for the snow, another prepares to install brakes into an aging snowmachine.

No, it isn't an episode of Monster Garage, it's just a regular day in the mechanical shop at Samuel Hearne.

Brent Kaglik and Joseph Harder are students in the mechanics shop class at Samuel Hearne. The class is busy working on repairing broken-down snowmobiles for school use on the land. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Instructor Mike Millen said the class has been busy working on a set of snowmobiles.

"We're working on a couple of Skandics," said Millen.

He said the class started them up on Tuesday morning. One of the machines was in working order but needed new brakes.

"We took it for a rip and noticed the brakes aren't so great," he said.

The luxury of having a snowmobile just for parts helped the class with their needs.

"We just took the brakes off the parts machine," said Millen, looking over at the group of students gathered around the shop.

The snowmobiles were donated by members of the community.

Millen said he brought his own car into the shop, which is outfitted with a lift.

"We were working on my brakes the other day," he said.

"Anything that's a hands-on project is what we like working on."

On a given day, there are 14 students in class.

"Nobody ditches this class. There's so much hands-on work here and it's stuff that people should learn anyways," said Millen.

The class is a perfect environment for someone who is new to small engine repairs to learn a lot about the skill.

"We have some students who grew up working on machines and others that are really new to it all," said Millen.

The snowmachines will be used by the alternate learning program to facilitate their on-the-land classes.

Millen said he wants to fix any problems the machines have before sending them in the bush.

"If anybody wants to donate money to buy us some new snowmobiles that would be great," he said.

Joseph Harder is one of the students who has an interest in small engines. He's been a member of the class since last November.

As a part of the module last year, the class took apart some lawn mower engines to identify problems with them.

Harder said his interest is in the snowmachines.

"I just like Ski-Doos," he said. "I'm interested in knowing how they work and how to fix one if I need to."

Brent Kaglik is another student in the class, and also works at an auto body shop.

"I'm thinking about taking an apprenticeship," he said.

He said his knowledge helps him at work, in the class and on the land.

"I Ski-Doo quite often, but I don't go into the bush," said Kaglik.

"I do some small repairs, enough to keep it running."