SUNY Canton to Offer Clean Energy Workforce Trainings and STEM Summer Day Camps

SUNY Canton’s Center for Workforce, Community & Industry Partnerships is partnering with the Adirondack North Country Association to offer several no-cost clean energy-related trainings and reduced-cost STEM summer day camps.

Supported by a NYSERDA Clean Energy grant, five workforce trainings in a variety of specializations will be held on campus throughout May, June and July. They are open to the general public.

BPI for Energy Audits
5 to 8 p.m. May 28-29

This program is designed to equip participants with the basic skills and knowledge necessary to understand a thorough home energy assessment, which employ advanced diagnostic techniques to evaluate building performance and recommend effective energy-saving solutions. This course is ideal for homeowners, contractors, appraisers, inspectors, HVAC professionals, construction specialists and others aiming to expand their knowledge in energy auditing and building performance analysis.

Photovoltaic Solar Training
Training Cohort 1: 5 to 7 p.m. May 19-22, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 24
Training Cohort 2: 5 to 7 p.m. June 2-5, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7

Attendees will learn the fundamentals of photovoltaic systems and how to handle and install components safely. The training will be held throughout four weekday evenings, followed by an eight-hour weekend lesson. No prior electrical experience is needed and the course will cover fundamental topics including series and parallel circuits, multimeter usage, battery care, and system layout planning.

Heat Pump Training
Training Cohort 1: 5 to 8 p.m. June 9-12
Training Cohort 2: 5 to 8 p.m. June 23-26

Designed for HVAC Trade professionals, design engineers and technology enthusiasts alike, this course delves into the fundamentals of refrigeration, empowering you to size heat pump components confidently through meticulous building load analysis. Detailed discussions give invaluable insights into the intricate mechanisms of inverters and indoor cassettes. This training will count as 12 hours of professional development.

EV Maintenance                                                                                                                    
Training Cohort 1: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 7-8
Training Cohort 2: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 14-18
Training Cohort 3: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 21-22

This course introduces electric vehicle technology, systems and safety to a variety of workers involved in the vehicle maintenance, service,and repair sectors. During this course, participants will become familiar with EV’s and will be able to describe electric vehicle technology to customers, employees and supervisors. A focus on working safely around electric vehicles will be emphasized. The course concludes with a 20-question exam resulting in a certificate of completion. Participation also includes one set of sized EV electrical safety gloves ($200 value).

EPA 608 Training
5 to 8 p.m. July 7-10
Certification Exam: 5 p.m. July 14

This 10-hour Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 608 training course and certification exam is designed for HVAC and refrigeration appliance technicians. EPA regulations under the Clean Air Act require that technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release ozone depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified. This requirement also applies to appliances containing most substitute refrigerants, including HFCs. Technicians are required to pass an EPA-approved test to earn Section 608 Technician Certification.

In addition to workforce trainings, two STEM summer day camps will be offered at a reduced rate of $50 per camper through a partnership with the Adirondack North Country Association and funded by a NYSERDA grant.

STEM Camp
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 28-Aug. 1

First to fifth graders can have fun exploring the world of aeronautics, rocketry and more. They will engage in hands-on activities such as assembling foam gliders, rubber band-powered airplanes, model rockets, catapults and dragsters.

RC Car & Aero STEM Camp
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 7-11

Students in sixth to ninth grade will spend the week immersed in remote-control (RC) car technology and aeronautical engineering. Each camper will be provided with an RC car that they will learn to drive, race, and maintain. Campers will learn about car characteristics, how to change gears and shocks, and how different parts affect the car’s driving. For the aeronautical side, campers will explore the fundamentals of airplanes and rockets by building their own model rocket and wood gliders.

For more information or to sign up, visit the Sustainability Series webpage or email wcip@canton.edu or (315) 386-7504.