A Hands-On Alternative to College for Young Adults Who Feel Stuck
College is tough. So tough that the 12-month dropout rate for first-time, full-time undergraduates is more than 22%. That means almost one out of four people who start college don’t make it past the first year.
But going to college doesn’t always prove intelligence or capability. Lots of young adults find college isn’t the right fit, for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, what can follow is a difficult in-between space: working dead-end jobs, feeling unmotivated, or losing confidence.
Families come to The Trade asking a simple but important question. What do apprentices do in our program, and how does it help them move forward?
Real Work, Not a Classroom Replacement
The Trade is an alternative to college built around paid, hands-on apprenticeship work in a healthy, structured environment. While the program itself is new, the work culture is not. Apprentices join established, skilled mentors who have been caring for the Mountain for decades. They take pride in quality work, and they’re ready to pass on their substantial knowledge to the next generation.
The Mountain is owned and stewarded by Moosilauke Visions, a nonprofit organization with over 30 years of experience managing more than 2,000 acres as a place of learning, responsibility, and long-term stewardship.
Apprentices are paid employees, not students or volunteers. They are expected to show up, contribute, and grow through real responsibility.
What Kind of Work Do Apprentices Do?
The work at The Trade changes with the seasons and with ongoing projects, but it is always real and necessary. Apprentices may work with mentors on:
Forest and land stewardship
Trail and road building
Construction and carpentry projects
Landscaping and grounds maintenance
Hospitality and facilities support
Automotive and equipment repair
Some days involve routine tasks like mowing or snow removal. Other days focus on larger projects, such as building cabins or improving infrastructure. Over time, apprentices take on more responsibility and leadership as their skills and confidence grow.
This is not job training for a single career. Instead, it is exposure to real work in a real work culture, something many young adults never experience before or after leaving college.
Why The Work Works
For many young people, leaving college isn’t about failure. Traditional academics don’t always provide structure, purpose, or tangible results. What’s often missing is:
Meaningful daily structure
Clear expectations
Adult mentorship
A sense of contribution
Confidence built through action
At The Trade, young adults learn how to:
Show up consistently
Work alongside others
Take feedback without shame
See the results of their effort
Build confidence through competence
This lived experience helps restore momentum and clarity. After The Trade, our apprentices have the skills and the will to take the next step.
A Practical Path Forward
The Trade is not about rushing young adults into a career or forcing decisions before they’re ready. It’s about helping them rebuild confidence, direction, and a healthy relationship to work.
Young people leave with practical skills and knowledge built up over months of hands-on experience. More importantly, they leave with self-respect, motivation, and a clearer sense of what they want next, whether that’s further training, a career path, or a return to education with purpose.
For families seeking a college alternative for young adults or a next step after college dropout, The Trade offers something rare: a grounded, paid apprenticeship experience rooted in real work and real growth.
