
The Importance of Trades Education in American High Schools
American high schools have traditionally emphasized a pathway that leads directly to four-year colleges. However, this focus often overlooks the substantial benefits and opportunities that vocational education can offer students. As the demand for skilled tradespeople surges across the nation, incorporating trades education into high

Explore The Trades Attends the American School Counselor Association Conference
Explore The Trades attended the American School Counselor Association Conference in Kansas City, MO from July 12-15, 2024. This conference brought together almost 5,000 school counselors and educators from all over the country. Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director of Explore The Trades, and Lara Beltz, Explore

Trades Talk – July 2024
July 2024 Fireworks & Dessert Party with Explore The Trades Join Explore The Trades at EPCOT® for a Fireworks & Dessert Party! Explore The Trades is excited to be headed to Walt Disney World® for a “Fireworks and Dessert” party in EPCOT®. Enjoy great food,

Five Unsung Comforts Provided Through the Trades
We owe the professionals in the skilled trades a lot. It is not a reach to say that our society is fully reliant on their work. Without proper electrical, plumbing, and HVAC services, our communities would be far less comfortable and not nearly as healthy.

Explore The Trades Attends the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference
Explore The Trades attended the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, GA from June 25-27, 2024. This conference brought together over 15,000 students, educators, industry vendors, and trades professionals from across the country. Over 6,500 career and technical education students competed in over

Why Gen Z is Ditching College for the Trades
Generation X and Millennials largely agreed on the path to adulthood – graduate high school, attend college, rack up student debt and attempt to pay it off by slaving away at an office job. Increasingly, we’ve seen a different approach among Gen Z. One of

Trades Talk – June 2024
June 2024 Recipients of the“Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson”Grants Announced12 Schools to Receive Support to Create and UpdatePlumbing & HVAC Labs The “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant recipients were announced on May 1, 2024, in celebration of

10 Good Reasons To Explore The Trades
The average cost of a trade education is around $33,000, while acquiring a bachelor’s degree has been pegged at $127,000. What’s more, in many cases a trade education can be had for free through formal and informal apprenticeship training programs. Around 40% of college students

Three Ways You Can Support the Next Generation of Skilled Workers
The struggle to attract young people to the skilled trades has been well-documented. We need to work together to ensure we have the people needed to offer these crucial services. Few industries offer the career stability and progression that the trades can provide. Additionally, skilled