Some Middleburgh students received lessons in plumbing, courtesy of experts from UA Local 7, Plumbers and Steamfitters union.
The students, who are enrolled in the Building Trades program at Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical Education Center, Schoharie Campus, recently learned the basics of plumbing, including PVC draining and vent fittings, basic plumbing code, plumbing math, jobsite safety and how to install a sink.
“I hope to teach the students that working with your hands, getting them dirty isn’t something to be embarrassed about. There are great jobs in the trades, and I think, of course, that plumbing is the best job,” said Seth Madden, a member of the union.
“Everyone needs to go to the bathroom,” he added.
Fellow union member Scott Nadeau concurred.
“Plumbing is a career that can’t be replaced by AI,” he said. “Getting into the union sets you up with a good pay scale and great benefits.”
During one part of the lesson, students leveled and connected PVC pipes within a frame of a wall that then led to a sink they installed.
Students said they appreciate the ability to learn a new skill set and value the opportunities it affords them.
“It’s a nice lesson and gives us a great, hand-on experience and a new skill set that we can use,” said Dalton Porter, a Middleburgh senior.
Classmate Jack McManus agreed.
“It’s good to learn a new skill that I can use at home or in business,” the Guilderland teenager said.
Eight Middleburgh students are enrolled in the Building Trades program.
Capital Region BOCES Managing Program Coordinator-Business & Community Partnerships Nancy Liddle said the plumbing union will bring the training to other programs on the Albany and Schoharie campuses later this school year.
“The hands-on, real-life experience ignited student engagement,” she said.
BOCES will launch its own full-time Plumbing Technology program for high school students starting in the fall of 2025.
The one-year program will be a comprehensive, hands-on program designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the plumbing industry. Students will learn essential skills, including safety protocols, plumbing math and blueprint reading, while working with various piping materials such as plastic and copper. The course covers key plumbing systems such as drain, waste, and vent (DWV) systems, water distribution, and much more.
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