Explore The Trades Connects with School Counselors at ASCA 2026
From July 10-13, 2026, Explore The Trades was proud to attend the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event brought together nearly 5,000 school counselors and educators from across the country; all focused on helping students discover pathways to future success. From elementary school career awareness to middle school career exploration and high school workforce readiness, counselors play a critical role in helping students learn about the many opportunities available to them.
Representing Explore The Trades at the conference were Maddy Sorenson, Project Coordinator, and Rosa Dunn, Connections Coordinator, who connected with school counselors, educators, and career development professionals.
Connecting Educators to Skilled Trades Opportunities
ASCA 2026 brought together nearly 5,000 school counselors and educators, along with more than 220 exhibitors dedicated to supporting student success. Explore The Trades was proud to exhibit alongside NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research), connecting attendees with valuable information about skilled trades careers and workforce pathways.
Throughout the conference, Maddy and Rosa connected with more than 140 educators and counselors from across the country. Conversations focused on helping students discover rewarding careers in the plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical trades, while providing educators with tools to support career exploration in elementary, middle, and high schools.
A featured resource at the booth was the Explore The Trades and NCCER career co-kit, a free downloadable resource designed specifically for counselors and educators. The kit includes career information, classroom resources, and industry insights to help students learn about opportunities in the skilled trades.
Interested in bringing skilled trades career exploration into your classroom? Download the kit and access this free resource today.
Continue the Conversation
If you didn’t have an opportunity to stop by our booth in New Orleans, there’s still time to access resources for your students and school community.
Request free trades posters for your classroom and explore additional career resources by visiting the Explore The Trades website.
Together, we can continue inspiring the next generation of skilled trades professionals and helping students discover rewarding careers that keep our communities running.
Explore The Trades is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity committed to bridging the technical talent gap to the service trades of plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical.
About the American School Counselor Association
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, career, and social/emotional development so they achieve success in school and are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. ASCA provides professional development, publications and other resources, research, and advocacy to school counselors around the globe.
About The National Center for Construction Educations and Research
The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit education foundation and the leading provider of construction education for industry and career and technical education programs. With flexible workforce development and learning solutions, NCCER’s programs provide consistency and quality to ensure craft professionals and learners receive industry-recognized credentials and certifications.