Eight trade skill trees
Imagine a video-game skill tree with multiple branches — Build, Power, Flow, Climate, Fix, Mechanical, Tech and Plan. A child chooses where to go deep, and every node unlocks the next.
Where a child goes deep
Pick any pathway to see its progression chain. Nodes unlock in sequence — a student reaches Furniture Build only after Joinery, and Joinery only after Measuring and Layout.
🔨 Woodworking
Measure twice. Build once.
The core craft pathway — from naming a hammer to building real furniture.
- 01
Tool Basics
Name it, hold it, care for it.
- 02
Measuring and Layout
Fractions, marking and square lines.
- 03
Joinery
How two pieces become one, permanently.
- 04
Furniture Build
A finished piece that has to be square and strong.
- 05
Advanced Build
Complex geometry, finish quality and design choices.
Ten domains underneath every badge
Underneath the badges and the levels is a real competency framework — ten domains that map cleanly onto established trade education, from safety through professional skills.
Safety
PPE, shop behavior and hazard recognition.
- PPE selection
- Safe work zones
- Hazard recognition
- Emergency procedures
- Tool clearance
Tools
Hand tools, approved powered tools and how they are cared for.
- Tool identification
- Hand tool use
- Approved powered tools
- Tool maintenance
- Storage and care
Measure
Fractions, angles, layout and reading plans.
- Fractions and decimals
- Marking and layout
- Square lines
- Angles
- Plan reading
- Estimating
Build
Wood, framing, drywall, fasteners and finish.
- Material selection
- Framing
- Fastening
- Drywall
- Finish work
- Build sequencing
Power
Electrical concepts, circuits and low voltage.
- Electrical concepts
- Circuits
- Switches and loads
- Low voltage
- Electrical safety
- Troubleshooting
Flow
Plumbing, fittings, valves and water systems.
- Pipe and fittings
- Valves
- Fixtures
- Water systems
- Leak diagnosis
Climate
HVAC, airflow, insulation and efficiency.
- Airflow
- Heating and cooling
- Refrigeration concepts
- Thermostats
- Energy efficiency
Mechanical
Gears, motors and automotive concepts.
- Fasteners
- Gears
- Motors
- Vehicle systems
- Diagnostics
Technology
Networks, sensors, smart homes and automation.
- Networking
- Cabling
- Sensors
- Smart home
- Automation
- Robotics and IoT
Professional
Planning, teamwork, communication and leadership.
- Planning
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Quality inspection
- Mentoring
- Employability
The class rhythm
Discover → Learn → Practice → Build → Inspect → Reflect → Unlock. The same formula runs through every program, which is what makes the curriculum teachable and, eventually, franchisable.
Discover
What are we building, and why does it matter?
Learn
The concept, the tool, the safety standard.
Practice
Individual reps on the isolated skill.
Build
The real project, hands on real materials.
Inspect
Evaluate workmanship against the standard.
Reflect
What worked? What would you change?
Unlock
XP, badges and the next recommended challenge.
Passport updatedThe same seven beats run through a birthday build, a Saturday workshop, a camp day and a homeschool session — only the length changes. That consistency is what makes the curriculum teachable, measurable and, later, franchisable.
Aligned with real trade education — not invented from scratch.
The ten domains map onto HBI's PACT Core (safety, construction math, tools and materials, employability) and its specializations into carpentry, electrical, plumbing and HVAC — and onto Home Depot's Skills Explorers model for ages 11–17. We didn't reinvent the wheel; we made it age-appropriate.
Read the research notes