Kids and teens building a woodworking project with real tools in a modern workshop
North Dallas · Est. 2026

Real Tools.Real Skills.Real Confidence.

North Dallas' hands-on academy where kids build, fix, create and discover skills they'll use for life.

Programs for ages 7–17 · McKinney / Frisco / North Dallas

Founding Families72%

143 / 200

57 spots remain

Founding Families Campaign

Help us build the first Kids Trades Academy

We're building something North Dallas families have been asking for — a place where kids put down the screen, pick up real tools, and learn how the world around them actually works.

Founding families receive early access to class registration, camps, special events and opening offers.

Become a Founding Family
Founding FamiliesNo. 143

143 / 200

Families securing early access to Kids Trades Academy.

57 founding family spots remain

72%

  • Priority class registration
  • Early camp access
  • Founding-family events
  • Opening offers

McKinney / Frisco corridor · Launch 2026

Why Kids Trades Academy

Kids were built to build.

They take things apart. They ask how everything works. They want to drill, hammer, fix, build, create and make something real.

We give that curiosity somewhere to go.

Fig. 01 — The workbench
Modern industrial youth workshop interior with a full tool wall
01 — The workshop floor
Child measuring a piece of wood with a tape measure
02 — Measure
Teen sanding a hand-built wooden stool in a workshop
03 — Finish

Less scrolling.

More building.

Save My Spot
Program Explorer

Find Their Program

Seven ways in. One outcome — kids who can actually do things. Every program runs on real tools, real materials and real projects they take home.

KTA Homeschool
Ages 7–17

KTA Homeschool

Recurring weekday hands-on trade education for homeschool students.

  • Tool safety
  • Measuring & construction math
  • Woodworking, drilling & fastening
Schedule
Weekday mornings, 2–4 sessions/week
Starting
Starting at $279/month
Explore Homeschool Programs
KTA Build Club
Ages 7–13

KTA Build Club

Trade screen time for build time.

  • An alternative to screen-based extracurriculars
  • Real tools, real materials
  • A finished project to take home
Schedule
After school, 1–2 afternoons/week
Starting
Starting at $219/month
Join Build Club
KTA Teen Trades
Ages 13–17

KTA Teen Trades

Advanced introduction to skilled trades and career pathways.

  • Carpentry & construction
  • Electrical systems & low voltage
  • HVAC & plumbing systems
Schedule
Weekly, weekday evenings or weekends
Starting
Starting at $349/month
Explore Teen Trades
KTA Camps
Ages 7–17

KTA Camps

Summer, school-break and specialty build camps.

  • Build It Camp
  • Junior Carpenter Camp
  • Fix-It Camp
Schedule
Week-long sessions, summer & school breaks
Starting
Starting at $375/week
View Upcoming Camps
KTA Birthday Builds
Ages 6–12

KTA Birthday Builds

The birthday party where everyone leaves with something they built.

  • Starter: Race Car Rally, ages 6 to 11, $450
  • Builder: Birdhouse Build, ages 7 to 12, $695
  • Pro: Tool Caddy Build, ages 8 to 12, $795
Schedule
Weekends & select weekdays, 2 hours
Starting
$450
Book a Birthday Build
KTA Workshops
Ages 7–17

KTA Workshops

Saturday and weekend project workshops.

  • A new build every session
  • All materials included
  • Ideal first-timer introduction
Schedule
Saturdays & select weekends
Starting
Starting at $69
See This Month's Builds
Mobile KTA
Ages 7–17

Mobile KTA

We bring the workshop to your group.

  • Schools & private schools
  • Homeschool co-ops
  • Churches & community centers
Schedule
By appointment, weekdays & weekends
Starting
$595
Bring KTA to Your Group
Homeschool Discovery Lab
Ages 6–8

Homeschool Discovery Lab

Little hands. Real tools. Big ideas.

  • Tool identification and safety
  • Measuring and marking
  • Fasteners and connectors
Schedule
Weekday mornings
Starting
$449
Explore Discovery Lab
Homeschool Build Lab
Ages 9–11

Homeschool Build Lab

Stop watching people build things. Start building them.

  • Six rotating trades modules
  • Progressively harder builds
  • Working with real power tools under supervision
Schedule
Weekday mornings
Starting
$599
Start Building
Trades Explorer
Ages 12–14

Trades Explorer

Find out what you're good at by actually doing it.

  • Six exploration modules
  • Every module ends in a finished build
  • Final challenge: the Trades Explorer Capstone
Schedule
Weekday afternoons
Starting
$799
Explore the Trades
Career Trades Academy
Ages 15–17

Career Trades Academy

Don't just ask what you want to be. Try it.

  • Starts with KTA Core Trades Foundations
  • Choose a pathway after foundations
  • Ends with the Master Build capstone
Schedule
Weekday afternoons & evenings
Starting
$999
Choose Your Path
Homeschool Build Days
Ages 6–17

Homeschool Build Days

One day. One build. One new skill.

  • Single-session workshops
  • Every student takes home what they build
  • Perfect first Passport badge
Schedule
Saturdays & school breaks
Starting
$49
View Upcoming Builds
Interior of the Kids Trades Academy workshop
Not sure where to start?

Tell us their age. We'll tell you the room they belong in.

Get a Recommendation
Student Builds

They don't just learn it.
They build it.

Finished student work · photographed in the workshop

Wooden Toolbox built by a Kids Trades Academy student
Woodworking

Wooden Toolbox

A classic first build — measure, cut, drill, assemble and finish a toolbox that lasts.

Ages 8–122 sessions
  • Measuring
  • Drilling
  • Fastening
Birdhouse built by a Kids Trades Academy student
Woodworking

Birdhouse

Students lay out, cut and assemble a weather-ready birdhouse.

Ages 7–1090 minutes
  • Measuring
  • Drilling
  • Fastening
Workshop Shelf built by a Kids Trades Academy student
Woodworking

Workshop Shelf

A wall shelf built from raw lumber with square joints and a hand finish.

Ages 8–122 sessions
  • Measuring
  • Fastening
  • Finishing
Step Stool built by a Kids Trades Academy student
Woodworking

Step Stool

Load-bearing joinery and stability — a real test of accuracy and planning.

Ages 10–143 sessions
  • Measuring
  • Drilling
  • Framing
Working Lamp built by a Kids Trades Academy student
Electrical

Working Lamp

Students wire a switch, socket and cord into a lamp that actually turns on.

Ages 10–142 sessions
  • Wiring
  • Low voltage
  • Assembling
Every project goes home with the builderAges 7–17 · All materials included
Kids laughing together while building wooden projects around a workbench
Inside the Workshop

This is what focus looks like.

No screens. No shortcuts. Just kids, real tools, and the moment it clicks.

See Student Builds
Skills Explorer

What Will They Learn?

Five skill worlds, one hands-on path. Pick a world to see the skills and the projects students actually complete.

Build

Measure twice. Build once.

From raw lumber to a finished structure — students learn how real things get made, and why accuracy matters.

Skills Covered

  • Carpentry
  • Framing
  • Drywall
  • Woodworking
  • Construction math
See all build projects
Project 01

Wooden toolbox

Project 02

Small framed wall

Project 03

Storage box

Project 04

Build-it shelf

Achievement System

Skills You Can Wear.

Students earn digital and physical badges as they master real tools. Locked badges stay faded until the skill is signed off by an instructor.

Tool Safety

Level 01

Completed the workshop safety certification.

Tape Measure Master

Level 01

Measures to 1/16" accuracy without help.

Drill Operator

Level 02

Safe, controlled drilling and driving.

Woodworker

Level 02

Cut, joined and finished a woodworking project.

Builder

Level 03

Framed and assembled a multi-part structure.

Electric Explorer

Level 02

Wired a working low-voltage circuit.

Plumbing Explorer

Level 02

Assembled and pressure-tested a supply line.

HVAC Explorer

Level 03

Explored airflow, cooling and heating systems.

Fix-It Pro

Level 03

Diagnosed and repaired a real household fault.

Smart Home Builder

Level 03

Programmed and installed a smart device.

Project Leader

Level 04

Led a team build from plan to finish.

Badges unlock inside the member portal · Progress visible to parents in real time

Homeschool student measuring a wooden board with a tape measure
Homeschool

Homeschool gets hands-on.

Add real-world practical skills to your homeschool curriculum with recurring weekday classes built on project-based learning.

  • Recurring weekday schedule
  • Construction math & applied science
  • Engineering & collaboration
  • Practical problem solving

Starting at $279/month

Student sanding a wooden project during a summer build camp
KTA Camps

Summer was made for building.

Week-long camps where students pick a theme, grab a tool and finish a real project by Friday.

Starting at $375/week

Kids laughing together while building wooden projects at a birthday party
Birthday Builds

Best. Birthday. Ever.

Forget the bounce house. Let's build something. Every guest leaves with a project they made themselves — and bragging rights for a year.

Starting at $450· All materials & safety gear included

Teenager wiring a low-voltage circuit board in a workshop
Teen Trades · Ages 13–17

Real training for the trades.

A more advanced introduction to skilled trades and practical career pathways — taught by working professionals with real job-site experience.

  • Carpentry & construction
  • Electrical & low voltage
  • HVAC & plumbing systems
  • Smart homes & networking
  • Guest instructors & site visits

Starting at $349/month

Safety First

Serious About Fun.
Even More Serious About Safety.

Parents hand us their kids. That trust is the entire business. Our workshop standards are written, posted and enforced on every single build — and they're designed to be tightened as we finalize facility policies.

Safety language on this page reflects our operating standards and will be updated as policies are finalized for each academy location.

Read our full safety standards
01

Instructor supervision at all times

No student ever works with a tool outside direct instructor oversight.

02

Age-appropriate tool selection

Tools are matched to the age and demonstrated readiness of each student group.

03

Safety instruction before every tool

No tool is used until the group completes instruction and a supervised practice run.

04

Protective eyewear provided

Clear safety glasses are standard for all workshop activity, no exceptions.

05

Hearing protection where appropriate

Provided for louder stations and any activity that calls for it.

06

Controlled workshop zones

Dedicated tool stations with clear boundaries and one student per station.

Parent Confidence

Built for kids.
Designed with safety first.

Read our safety standards
01

Age-Appropriate Tools

Tools and projects matched to skill and developmental level.

02

Instructor Guided

Small-group instruction and supervised hands-on learning.

03

Real Skills

Practical skills kids can carry into school, hobbies and adulthood.

04

Confidence Through Building

Kids experience the pride of making something themselves.

Why KTA

Confidence feels different when you built it yourself.

Hands-on learning isn't a nice-to-have. It's how kids build problem-solving, patience and self-belief that transfers to everything else.

Typical Extracurricular

  • Screens
  • Worksheets
  • Passive learning
  • Virtual experiences

Kids Trades Academy

  • Real tools
  • Real materials
  • Real projects
  • Real problem solving
  • Real accomplishment

Practical problem solving

Kids learn to diagnose, adjust and try again — the loop behind every trade.

Applied academics

Fractions, geometry and physics stop being abstract the moment they matter to a build.

Earned self-belief

You can't hand a child confidence. You give them something real to finish.

Career Pathways · Ages 13–17

There's More Than One Road to Success.

KTA introduces students to possibilities — not a decision they have to make today. Teens meet working professionals, tour job sites and get hands-on with the systems behind the trades.

Pathway 01

Construction

Carpentry, framing, project management, site supervision.

Pathway 02

Electrical

Residential, commercial and industrial electricians.

Pathway 03

HVAC

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration.

Pathway 04

Plumbing

Service, new construction and mechanical systems.

Pathway 05

Automotive

Technicians, service advisors, specialty shops.

Pathway 06

Manufacturing

Machining, fabrication, quality and production.

Pathway 07

Technology

Low voltage, networking and systems integration.

Pathway 08

Smart Infrastructure

Building automation, energy and connected systems.

Skilled trades offer strong wages, low debt and real demand. KTA's job is exposure — giving teens enough real experience to make their own informed choices later.

Explore Career Pathways
Industry Partners

Help Build the Next Generation.

The trades have a workforce gap and a perception problem. KTA gives contractors, builders, manufacturers and technology companies a direct line to the next generation — in North Dallas.

ContractorsHomebuildersHVAC companiesElectrical contractorsPlumbing companiesManufacturersTool companiesTechnology companiesCommunity organizations

Sponsor a Lab

Put your name on the room where it happens.

Electrical Lab powered by [Partner]

Sponsor Tools

Equip a station with real, professional-grade tools.

Sponsor Student Scholarships

Open the door for a family who couldn't otherwise attend.

Host Career Demonstrations

Bring a live demo to a class or camp session.

Provide Guest Instructors

Send a tradesperson to teach a real skill.

Host Teen Career Visits

Let Teen Trades students see your operation up close.

Partnership tiers, naming rights and recognition packages are being finalized. Reach out and we'll build one around your business.

Become a KTA Partner
Coming to North Dallas

Where should the first Kids Trades Academy open?

We're opening on the McKinney / Frisco / Plano corridor — and building a second academy where demand is loudest. Vote for your city and tell us your ZIP code.

MCKINNEYFRISCOPLANOALLENPROSPERCELINAOTHER

Live demand map · 194 votes counted

Choose your city

See all locations
McKinney63 votes
Frisco48 votes
Plano32 votes
Allen21 votes
Prosper17 votes
Celina9 votes
Other4 votes
Parent Voices

What Families Are Saying

We're capturing early feedback from North Dallas families as we approach opening.

"My son has taken apart every appliance in our house. This is the first thing that ever gave that curiosity somewhere real to go."

Placeholder — North Dallas Parent

Parent of a 10 year old · KTA Build Club

Placeholder testimonial

"We were looking for a way to make math and science concrete. Building a real project every week did more than a year of worksheets."

Placeholder — Homeschool Parent

Parent of a 12 year old · KTA Homeschool

Placeholder testimonial

"My teenager has a plan for the first time — and it isn't college or nothing. He's interested in the trades and this gave him real exposure."

Placeholder — Frisco Parent

Parent of a 15 year old · KTA Teen Trades

Placeholder testimonial

Teenager sanding a hand-built wooden project in the academy workshop
Founding Families · Limited Launch

Give them something real to finish.

Founding families get early access to class registration, camps, special events and opening offers — before we open the doors to everyone else.

143/ 200 families joined