The Tools for Schools Program: Tradart Foundation, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Contractors Association, The Santa Barbara Foundation, Santa Barbara City College, and the SB County Education Office administered Regional Occupational Program (ROP), has taken steps to keep the construction trades alive in our local schools by creating the Tools for Schools program. This program distributes tools and building materials, as well as other resources, to local Santa Barbara area junior and senior high school wood shop and construction classes. This allows our schools to maintain these important  programs for student access and allows the teachers to teach a more comprehensive curriculum which exposes students to the opportunities available to them in the construction trades. Additionally, Tradart works with the schools and local agencies to find creative ways to keep the programs funded. Tradart networks with local contractors and community organizations to assure that students completing these classes are able to enter the local labor market with success.    The Tools for Schools program not only provides teachers with tools and materials, it also provides them with powerful industry experts who voluntarily come into the classroom to communicate with students what job opportunities are available in the construction trades, provide classroom demonstrations and offer job placement opportunities for interested students. These guest speakers from industry come into the local junior and senior high school wood shop and construction classrooms on a rotating basis approximately once per month. Topics related to job seeking and job keeping skills are periodically presented to the students in these classes to help prepare them for pursuing further education and/or to enter the workforce.

Culinary Arts Program: designed to engage teens in exciting and educational food-focused activities. Our after-school programs provide hands-on culinary instruction, field trips, group learning activities and leadership development opportunities. The culinary program meets in ten week sessions, two afternoons a week between 2:30 and 4:30pm in the Goleta Valley Junior High kitchen.   In each 10 week session, the curriculum is divided into modules: Introduction to Cooking, Kitchens and the Food Industry, Food Science and Nutrition and Technical Kitchen Skills.  The goal of this program is to provide students with information in order for them to consider pursuing a  potential career path in the culinary arts while they are in school.

Construction Skills Classes:   Santa Barbara City College, Tradart Foundation and the Contractors Association have worked together to design a Work Experience Class for students interested in pursuing a career in the construction trades.  This class is offered to students who have either completed the SBCC Construction Technology 110 class or who have prior work experience in the construction field.  Once students have learned the hard-skills of nailing, cutting and measuring, the Work Experience class teaches them soft skills including the importance of a strong work ethic, being a good employee and time management.  Students participating in the Construction Technology 290 Work Experience class also learn interpersonal communication, problem solving, job site dynamics and adapting to change.  In addition to receiving on-the job training with a construction company, students meet once per month with the instructor and are provided a skills certificate at the end of the class outlining their competencies.