Twenty students from Flathead High School’s new Community School program visited local manufacturing companies Wednesday to learn about the “real world” outside the classroom.

Two groups visited either Applied Materials and Kalispell Kreamery or Defiance Machine and Counter Assault. The tours were part of a month of manufacturing-related events organized by Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and Kalispell Manufacturers Alliance. The goal was for students to gain insight into local career opportunities, as well as learning about the manufacturing process itself.

Before students unloaded the bus to tour Counter Assault, which specializes in the production of bear deterrent spray, Flathead Valley Community College’s Director for the Center for Manufacturing Advancement Chris Parson touched on what students had learned so far during the day, answered questions and encouraged them to share the experience with family and friends.

“That’s the idea of these tours. We want them to share,” Parson said. “And the kids aren’t all interested in manufacturing. What these tours are for is to make them aware of what jobs exist in our valley.”

Counter Assault General Manager and Marketing Director George Hyde started the tour with a lesson in bear biology and behavior and how Counter Assault’s bear spray works with that in mind.

Celebrating its 30th year, Counter Assault moved to Kalipsell in 1999 after it outgrew its location in Missoula. Hyde pointed to the different areas of the Kalispell facility where it has expanded to meet increasing demand. In addition to bear spray, Counter Assault also manufactures pepper sprays for law enforcement and personal protection.

Students learned about the cyclical nature of business. Hyde referred to an “off season” in manufacturing bear spray comparable to the fluctuation of visitors to national parks. When production slows, Counter Assault focuses on other responsibilities in preparation for the peak season.

“We take advantage of this time to maintain equipment and do all the things we can’t over the summer,” Hyde said.

Nine employees work to produce tens of thousands of cannisters internationally. The company also hires seasonal employees as demand necessitates.

“It’s all done right here,” Hyde said.

In addition to hiring employees on the production line, the company also employs people in sales, marketing, accounting and graphic design.

Students asked questions about changes in product demand, the production process, packaging and costs.

Hyde used an example of a marketing decision to change the bear spray canister from black to red, which changed costs. Red was a slightly more expensive and the paint had to be ordered from Germany.

Flathead junior Matthew Funk asked how the company made up lost profits.

“By volume,” Hyde said.

FUNK IS A student of Flathead’s year-long Community School, which places students with a mentor in their career field of interest. The students are essentially interns and the goal is to have them contribute to a workplace by assisting with daily tasks, completing a service project, or both.

Funk, who hopes to become a filmmaker, has been placed with a video production company.

Community School students recently completed an orientation phase and will now spend between five to 15 hours at their internship sites and about one period per week in the classroom.

Funk said he has learned a lot since school started, noting the ability to move from a structured classroom environment to the fluidity of the workplace.

“It’s definitely hands on,” Funk said. “You dive in and learn more than what a regular class would teach.”

Funk said the manufacturing tours, although not in his career field of interest, have taught him about what it takes to operate a business.

THE COMMUNITY School was conceptualized as an entry into a national competition where educators were tasked to rethink high school for a chance at $10 million.

Flathead English teacher Asta Bowen and art teacher Sara Nelson took the reins of organizing the concept of the Community School, which was built on nearly 20 years of research and development.

Flathead was a contest semifinalist, but ultimately didn’t win. Yet, that didn’t stop the fall 2016 launch date of the Community School for juniors and seniors.

Bowen and Nelson teach at and oversee the Community School where students learn professional practices and basics such as writing a resume and cover letter. There are 32 students enrolled.

“We’re in the process now of matching mentors to students, so we have students who will start going out into different community places,” Nelson said.

Nelson added that the program is looking for community members willing to share their time and expertise with high school students.

Some students may attend their internship during school hours or after school.

“They have to treat it like it’s a job,” Nelson said.

The culmination of the program will be a “process portfolio.”

“During the school year they’re going to be building up a process portfolio of their experiences and their reflections of those experiences,” Nelson said, through photographs, video and writing to present at the end of the school year.