From Camping Kid to RV Tech: How High School Trades Programs Launch Careers

Meet Wyatt Fisherman, a Grade 11 student who turned his passion for camping into a promising RV career through high school trades programs.

(L) Daryll Van Sickle, (R) Wyatt Fisherman

At 18 months old, Wyatt Fisherman was so excited about his first camping trip that he refused to sleep. His mom eventually packed up and drove everyone home in the middle of the night. That sleepless adventure sparked a lifelong love of the outdoors—and eventually led to his career path.

Today, Wyatt is working as an RV technician while still in Grade 11, proving that high school doesn't have to mean four years of traditional classrooms.

Discovering the Trades Through High School

Wyatt's journey started in Grade 9 with the Farm Program through Rockyview School Division. While learning about agriculture and farm animals, he discovered something crucial: he loved working with his hands, even if farming wasn't his calling.

In Grade 10, he joined the Building Futures program, partnering with McKee Homes to build actual houses from the ground up. Their classroom was the garage of homes they were constructing. Wyatt gained hands-on experience in framing, plumbing, electrical work, drywall, and more.

"That experience confirmed for me that I wanted to work in the trades," he says.

Finding His Perfect Fit

When Wyatt heard about the RV Technician - Dual Credit Pre-Employment Program at SAIT, everything clicked. Here was a chance to combine his camping passion with trades work while earning both high school and post-secondary credits. The program offered training in safety, propane systems, mechanical work, plumbing, and electrical systems.

His instructors brought decades of passionate industry experience to the classroom, and the hands-on work with actual RV simulators didn't just make the learning come alive—it helped Wyatt discover his true calling in RV technology. The impact was so significant that Wyatt was invited to speak at SAIT's Apprenticeship Day, sharing his story with 200 people including the Minister of Advanced Education and industry leaders.

Already Working in His Field

Before finishing high school, Wyatt landed a job at ArrKann RV in Rockyview County. He's working part-time during exams and will move to full-time this summer.

"I'm surrounded by skilled, supportive coworkers who have taught me a lot," he says. He's already mastering skills like repacking bearings and de-winterizing trailers while helping customers with their camping journeys.

The Bottom Line

Wyatt's journey from camping-obsessed kid to skilled RV technician proves there are many paths to success. High school trades programs offer incredible opportunities to explore careers while gaining experience, making connections, and potentially earning money before graduation.

In a world of student debt and uncertain job markets, skilled trades offer stability, good wages, and the satisfaction of solving real problems for real people.

Whether you're passionate about the outdoors or curious about how things work, there's likely a trades program that can help turn your interests into a career. The question isn't whether you're cut out for the trades—it's whether you're ready to discover what you're capable of.

Ready to explore? Start by talking to your school's guidance counsellors about youth apprenticeship programs in your area.