2022 Trades Program for Kids

San Juan County kids are invited to learn about the skilled trades through free, fun projects organized by the Economic Development Council (EDC) and WSU Extension’s San Juan County 4-H Program. Up first, the EDC is offering 24 motor kits to kids residing in San Juan County.  Kids who pick up the kits (one kit per family) are invited to a problem-solving session on Wednesday, March 16th at 5:00 PM, hosted by 4-H.

At the problem-solving session, kids will help each other, meet kids from other islands, and do a Q&A session with an apprentice electrician.

About the kits:

Building and experimenting with the kit will help kids learn about the basic principles of electricity and circuits, principles fundamental to many trades. The motor kits are designed for kids ages 10 years and up, and are fun and informative (EDC staff tested). Less experienced kids would enjoy working with friends or older family members; more experienced kids would enjoy modifying the kit or helping others.

The kits are provided under the understanding that parents/guardians will supervise. The kits require minimal tools to complete; however,  some assembly steps are easier with tools that must be used by – or under close direction and approval from – a responsible adult.

Kits involve building a small electric motor (see image), including winding the coils. They require a AA battery (not included). A pair of needle-nosed pliers, extra sand paper, and wire strippers would make assembly easier.

Where to get the kits:

Kits are offered first come first served, with one kit per family while supplies last. If there are no kits available when you get to a distribution point, please contact us at mickey@sanjuansedc.org. We greatly appreciate the generosity of the Lopez Island Family Resource Center and the Orcas  IslandLibrary in allowing us to distribute the kits through them; please direct any concerns or inquiries to the EDC.

You will be able to pick up kits at the following locations while supplies last.

  • Lopez Island: Lopez Island Family Resource Center.
  • Orcas Island: Orcas Island Library at the front desk in the “Community Drop” marked “EDC/4H Program.”
  • San Juan: San Juan County Economic Development Council (call 360-378-2906 before stopping by; M-F, 9 – 5 pm; closed Feb. 21st).
  • All other islands: contact mickey@sanjuansedc.org with your request and mailing address.

Problem Solving Session:

To register for the problem solving/Q&A session, please contact: Wendy (WSU Extension)  at wendy.waxman@wsu.edu. The session will be Wednesday, March 16th at 5:00 PM, and is hosted by WSU Extension’s San Juan County 4-H Program.

Electrical motor kit in operation.

Thank You!

This series is made possible by the generosity of funders of the EDC’s Trades Training Initiative, in particular the Raynier Institute and Foundation, San Juan Island Community Foundation, the Harvest Foundation, the Lopez Lions, the Friday Harbor Kiwanis, San Juan County, the Orcas Kiwanis, and other donors. The EDC thanks the Lopez Island Family Resource Center and Orcas Island Library and for assistance with logistics.

Donations to the EDC, a 501c6 nonprofit organization, are not deductible as charitable deductions, but may be deductible as a business expense. Please consult your CPA for more information.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to support small rural enterprises, and conduct projects to stimulate new job creation, strengthen the economic base for working families, and support overall quality of life for islanders.

Past Announcements

Summer of Sustainable Trades!

Registration/questions: Contact Wendy Waxman Kern, the 4-H Coordinator for San Juan County wendy.waxman@wsu.edu

What do kids get to do?

Choose one, two, or all three projects:

  • Conservation careers with the Conservation District
    • Kids do soil testing
  • Electrical utility trades with OPALCO.
    • Do a virtual tour of a substation
    • Watch line workers open a transformer.
    • Learn about GIS and map local utility infrastructure
    • Kids make their own motor. Kits provided.
  • Renewable energy with Rainshadow Solar
    • Kids do a solar site assessment
    • Kids make a sundial

Other great opportunities about the program.

  • Meet kids from other islands.
  • Discover career options.
  • Opportunities to participate in other 4-H activities if kids want to.

What does it cost? It’s FREE for San Juan County kids.

What ages are they for? Projects are geared towards middle school ages.

How long dies it takes? Just a couple of hours a week.

When and where is it? Each project involves a series of online sessions to introduce, troubleshoot, and wrap-up the project. Real world projects can be done at home or in your neighborhood at anytime between the sessions. The online sessions are scheduled as follows:

  • Conservation trades with the Conservation District: July 15 and Aug 24 and 26 at 4PM
  • Electrical utilities with OPALCO: July 20, 22, and 29, and Aug. 12 at 1PM
  • Renewable energy with Rainshadow Solar: Oct. 7th, 14th, and 21st at 4PM [NOTE: New dates].

Do kids have to be in 4-H? They have to join, but the EDC will pay for memberships if they are not already members. There is no obligation to remain in 4-H.

This series is made possible by the generosity of funders of the EDC’s Trades Training Initiative, in particular the San Juan Island Community Foundation, the Lopez Lions, the Friday Harbor Kiwanis, the Raynier Institute and Foundation, San Juan County, the Orcas Kiwanis, Robin VanHyning, and other donors. To support EDC trades programs, please visit www.sanjuansedc.org/donate.

Masonry and Tile

Kids from all over San Juan County have a chance to do a free, fun masonry project put on by the Economic Development Council (EDC) and WSU Extension’s San Juan County 4-H Program. Dave Koch, retired stonemason, is very kindly donating his time and labor to create kits to do slate tile work. Kids will learn about the masonry trades and how to do the project in online sessions with Mr. Koch on May 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th (Tuesdays) at 4:00PM via Zoom, but the kids will do the project at home.

This program will be free and is open to all San Juan County middle school aged children. Kids have to join 4-H (paid for by the EDC) to participate but there is no obligation to remain in 4-H after completing the project. However, 4-H membership will open other great learning opportunities.

To register a child, parents may contact Wendy Waxman Kern, the 4-H Coordinator for San Juan County WSU Extension, wendy.waxman@wsu.edu. This activity is geared toward middle school-aged youth and has space for up to 10 kids.

Interested? Contact wendy.waxman@wsu.edu by April 28th.

This is the second in series of hands-on trades projects for kids, which will include such topics as electronics, firefighting, solar power, and construction.

This series is made possible by the generosity of funders of the EDC’s Trades Training Initiative, including the Raynier Institute and Foundation, San Juan County, the Lopez Island Lions Club, the United Way of San Juan County, the Port of Lopez, the Port of Friday Harbor, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Washington State Dept. of Commerce, Browne’s Home Center, and others. To support EDC trades programs, please visit www.sanjuansedc.org/donate.

Firefighting with SJIF&R

The Economic Development Council (EDC), in partnership with WSU Extension’s San Juan County 4-H program, is creating activities for children to introduce them to different trades in a fun and hands-on program that is offered remotely. The first installment on fire preplanning will launch on March 19th, via Zoom, and will be led by Lt. Gilbert Venegas, of San Juan Island Fire & Rescue. Lt. Venegas brings over a decade of experience in emergency services.

This class will be the start of a series of hands-on trades projects for kids, including such topics as electronics, masonry, solar power, construction, and marine repair.

To register a child, parents may contact Wendy Waxman Kern, the 4-H Coordinator for San Juan County WSU Extension, wendy.waxman@wsu.edu. This activity is geared toward middle school-aged youth and has space for up to 10 kids. Participants will join firefighters by Zoom for discussions on March 19th, March 26th, and April 9th at 4:00 PM, but will complete activities under parental supervision.

To donate and help cover participants’ materials and 4-H memberships so that all kids may participate and benefit from this and other 4-H programs, please visit www.sanjuansedc.org/donate.

The EDC thanks San Juan County, the Raynier Institute and Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, the Washington State Dept. of Commerce, Orcas Kiwanis, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, the Corbins, Island Market, Kings Market, Friday Harbor Market Place, Ace Hardware Friday Harbor, Browne’s