Trades Talk – June 2026
On the Road: Visiting Skills Lab Schools in New Jersey Our team recently had the pleasure of visiting three incredible Skills Lab schools across New Jersey: West Orange High School in West Orange, Toms River South High School in Toms River, and Cape May County Technical School District in Cape May Court House – all […]
Trades Talk – May 2026
Happy National Skilled Trades Day from Explore The Trades! We’re celebrating the next generation of skilled professionals who are learning, building, and powering the future. Explore The Trades and Ferguson Grow Skilled Trades Education with New Grants to 18 Schools Record-Breaking Interest Highlights Growing Momentum for Career and Technical Education In celebration of National Skilled […]
Trades Talk – April 2026
Thank you to all the schools that applied for the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grants! Please check our website on National Skilled Trades Day (May 6th) to see the list of this year’s recipients. New Contractor Toolkit: Build Stronger Connections with Local Schools The future of the plumbing, HVAC, and […]
Trades Talk – March 2026
Apply for the Skills Lab Equipment Grant Program! Photo courtesy of Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design, a 2024-2025 Skills Lab recipient. Join Explore The Trades for a Skills Lab Webinar on Wednesday, March 11th from 2–2:30 PM CST. This session will give attendees an overview of the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built […]
Trades Talk – February 2026
Cast a Line for a Cause: Join Our 2026 Fishing Fundraiser! Get ready for an unforgettable experience at the Explore The Trades Fishing Fundraiser, taking place April 16–19, 2026, at Cajun Fishing Adventures in Buras, Louisiana. This all‑inclusive event offers two full days of guided fishing while helping advance our mission to bridge the technical […]
Trades Talk – January 2026
Celebrating Our 2025 Impact Explore The Trades is proud to share the highlights from our 2025 Impact Report. This year, we launched the fifth year of the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built By Ferguson” equipment grant program and expanded our reach in school districts nationwide—surpassing one million students impacted across the country! Your partnership […]
Trades Talk – December 2025
Help Us Finish Strong! Explore The Trades is on a mission to connect kids, teens, and young adults with exciting careers in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. Our free classroom poster kits (available in English, Spanish, and for kiddos ages five-11) make it easy to spark curiosity about the skilled trades. Did you know…our poster kits […]
Trades Talk – November 2025
Help Us Reach More Students! Explore The Trades is working to connect kids, teens, and young adults with careers in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. Our free classroom poster kits make it easy to spark interest and start conversations. We’re aiming to reach 3,330 school districts by the end of 2025 and we’re almost there! Thanks […]
Trades Talk – October 2025
Now Open: Skills Lab Equipment Grant Applications! Explore The Trades is thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant program! This initiative – proudly built in partnership with Ferguson – empowers schools to create hands-on learning environments that introduce students to the skilled […]
Trades Talk – September 2025
Help Us Reach 25% of U.S. Public School Districts by the End of 2025! Explore The Trades is on a mission to connect students with the skilled trades—and we’re aiming high. By the end of 2025, our goal is to reach 25% of all U.S. public school districts with our resources and messaging. That means we need […]