Inuvik (Apr 11/05) - With students voluntarily working overtime and even coming in on Saturdays, it's no surprise that Austin Abbott needed to double his workforce for the second year of the mobile introduction to trades program.

"The response was unbelievable. The kids are amazing, they're so interested in what they're doing," said the skills program co-ordinator for the Beaufort Delta Divisional Board of Education.

Abbott started the program last year to offer students in schools with little or no trades equipment or curriculum a broader range of options.

With a 14-foot trailer full of tools and equipment in tow, he travels to schools throughout the Beaufort-Delta teaching week-long modules on construction, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, welding and small engines.

The students get course credits and exposure to new careers and skills.

"It was really successful last year and this year it's picking up even more," he said.

So successful in fact, requests from schools continue to pour in and mechanical and marine engineering technologist Robert Wingert had to come on board in the New Year to lend an extra set of hands.

But even with three or four teachers on the road the demand wouldn't be saturated, Wingert said.

"The modules all seem popular," he said, noting it wasn't unusual to run the same course twice at the same school. "There's no clear winner."

Part of the popularity is due to the hands-on nature of the projects, Wingert said. However, students must still write tests.

"It's fun. I've learned a lot of new stuff," said Chantal Nogasak, a Grade 9 student at Mangilaluk school in Tuktoyaktuk.

"You get to play around and make stuff. It's not just work."

The 14-year-old said her exposure to trades has helped her decide she'd like to attend post-secondary training in as a mechanic or other trade.

"They should offer these courses all the time," she said.