Published Monday, October 5, 2026 in The Stanwood Camano News
Hands-On Trade Up Event Lets High Schoolers Try Out Trade Careers
Stanwood High School and Lakewood High School students were dropped off at the Stanwood Camano Community Fairgrounds on Thursday, Oct. 1, for Trade Up, a hands-on event where students can learn about trade careers. After getting hard hats, neon vests and a timecard, students spent about 15 minutes each at different stations learning about a specific trade career.
"They’re actually getting a taste of what a day in the life is on a job site," said Charlotte Murry, executive secretary-treasurer for the Snohomish and Island County Labor Council.
Instead of a typical job fair where students go booth to booth getting information, Trade Up lets them physically engage in each trade, providing an immersive experience, Murry said.
Students learn about things such as unions, apprenticeships, benefits and different levels of pay while trying their hand at the different trades, said Tami Lee, communications and administrative manager for the Snohomish and Island County Labor Council.
"All the things that they may not think about when they’re 16 or 17, and I think that’s really important," Lee said.
Trade Up lets kids interact with people at local trade organizations, helping them get used to talking to people in hiring positions, said Angela Henderson, a bricklayer for Bricklayers and Ally Craft Workers Local One Washington West.
She compared the student and trade worker interaction to a "mock interview," helping prepare and guide high schoolers for the working world.
Henderson has been a construction worker for 35 years. She reiterated the idea that Trade Up shows kids new paths to explore, adding that it’s especially important for young women to see themselves reflected in trade roles.
"When we’re in school, we don't think, 'Well when I grow up, I'm going to be a carpenter or a bricklayer,' and for me as a girl, I definitely wasn't thinking that," Henderson said.
Trade Up lets any student wanting to explore trade careers participate, Short said. The event is free to kids because transportation, gear and lunch are provided.
Students walked away from the event with self-made sheet metal toolboxes, other goodies and more knowledge about potential career opportunities.
"I understand a lot of people would do it to get out of school, but this is actually fun," said Zara Barone, a junior at Lakewood High School. The Snohomish and Island County Labor Council is hosting its next Trade Up event on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Edmonds College in Lynnwood.
The Edmonds, Mukilteo and Everett school districts are invited to participate.
More information on Trade Up can be found here.
https://www.goskagit.com/scnews/hands-on-trade-up-event-lets-high-schoolers-try-out-trade-careers