Summer Trades Bootcamp for NJ High School Students

10 days, 3 trades (Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing). No Experience Required.

Learn More

Affordable pricing plans for high schools icon

10 Days
8:00-4:00PM

3 Trades
Total Tuition: $1,500

Location
Your Choice of NJ Campus

80 Hours
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Multi-Trade Summer Program for Teens

Our TradeReady 10-Day Summer Vocational Program is a focused, multi-trade bootcamp designed specifically for New Jersey high school students and recent graduates ages 16 to 19. During the course, teens gain hands-on experience in three of the most in-demand trades: electrical, HVAC, and plumbing.

This summer trades program is built from the ground up for students with zero prior experience. More than just a basic introduction, it allows teenagers to build a valuable mix of real skills while exploring multiple trades before committing to a career path.

This 10-day program runs from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at either our Wrightstown or Branchburg, NJ campus. With 60% of that time dedicated to hands-on training, students actively work in the lab. To ensure a safe learning environment, we keep class sizes small. This guarantees every student receives the direct coaching, support, and supervision needed to safely learn the trades.

This bootcamp is a condensed, accelerated version of our full TradeReady CTE Program.

Why TradeReady Summer Trades Bootcamp

60% Hands-On Lab Time

Unlike other schools that keep kids in a classroom, our summer bootcamp gets high school students on the shop floor. They spend the majority of their time working with real tools.

Build Skills in 3 Trades

Most summer camps focus only on a single trade. We rotate students through electrical, HVAC, and plumbing so they can build a versatile mix of valuable skills they will use for a lifetime.

Test Drive Career Paths

Unsure which trade is the right fit? Instead of guessing, beginners gain direct experience in multiple trades while exploring different options before committing to a career path.

12:1 Student-to-Teacher

Unlike other summer programs with crowded classrooms, we keep our class sizes small. This ensures every student receives direct, individualized coaching and safety supervision.

Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing in 10 Days

This 10-day summer program is divided into three dedicated training blocks. Designed specifically as a hands-on trades starter bootcamp for New Jersey high schoolers, each module puts teens directly on the tools so they can build real-world skills and test out multiple career options in the trades.

Electrical

Learn to safely handle electrical components, operate diagnostic multimeters, and physically wire residential circuits.

Voltage, current, resistance, and Ohm’s Law
Series and parallel circuit construction
Residential wiring to strict NEC standards
Electrical schematic reading and interpretation
Multimeter operation and diagnostic measurement
Low-voltage thermostat and relay controls

HVAC

Train directly on live mechanical equipment by measuring airflow, tracing refrigeration lines, and operating gas heating systems.

Four-process refrigeration cycle on live equipment
Air-handler components (fans, coils, filters)
Static pressure and airflow measurement
Gas furnace operation and start-up sequencing
Combustion safety and ventilation requirements
Fault diagnosis on simulator training boards

Plumbing

Build technical skills in the mechanics of residential water supply lines, waste removal, and professional pipe-fitting techniques.

Water supply vs. drain-waste-vent (DWV)
Pipe material ID (PEX, copper, PVC, cast iron)
Joining methods: soldering, crimping, and solvent welding
DWV layouts, gravity flow, and venting principles
Pressure testing assembled pipe runs
Drain cleaning tools and diagnostic techniques

Group listening to a speaker in a workshop with tools and equipment

Two young men working on electrical wiring projects in a workshop

Program Schedule & Details

Eligibility Requirements: Current high school students and recent graduates, ages 16 to 19. No prior experience is necessary.

Length: 10 total training days (80 hours)

Dates: July 21 – August 20, 2026

Class Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays (Full Schedule Below)

Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Total Cost: $1,500

Class Size: 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio

Location: Choose our Wrightstown or Branchburg campus.

Credentials Earned: Certificate of Completion.

Full Schedule Summer 2026

Daily Class Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Day 1: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 – Shop Safety, Tools & Electrical Foundations

Day 2: Thursday, July 23, 2026 – Circuits, Multimeters, Grounding & GFCI

Day 3: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 – Panels, Wiring, Schematics & Conduit

Day 4: Thursday, July 30, 2026 – Electrical Troubleshooting & Diagnostics

Day 5: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 – Refrigeration Cycle, Controls & 24V Wiring

Day 6: Thursday, August 6, 2026 – Refrigerant Gauges, Brazing & Airflow

Day 7: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 – HVAC Diagnostics & Assessment

Day 8: Thursday, August 13, 2026 – Plumbing Systems & Pipe Joining

Day 9: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 – DWV, Gas Safety & Plumbing Assessment

Day 10: Thursday, August 20, 2026 – Drain Service, Cross-Trade Review & Graduation

Secure Your Spot Today

Spend the summer building real skills.

Enroll Now

“Being a part of The Training Center’s TradeReady program has changed the trajectory of some of our students’ lives. Students who may not have had a plan for their future now have a direct path into multiple careers. Students who may have gone through school without being recognized spent the year earning praise and recognition. Those who struggled with attendance found their “why” and didn’t just show up, they showed up early, engaged, and ready to learn. Students who may not have had the best grades were given the opportunity to demonstrate their intelligence through hands-on learning, improving their GPA and gaining confidence in their abilities. TradeReady is more than just a program, it is an opportunity for their future.”
Jacqueline Howard
Director of CTE & Secondary Programs

Willingboro High School

“The Training Center has been a great opportunity for my students, giving them real-world skills and access to strong career pathways. Students don’t normally get exposure to this type of work, and this program is an avenue to help them build a positive path out of the city and into stable, successful careers.”
Jessica Massenat
STEM Teacher Leader

Trenton High School

Summer Trades Bootcamp Curriculum

Every lesson is built specifically for high school students starting with zero prior experience. Across 10 days, this introductory trades bootcamp scales from basic tool identification to complex, hands-on mechanical troubleshooting. Review the day-by-day breakdown below to see exactly what teens will learn.

Electrical Block

Day 1: Shop Safety, Tools & Electrical Foundations: Establishing a professional safety culture through OSHA-10 awareness, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) protocols, and PPE checks. Students learn core hand tool identification, calculate Ohm’s Law, and use non-contact voltage testers to safely understand the energy grid.

Day 2: Circuits, Multimeters, Grounding & GFCI: Constructing live series and parallel circuits while operating professional multimeters to measure voltage, current, and resistance. Students also learn the difference between grounding and bonding, and install and test GFCI receptacles to strict NEC standards.

Day 3: Panels, Wiring, Schematics & Conduit: Navigating residential breaker panels to execute clean electrical terminations and correct wire sizing (AWG). Students translate schematic diagrams into physical wiring and calculate field measurements to expertly bend EMT conduit runs.

Day 4: Electrical Troubleshooting & Diagnostics: Applying a top-down diagnostic methodology to actively troubleshoot pre-built circuit faults. Students use multimeters to locate electrical failures safely, document their findings on service tickets, and complete their Electrical Block assessment.

HVAC BLOCK

Day 5: Refrigeration Cycle, Controls & 24V Wiring: Exploring thermodynamics by physically tracing the four-process vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. Students identify major system components, test motor capacitors, and wire 24V low-voltage thermostat control circuits (R, C, Y, G, W, O/B).

Day 6: Refrigerant Gauges, Brazing & Airflow: Connecting manifold gauges to read system pressures and calculate superheat and subcooling. Students execute leak-free copper brazing using nitrogen purging and measure external static pressure to understand airflow dynamics and filter ratings.

Day 7: HVAC Diagnostics & Assessment: Diagnosing live mechanical failures such as faulty wiring or refrigerant undercharges using manifold gauges, multimeters, and pressure-temperature (P/T) charts. Students complete simulated service calls and pass their comprehensive HVAC Block assessment.

PLUMBING BLOCK

Day 8: Plumbing Systems & Pipe Joining: Understanding the strict separation between fresh water supply and DWV systems. Students identify various pipe materials and execute leak-proof connections by sweating copper joints to hold 60 PSI, crimping PEX-B, and solvent-welding CPVC.

Day 9: DWV, Gas Safety & Plumbing Assessment: Laying out drain-waste-vent (DWV) systems with proper slopes and P-traps while learning plumbing vent requirements. Students also execute gas leak safety protocols, assemble threaded black iron pipe, and soap-test gas line assemblies.

Day 10: Drain Service, Cross-Trade Review & Graduation: Deploying professional hand snakes and drum machines to navigate P-traps and clear line blockages. Students integrate cross-trade troubleshooting skills before completing their final practical exam, career mapping, and graduation ceremony.

Ready To Get Started

Spend the summer building real skills.

Enroll Now

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do high school students need prior experience for the summer trades bootcamp?

No. The bootcamp is designed specifically for teens with zero experience. Every lab and lecture assumes the student is starting from scratch. We start with basic hand tools and build their skills progressively over the 10 days.

Is lunch provided during the program?

Lunch is not provided, but students do receive a dedicated lunch break each day. We encourage students to pack a lunch or plan ahead.

How long is the summer trades program?

The bootcamp runs for 10 training days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) during the summer break. Students log 80 total clock hours, making it an intensive, fast-paced introduction to the trades for high schoolers.

What is the tuition, and what does it include?

Total tuition for the summer bootcamp is $1,500. There are no hidden fees. This fully covers all training materials, professional-grade tools, books, and personal protective equipment (PPE) the student will need.

Where in New Jersey is this located?

We offer this summer bootcamp at two facilities. You can choose to attend at our Wrightstown, NJ campus in Burlington County or our Branchburg, NJ campus in Somerset County. You will select your preferred location when you enroll.

Is this safe for 16 to 19 year olds?

Absolutely. Safety is the very first lesson taught and is strictly enforced. Our TradeReady summer classes maintain a strict 12:1 student-to-instructor ratio to ensure maximum supervision. Every teen must pass a formal safety orientation before touching any live circuits or tools.

How is this different from a high school CTE program?

High school vocational courses, like our own year-round TradeReady CTE Program are in-depth curriculums built directly into a student’s daily academic school schedule. This summer bootcamp, however, is a fast-paced, 10-day intensive program. It is the perfect standalone option for high schoolers who want to actively explore the skilled trades during their summer break without altering their regular academic calendar.

Will this bootcamp make my teen ready to start a career?

No. This is an introduction to the skilled trades for teens, not a licensing course or a job placement program. Instead, graduates receive a Certificate of Completion and a detailed transcript. The value of this bootcamp is allowing teens to build real foundational skills and physically explore multiple career paths to determine which trade is the best fit for them.

Explore NJ Trade School Programs

The TradeReady summer vo-tech bootcamp allows teens to build foundational skills and physically test out multiple career paths. For recent graduates and adults ready to start a career, The Training Center also provides accredited, comprehensive training in the trades. Explore our top-rated trade school programs in New Jersey below: