Heart of Texas Trades Day Opens Doors to Career Pathways for Central Texas Youth

On Saturday, September 12, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (BGCAA) welcomed more than 100 Club teens to the inaugural Heart of Texas Trades Day, giving young people the opportunity to explore skilled trades through hands-on experiences, conversations with professionals, and a closer look at what careers in the trades can look like.

Teens Get Hands-On With the Trades

Trades Day brought career exploration to life by giving teens the chance to get hands-on with the tools, equipment, and skills used every day by trade professionals. With over 20 interactive stations from a variety of trade sectors.

Starting outside, Club teens took control and operated a full-size crane under the direct supervision of trained professionals. Teens also explored rigs and forklifts, learned how operators safely handle equipment capable of lifting thousands of pounds. This gave our participants an all-encompassing understanding of operating heavy machinery. They also completed an additional crane simulation through virtual reality. While participants explored, they could watch a live welding demonstration. Witnessing a firsthand look at the precision and skill involved in the trade.

As members moved inside, students were introduced to different trade industries, with more demonstrations waiting for them to interact with. Club teens were invited to use an impact drill to drive screws into wood blocks to experience construction tools. Other tables also offered an in-depth look at HVAC and plumbing services, with Club teens building marshmallow launchers using PVC pipes.

Aiyedehn, Navarro BGC member, said, “My favorite part of Heart of Texas Trades is learning new experiences and all the different opportunities in the trade’s world. It will take you very far.”

Trades Day gave Club members a valuable look at where these experiences can lead. Across the stations, teens had the chance to ask questions ranging from what a typical workday looks like to the skills required to enter the field and what they can expect from a career in the trades. Trade vendors connected directly with teens about potential apprenticeship opportunities, offering insight into career pathways that can begin with hands-on training and lead to long-term careers.

By introducing Club participants to these opportunities early, Heart of Texas Trades Day helped them see what a successful future can look like and showed them that there are multiple routes to meaningful, rewarding careers.

Lunch, Learning and Real-World Perspectives

Following the hands-on activities, teens gathered for a barbecue lunch provided by Joeris and a Q&A with former Club members who are now working in the trades.

Hearing directly from young adults who once sat in the same Club spaces offered a meaningful connection between career exploration and what is possible after high school. The conversation gave teens an opportunity to ask about their experiences entering the workforce, their career journeys, and what it is like to build a career in the trades.

The day wrapped up with a raffle featuring more than 20 prizes donated by Milwaukee and American Constructors. Every participating Club member received a gift, with prizes ranging from fully packed toolkits to $50 Visa gift cards.

Building Connections to Career Pathways

Heart of Texas Trades Day was made possible through the collaboration of BGCAA and industry partners who opened their doors, shared their expertise, and created opportunities for young people to experience the trades firsthand.

For teens, career exploration can begin with a simple opportunity to try something new, ask a question, or meet someone working in a field they had never considered. Experiences like Trades Day help young people connect their interests and strengths to potential career pathways—and see more possibilities for their futures.