Jobs 253 Summer Credential Programs

ANEW's Youth Exploration Program (YEP) partners with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide hands-on technical training in the construction trades to students ages 16-18 with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Plan, or any other documented disabilities.

Program Components:

• Training: Participants engage in 40-hour paid training that provides practical experience in various trades.

• Career Exploration Activities: Students explore different trades through job site tours, informational interviews, and job shadowing opportunities.

• Strength Building: The program emphasizes personal development by teaching self-advocacy, effective communication, and teamwork.

Program Benefits:

• Hands-On Experience: use tools and build practical skills

• Paid Training Opportunities: earn while you learn ($500 completion stipend)

• Pathway to Apprenticeships: gain foundational knowledge and experience 

• Supportive Learning Environment: a program tailored to support diverse learning needs

• Resume support: students receive direct support in preparing their resume

• Continued Support: ANEW staff serve as references on future applications

Summer 2026 Program Details

• Application deadline: April 30th is the application deadline. 
• Program dates: 
  • Cohort 1: July 6 - 10, M - F
  • Cohort 2: July 13 - July 16, M - F
  • Program times are between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Meeting location: Lincoln High School
• Notification of selected applicants: Early June
• Certification(s) offered: Certificate of completion, direct entry into ANEWs Pre-Apprenticeship Program, and Financial Literacy through EverFi
• Approximate hours to complete: 40 
• Total spots available: 20 per cohort
• Special considerations for this program: Ages 16-18; must have an IEP, 504 plan, or other documented disability
• For additional information, please contact Stacy Kidd: stacy.kidd@dshs.wa.gov or by phone: 253.318.3448

ANEW Application for TPS and Non-TPS Students

This hands-on training program is designed to prepare students for the ASE Maintenance and Light Repair (G1) certification exam. Geared toward aspiring automotive technicians, the program provides a comprehensive foundation in vehicle inspection, diagnostics, and routine service procedures essential for maintaining modern vehicles. Through hands-on shop activities and real-world repair scenarios, students develop problem-solving skills and a strong understanding of vehicle systems.

Program Overview:

• Prepares students for the ASE Entry Level certification exam.
• Ideal for aspiring automotive technicians.
• Covers vehicle inspection, diagnostics, and routine maintenance.

Hands-On Training:

• Work with industry-standard tools and diagnostic equipment.
• Perform key maintenance tasks:
  • Oil changes
  • Brake inspections
  • Tire rotations
  • Fluid checks
  • Battery testing
  • Electrical system troubleshooting

Key Skills Covered:

• Diagnosing engine performance issues.
• Understanding fuel, engine systems, transmissions, suspension, steering, brakes, electrical, and cooling.
• Safety procedures, workplace efficiency, and customer service best practices.

Certification & Career Benefits:

• Builds problem-solving skills through real-world repair scenarios.
• Provides the knowledge and experience to pass the Entry Level ASE exam.
• Helps students gain a competitive edge in the automotive industry.

Summer 2026 Program Details

• Application deadline: April 30 is the priority deadline. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if there is space.
• Program dates: June 22 - July 9, Monday - Thursday. Program times are between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Meeting location: Mt. Tahoma auto shop
• Notification of selected applicants: May 15
• Certification(s) offered: ASE Entry Level Certification and Financial Literacy through EverFi
• Approximate hours to complete: 90
• Total spots available: 20
• Credits toward graduation: 0.5 CTE Credits
• For additional information, please contact Issac Juma: ijuma@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Program Description

This introductory culinary course is designed for students interested in exploring the fundamentals of cooking, food safety, and kitchen operations. The course introduces essential concepts such as proper food handling, safe food storage, personal hygiene, and preventing cross-contamination. Students will learn the basic practices needed to maintain a clean, safe, and organized kitchen environment.

Through interactive lessons and hands-on activities, students gain practical experience while building confidence in the kitchen. The course emphasizes foundational skills such as kitchen safety, basic cooking techniques, and understanding how ingredients work together.

A key part of the program allows students to design and prepare their own lunches. Students experiment with flavors and ingredients to create meals that are both nutritious and visually appealing. The course encourages creativity while developing skills in ingredient selection, simple recipe development, and food presentation.

Students will also have the opportunity to earn their Food Worker’s Card certification, providing them with an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates their understanding of basic food safety practices.

Overall, this course provides a supportive introduction to culinary arts while helping students build confidence, creativity, safe kitchen habits, and foundational workplace skills.

Program Overview​​​​​​

• Hands-On Learning:
  The program emphasizes active learning through real-time cooking, from prep work to plating in a fully equipped kitchen.
• Fundamental Culinary Techniques:
  Students gain experience in knife skills, sautéing, grilling, and baking while also learning advanced techniques such as emulsification, sauce reduction, and artful presentation.
• Ingredient Mastery:
  Focus is placed on selecting seasonal, fresh ingredients and understanding flavor profiles. Lessons cover balancing flavors, incorporating herbs and spices, and pairing complementary tastes to create gourmet dishes.
• Nutritional Insight:
  In addition to cooking, the program educates students on nutritional balance, ensuring that every meal is as nutritious and flavorful.
• Creativity and Innovation:
  The course encourages students to experiment with fusion cuisine and creative recipe modifications, fostering an environment where culinary artistry meets practical skill.

Summer 2026 Program Details

• Application window open: April 30 is the priority deadline. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if there is space.
• Program dates: June 22 - July 9 (no class on June 26 and July 3). Program times are between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Meeting location: Silas High School
• Notify selected applicants: May 15
• Approximate hours to complete: 90
• Certifications: Food Worker's Card and Financial Literacy through EverFi.
• Credits toward graduation: .5 CTE Credits
• Total spots available: 20

For additional information, please contact Rebecca Rotchstein: rrotchs@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Program Description

This interdisciplinary summer program merges the worlds of digital illustration and entrepreneurship, empowering students to develop commercially viable products using cutting-edge tools and business strategies. Through the design thinking process—empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing—students will refine their ideas from concept to execution, ensuring their creations align with market demands.

In the digital illustration component, students will use iPads and industry-standard apps to create high-quality artwork suitable for commercial use. Traditional sketching techniques will complement digital methods, reinforcing foundational artistic principles. Additionally, students will explore the role of AI in illustration, learning how to use artificial intelligence for idea generation, workflow optimization, and ethical integration into creative processes.

On the entrepreneurial side, students will engage in branding, marketing, and product development, transforming their artistic concepts into a viable business concept. They will work in teams to design products suitable for an external client, gaining firsthand experience in business strategy and innovation.

The program culminates in an exciting Shark Tank-style pitch competition, where students will present their final products to a panel of industry professionals. This experience will help them build confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills, preparing them for careers in art, design, business, and beyond. Whether aspiring to be an entrepreneur, a digital artist, or both, participants will leave with a portfolio-ready product and real-world business experience.

Summer 2026 Program Details

• Application deadline: April 30 is the priority deadline. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if there is space.
• Program dates: June 22 through July 9 (Monday-Thursday).  Program times are between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Meeting location: Mt. Tahoma
• Notification of selected applicants: May 15
• Certification(s) offered:  Digital Media and Commercial Art through YouScience, and Financial Literacy through EverFi
• Approximate hours to complete: 90
• Total spots available: 15
• Credits toward graduation: 0.5 CTE Credits
• For additional information, please contact Zach Martin: zmartin2@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Program Description

This interdisciplinary summer program merges the worlds of digital illustration and entrepreneurship, empowering students to develop commercially viable products using cutting-edge tools and business strategies. Through the design thinking process—empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing—students will refine their ideas from concept to execution, ensuring their creations align with market demands.

In the digital illustration component, students will use iPads and industry-standard apps to create high-quality artwork suitable for commercial use. Traditional sketching techniques will complement digital methods, reinforcing foundational artistic principles. Additionally, students will explore the role of AI in illustration, learning how to use artificial intelligence for idea generation, workflow optimization, and ethical integration into creative processes.

On the entrepreneurial side, students will engage in branding, marketing, and product development, transforming their artistic concepts into a viable business concept. They will work in teams to design products suitable for an external client, gaining firsthand experience in business strategy and innovation.

The program culminates in an exciting Shark Tank-style pitch competition, where students will present their final products to a panel of industry professionals. This experience will help them build confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills, preparing them for careers in art, design, business, and beyond. Whether aspiring to be an entrepreneur, a digital artist, or both, participants will leave with a portfolio-ready product and real-world business experience.

Summer 2026 Program Details

• Application deadline: April 30 is the priority deadline. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if there is space.
• Program dates: June 22 through July 9, Monday - Thursday.  Program times are between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Meeting location: Mt. Tahoma
• Notification of selected applicants: May 15
• Certification(s) offered: Digital Media and Commercial Art through YouScience, and Financial Literacy through EverFi
• Approximate hours to complete: 90
• Total spots available: 15
• Credits toward graduation: 0.5 CTE Credits
• For additional information, please contact Taylor Brown: tbrown8@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Program Description

The High School Introduction to Plumbers and Pipefitters program (HIPP) offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and begin developing the skills needed to pursue a career in the pipe-trades field.

Pipefitters install piping systems that deliver liquids and gases throughout buildings. Typically, in new construction, pipefitters install the infrastructure for hospitals, skyscrapers, schools, retail stores, and other types of commercial or industrial buildings.

Students will attain industry-recognized certifications through preparatory training for in-demand, high-wage careers. They will learn welding, soldering, brazing, rigging, tube bending and more through hands-on activities and projects to prepare them for interviews with Local 26-SWWPT.

Through project-based learning, students will grasp important concepts in the field of pipefitting, including:

• Setting up sight and transit, shooting grade, and locating marks using surveying techniques
• Matching measurement activities to manufacturing processes
• Describing and explaining drawings and blueprints
• Identifying different thread types
• Cutting and turning threads on steel pipe

Upon completion of the program, students will be certified in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10, scissor lift operation, and they will receive a completion certificate from the Southwest Washington Pipe Trades.

Summer 2026 Program Details

• Application deadline: April 30 is the priority deadline. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if there is space.
• Program dates: June 22 - July 9 Monday-Thursday. Program times are between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on days when we go to Lacey, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. all other days.
  • Training in Lacey will be June 24, 25, 26, 29 30 and July 1.
• Meeting location: Lincoln High School (then transported by school vans to the apprenticeship training center for pipefitters in Lacey)
• Notification of selected applicants: May 15
• Approximate hours to complete: 90 hours
• Certification(s) offered: Scissor lift; OSHA 10; HIPP completion certificate; Financial Literacy through EverFi 
• Credits toward graduation: 0.5 CTE Credits 
• Total spots available: 18
• For additional information, please contact Jarred Foss: jfoss2@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Program Description

This immersive, hands-on construction program provides students with the opportunity to learn essential building skills by constructing a functional structure, such as a shed. Designed for beginners and those looking to expand their knowledge of residential construction, the program covers the fundamental aspects of building, including framing, roofing, siding, plumbing, electrical work, and safety protocols.

• Blueprint Reading and Project Planning:
  • Students start with understanding blueprints and planning projects

• Construction Skills:
  • Gain experience in measuring, cutting, and assembling structural components
  • Learn framing techniques for a variety of building applications
• Basic Systems and trades covered:
  • Introduction to installing plumbing and electrical utilities
  • Concrete and masonry work
  • Hanging doors and windows
  • Trim
  • Roofing
  • Siding
  • Insulation
  • Sheetrock
  • Sheetmetal (depending on interest and industry professional support)
• Safety Emphasis:
  • Instruction on tool usage, wearing personal protective equipment, and preventing job site hazards
• Team-Oriented Learning:
  • Work under experienced instructors in a collaborative environment
  • Develop problem-solving skills and confidence
• Outcome:
  • Gain practical experience across multiple trades by building a small structure such as a doghouse, chickencoop, or small shed
  • Prepared for further training or entry-level positions in construction and home improvement

Summer 2026 Program Details

• Application deadline: April 30 is the priority deadline. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if there is space.
• Program dates: June 22 - July 9 (Monday-Thursday). Program times are between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Meeting Location: Lincoln High School
• Notification of selected applicants: May 15
• Certification(s) offered: OSHA 10 and Financial Literacy through Everfi
• Approximate hours to complete: 90
• Total spots available: 12
• Credits toward graduation: 0.5 CTE Credits
• For additional information, please contact Kevin Smith: ksmith2@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Program Description:

This comprehensive course is designed to equip aspiring drone pilots with the knowledge and skills required to obtain their FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. The curriculum covers essential topics such as airspace classification, regulations, weather considerations, flight operations, risk management, and emergency procedures.

Students will gain an understanding of UAV technology, operational best practices, and legal responsibilities for commercial drone use. The course includes hands-on flight training, real-world case studies, and practice exams to ensure students are well-prepared for the FAA Part 107 certification test.

By the end of the course, participants will have the confidence and expertise needed to pass the FAA Part 107 exam and operate drones safely and legally in commercial and professional environments.

Key Topics Covered:

• FAA Part 107 regulations and requirements
• National Airspace System (NAS)
• Weather and its impact on drone operations
• Flight planning and safety procedures
• Drone performance and maintenance
• Remote pilot responsibilities and ethical considerations
• Practice tests and exam preparation strategies

This course could be a good fit for individuals looking to start a career in commercial drone operations, real estate photography, aerial surveying, agriculture, or other UAV-related industries.

Summer 2026 Program Details

• Application deadline: April 30 is the priority deadline. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if there is space. 
• Program dates: June 22 - July 9 (Monday-Thursday).  Program times are between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Notification of selected applicants: May 15
• Location: Foss High School
• Approximate hours to complete: 90
• Spots available: 18
• Graduation Credit: 0.5 elective credits 
• Certification(s) offered: FAA107 Remote Pilot Certification and Financial Literacy through EverFi
• Special considerations for this program: FAA107 certification requires students to be 16 years old or older
• For additional information, please contact Jake Bailey: lbailey1@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Program Description

This certification program trains future wildland firefighters. Students will learn the essential skills and receive physical conditioning required for effective fire suppression and incident management in the field. The program includes established courses (S-130, S-211, S-190, and L-180) and hands-on tests like the Arduous Pack Test to prepare graduates for the tough challenges of firefighting in the field.

Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will:

• Certifications offered: Wildland Pumps (S-211), FEMA100, RedCard (S-130, S-190, L-180, arduous pack test) and Financial Literacy through EverFi
• Possess a well-rounded understanding of wildland fire behavior, suppression strategies, and safety protocols.
• Demonstrate advanced operational and leadership skills essential for managing dynamic fire incidents.
• Meet the physical demands of the field through successful completion of the Arduous Pack Test.
• Be proficient in emergency shelter setup, back burning techniques, and the construction of fire lines to protect both natural resources and communities.

This integrated approach ensures that each participant is not only technically competent but also physically and mentally prepared for the challenges of wildland firefighting.

Core Curriculum Components

• S-130: Firefighter Safety & Fundamentals: Introduces the basic principles of wildland fire behavior, safety protocols, and operational tactics. Participants learn fire dynamics, risk management, and effective communication techniques essential for maintaining personal and team safety during active incidents.
• S-190: Fireline Construction and Tactical Tools: Use of portable pumps in wildland fire operations, including setup, water delivery, hose lays, and basic maintenance
• L-180: Leadership in Wildland Firefighting: Develops leadership and decision-making skills critical for managing teams under high-pressure situations. This module covers the principles of effective command, inter-agency coordination, and strategies for maintaining operational cohesion during extended wildfire responses.
• The Arduous Pack Test: A rigorous physical assessment designed to simulate the strenuous conditions encountered in the field. This test ensures that all participants possess the endurance and strength necessary to perform sustained physical tasks during firefighting operations.

Additional Training Modules

• Emergency Shelter Training
• Back Burning Techniques
• Digging Fire Lines

Summer 2026 Program Details

• Application deadline: April 30 is the priority deadline. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if there is space.
• Program dates: June 22 - July 9 (no school June 26 or July 3). Program times are between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Meeting location: Mt. Tahoma High School
• Notification of selected applicants: May 15
• Approximate hours to complete: 90 hours
• Certification(s) offered: Wildland Pumps (S-211), FEMA100, RedCard (S-130, S-190, L-180, arduous pack test) and Financial Literacy through EverFi
• Credits toward graduation: 0.5 CTE Credits
• Total spots available: 20
• For additional information, please contact Jeff Klancke: jklanck@tacoma.k12.wa.us