The Redmond Proficiency Academy’s Pre-Apprenticeship program with Central Oregon Community College began with students learning how to install a window.

Students gathered around that semester’s construction project as pre-apprentice administrator Kevin Merritt asked for volunteers willing to get their hands dirty and spread caulk over the insulation tape they just laid throughout a window frame.

“If you get to a point on your own house where you can do this on your own, you guys are going to save a lot of money doing your own work,” said Merritt.

Most of the students in the pre-apprenticeship program aren’t there just to learn how to save money. The class is designed for high school and community college students who want to explore a career in the trades. Instructors touch on subjects like how to handle construction tools and materials, reading blueprints, construction math and other employable skills.

It’s a huge leg up once these students graduate, said Hallie Caron , assistant director at the Redmond Proficiency Academy that helps identify the students for this program. Take, for example, high-school student Hannah Williver, who wants to become a welder once she graduates high school this year.

“I basically grew up around construction equipment and screws and nails and hammers. You name it, I’ve done it, even when I was really little. My teachers at Redmond Proficiency Academy (thought) this would probably be a good program for (me) if (I) want to continue doing that kind of stuff,” she said.

Because of the course, Williver will likely have an advantage over other entry-level applicants — and the certificates to prove it.

The class, held at COCC’s Technology Education Center in Redmond, consists largely of students from Redmond Proficiency Academy though there are some COCC students as well. Most of the younger students had the class recommended to them by RPA staff like Caron, who approach students who are struggling with the traditional classroom learning model or who are considering a trade career.

“Definitely a lot of students — and I’m not going to say all of them, but quite a few — are disengaged with the traditional high school experience. They’re just ready to explore and get some hands-on skills … The confidence boost that they walk out with is pretty amazing. Their ability to be able to speak about their learning is pretty awesome and they are just wholly a different student when they leave the program,” said Caron.

This year, the class is building a tiny house shelter for Oasis Village, the newly-opened transitional housing program in Redmond. The students’ job is to construct the shelter and deliver it to Hayden Simplicity Homes, which will coordinate the cabin’s finishings. Hayden will direct the process of laying the concrete foundation at Oasis Village and installing the electrical systems. It’s the first year the class has undertaken a project of this scale. It’s been successful enough that Caron said they will continue to partner with Oasis Village to build their tiny home shelters.

“I think it’s a great experience. I’ve always been community-oriented and I am always trying to help out my community and help out other people. I think that it’s amazing to be able to help people in one way or another and it’s a great experience for all of us to be able to build a little house,” Williver said.

So far there has been no issue with the quality of the students’ craftsmanship, even though they are only just learning many of the skills needed to build the tiny home. There has actually only been one major mistake so far, and that was because the instructors took the wrong measurements for the window frame, said Merritt.

“We’re not supposed to make any mistakes — or at least that’s how they see us anyways — so they thought it was pretty funny. Now, if they were on a job site and you’ve got somebody yelling about deadlines and to work father, that’ll probably change. But we’re not doing that here. We’re trying to encourage people.” Merritt said.

In many ways, the course is a simplified version of a construction job that gives students an idea of the benefits of going into a trade. It shows them what kind of work they would be doing, introduces them to different trade professions and gives them a safe environment to learn. But it also gives them a glimpse into some of the challenges they might face. While speaking with the Redmond Spokesman, Williver brought up the prevalence of sexism in the trades industry that — to some extent — has trickled down into the dynamic of the class.

“I think there’s some issues, based on sex,” said Williver. “I love the class and I love my teachers, but sometimes it’s a bit iffy … I talked to the teachers at RPA and they said, ‘If you want to go into the trades, it’s just going to be worse.’ Sadly, I know that’s true, but anything I can say to bring awareness to that is good.”

That hasn’t deterred Williver from her goal of becoming a welder. The salary benefits — which begins somewhere in the range of $30 per hour for a welder — outweighs all that, she said. But it has made her resolute that more women need to enter the trades for things to change. There are things that can help though, like encouraging more women to take the pre-apprenticeship program.

Another challenge facing the program this year has been figuring out how to distribute hands-on learning opportunities when there is only one big project instead of several smaller ones. Sometimes there isn’t something for everyone to do, Merritt said, but he tries his best to distribute the work evenly and always make sure students are observing.

“There’s a lot of pros, and that’s why they’re doing it. Learning to build, then being more employable after you graduate high school and avoiding college debt. You get paid while you are an apprentice,” Merritt said. “And I think they’re learning early about what it’s like to give back to or work with your community.”

There is also the benefit of confidence, which both Merritt and Caron see progress as the students make their way through the 12-week class. Merritt said it’s like watching children grow up, which has made him incredibly proud.

“I’m with them every day, and it’s sort of like having a kid,” Merritt said. “All of a sudden you step back one day and say, ‘Oh my gosh, they’re a grown person.’ When they go get a job, when they get out there and are gainfully employed making as much money as me, well that’s great!”