Van Buren Regional Technology Center

03/06/2026

Maple Tapping Project
Mr. Ouellette’s HVAC class and Mrs. Spooner’s Forestry class recently teamed up for a hands-on maple tapping project in a local maple stand. Working together, students tapped the trees and will begin collecting sap when the weather cooperates. Next week looks good! The Forestry class will continue gathering the sap throughout the season, and the HVAC class will take on the next step—boiling it down to make maple syrup.

This project has been a great opportunity for students to collaborate across classes while learning about natural resources, sustainability, and the science behind maple syrup production.

On March 25, we will be hosting a day of maple-themed activities to share our project with students across all grade levels. We would also love to welcome classes from other schools who would like to participate and learn more about the maple sugaring process.

This project was made possible with support from a Maine Environmental Education Association Grant.

Stay tuned for more updates—and maybe even some syrup! 🍁

11/17/2025

Updated as of 11/17/2025

11/04/2025

02/09/2024

Exciting things are always happening in shop class! As students delve into science, math, and English in their other courses, they have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in shop class. These subjects serve as crucial foundations when pursuing a trade. In shop class, students have the chance to construct amazing projects. We recently crafted bicycle charging pods for Van Buren's new electric vehicle charging station. Additionally, we fabricate and fix parts for the public works department. Presently, we are engaged in a memorial bleacher project. Keep an eye out for the final outcome! Here are a few snapshots of our recent projects and student personal projects in progress!

10/12/2023

The first quarter is drawing to a close, and the students in Mr. Ouellette's HVAC class are making excellent progress. During this term, they've had the chance to dive into various HVAC topics. They explored the characteristics of liquid fuel and how it relates to storage tanks and piping, gaining hands-on experience in threading pipes with a power threading machine along with the installation of an oil storage tank. Additionally, the students expanded their knowledge by delving into the fundamentals of electricity, with a particular focus on safety components within heating systems. They've had the valuable opportunity to read schematics and practice their wiring skills. Keep up the excellent work, everyone!

06/16/2023

Congratulations to Addion Davis in earning his certifications in Microsoft Office Specialist Associate and Microsoft PowerPoint 2019 Associate, recently. Addion had many successes this year in his Business course work. We are very proud!!

06/05/2023

Mr. Ouellette is a wonderful asset to our school and community!!

Van Buren Highway Dept. would like to Thank Van Buren Reginal Technology Center and Joey Ouellette for helping us with a few challenging projects the last few weeks.
Below is a sewer manhole ring that needed to be adjusted for size.