At the National Skilled Trades Network (NSTN), we believe that the foundation of a great career starts long before adulthood. In the summer of 2025, we successfully piloted an innovative 10-week Summer Skilled Trades Program designed for boys and girls ages 8 to 15. By blending traditional craftsmanship with personal development and modern technology, we provided a blueprint for how to engage the next generation of builders.
A “Phygital” Learning Experience
To maximize our reach, we implemented a hybrid “phygital” model that combined in-person intensity with digital accessibility:
The Columbus Hub: In-person classes ran Monday through Wednesday (9 AM – 3 PM EST) at our Columbus, Ohio facility.
The Digital Classroom: Each morning from 9 AM to 11 AM, local students were joined online by peers from Maryland, Texas, and Minnesota, creating a multi-state collaborative environment.
Nutritional Support: Recognizing that a sharp mind requires a fueled body, NSTN provided daily lunches for all in-person participants.
Holistic Development: The PAWSE Framework
This program went beyond measuring and sawing. A core component of the curriculum was PAWSE (Practical Accountable Wise Social Ethics)—a life-readiness framework developed to build character alongside technical skill.
Students engaged in daily sessions focused on:
Nutrition & Fitness: Understanding the physical demands of a career in the trades.
Life Readiness: Practical soft skills to navigate professional and social environments.
Applied Ethics: Interactive hands-on activities where students had to incorporate PAWSE principles to solve construction challenges and work as a team.
From Models to Metaverses: Afternoon Hands-On Training
After lunch, the in-person students transitioned into high-engagement technical projects that brought their morning lessons to life:
Model Building: Learning the fundamentals of architectural design and structural integrity through scaled models.
Full-Scale Assembly: Students worked together to assemble a complete full basketball kit, moving from blueprints to a finished product.
Virtual Reality Training: Utilizing our cutting-edge VR platforms, students safely practiced high-level trade skills, gaining confidence in a digital environment before handling physical power tools.
Why This Matters for Grantors and Partners
This pilot program represents a scalable solution to the skilled labor shortage. By targeting the 8–15 age demographic, we are:
Closing the Awareness Gap: Sparking interest in trades early, ensuring a steady pipeline for future NCCER-accredited training.
Developing the Whole Person: Integrating PAWSE ensures that our graduates are not just skilled laborers, but accountable and ethical community members.
Pioneering Remote Trade Education: Proving that trades can be taught effectively through a hybrid model, allowing NSTN to impact underserved youth across state lines.
The success of our 2025 pilot is just the beginning. We are actively seeking partners to help us expand this 10-week curriculum to more cities in 2026.