For families and youth
A real next step for your young person
NCYDC serves ages 14 to 24 through workforce development, and welcomes students from Grade 5 onward into age-appropriate career exploration. Each group has its own cohort, schedule, and setting, so a fifth grader and a young adult are never in the same training environment.
Who we serve
Two tracks, kept distinct by age and setting:
- Grade 5 through middle school: career exploration, exposure activities, mentoring, life skills, financial awareness, and age-appropriate hands-on demonstrations.
- Ages 14 to 24 (high school and young adult): career readiness, deeper pathway exploration, work-based learning or pre-apprenticeship as age and eligibility permit, advancing to credentials and employer connections.
No prior experience, minimum GPA, or settled career plan is needed, just interest and a willingness to show up.
Costs
Costs vary by program. Some activities are offered at no cost when grant funding or community support allows. Credential and testing pathways may carry fees set by the certifying body or training partner.
Before enrollment we tell families exactly what a specific cohort costs and what support may be available.
What families can expect
- Clear communication
- You will know the schedule, the expectations, and what your student is working toward.
- Safety first
- Safety instruction comes before hands-on work, with protective equipment provided and required.
- Real work standards
- Participants show up on time and treat the space and each other with respect, as on a job.
- Support, not surprises
- If a participant struggles with attendance or progress, we talk it through with the family.
How it works
From first interest to enrollment
Four steps, with a person from our team involved at each one.
- Step 1
Join the interest list
Share a few details about your student, including age, ZIP code, and career interests.
- Step 2
We follow up
A team member reaches out the way you prefer to talk through fit, timing, and availability.
- Step 3
Match to a cohort
When a cohort fits your student's age and interests, we walk you through schedule and cost.
- Step 4
Enroll and begin
Enrollment paperwork is completed with our staff directly, not through this website.
Interest list
Join the interest list
Programs are being prepared for 2027, with earlier opportunities offered when available. Adding your student to the list is the surest way to hear from us when a cohort fits.
Your privacy
We ask only for what we need to reach you and match a student to the right program. Please leave out Social Security numbers, dates of birth, medical information, and school ID numbers. You can read our privacy policy for the full picture.
Submitting this form does not guarantee enrollment, placement, certification, employment, or funding. You can also write to us at s.downs@northcountyyouth.org.