WAVE Tour

NW Washington students receive hands-on experience

The Washington Apprenticeship Vocational Education (WAVE) Tour welcomed more than 25 high schools and programs from Skagit, San Juan, Whatcom, Island, and north Snohomish County April 24-28 for a hands-on experience at the Northwest Carpenter’s Institute of Washington in Burlington. Each school brought up to 15 students who tried six different trade stations that include hands-on activities to see which one they liked best.

Hundreds of local juniors and seniors attended the five day event with different trades being highlighted on different days. Participating trades included the Carpenters Laborers Local 292, Electricians IBEW 191, Operating Engineers, Sheet Metal Workers, Plumbers & Pipefitters, Sprinkler Fitters, Snohomish County PUD, and Puget Sound Energy. Small groups moved through trade-specific workstations for 30 minutes per station to get a deeper understanding of each apprenticeship trade. Activities included conduit bending, scaffolding, concrete assembly, utility pole work, an obstacle course, a piping project, and a crane simulator. Students were treated to pizza for lunch and received a Labor & Industries “Apprenticeship 101” orientation.

The planning committee included representatives from the NW Workforce Council, the NW Carpenter’s Institute, and the NW Washington STEM Network, led by the Career Connect Washington NW Regional Network which is hosted at the NWESD. Additionally, more than 22 volunteers helped with the event to guide student groups including staff from the NWESD, Northwest Career & Technical Academy, NW Workforce Council, Associated General Contractors, FuturesNW, and Snohomish STEM. “We want to thank Career Connect Washington and HF Sinclair who provided funding to make this event possible and to the NW Carpenter’s Institute for generously offering the use of their facility in Burlington,” said Jenny Veltri, Career Connect Washington NW Regional Network Co-Director and NW Washington STEM Director. “This event was a collaborative effort! From the planning committee to the volunteers, it was amazing to work together as a community to offer the opportunity to learn more about apprenticeship for youth in our region.”