Wolf River Youth Apprenticeship Consortium

08/17/2026

We are happy to be working with Shawano Family Dentistry, and ALL our partner employers again this year. Lucy (Clintonville Public School District) has been persistent in finding a placement and we are excited to see her growth in the dental industry.

Can our give Lucy some words of congratulations and encouragement in the comments?

Welcome Lucy!

Our new Wolf River Apprentice recently had her first day in the dental field and will be spending time around the office learning the ropes. We're excited to have her as part of the Shawano Family Dentistry team!

06/09/2026

Autumn is crushing it!

Celebrating Autumn’s 1-Year Anniversary!

Today we’re celebrating a very special milestone for someone who has grown so much in such a short time.

Autumn joined us through the Wolf River Youth Apprenticeship Consortium Program, and over the past year she has officially stepped into her new role as a Dental Assistant. Autumn just graduated high school and will continue working with us as she pursues her dream of becoming a Dental Hygienist.

05/01/2026

We are proud to be a part of this in our rural community. This year, our schools have over 150 students immersed in this rich and immersive work experience program.

Today we’re looking ahead to the future of Wisconsin’s workforce with a spotlight on Youth Apprenticeship – the largest of its kind in the nation. 👏

And this year, we’re celebrating 35 years of Youth Apprenticeship in Wisconsin! 🎉 Wisconsin broke barriers when it became the first state in the nation to offer a Youth Apprenticeship program in 1991.

After completing their one- or two-year "earn while you learn" program, Youth Apprentices can go on to begin a Registered Apprenticeship — furthering their skills and training toward a rewarding career. The number of Youth Apprentices who’ve taken this next step has been increasing steadily since 2018 to 15% of former youth apprentices enrolled in Registered Apprenticeship programs.

More than 99% of Wisconsin’s public school districts that have a high school offered Youth Apprenticeship for the 2025-26 school year.

Youth Apprenticeship programs are quite literally “building” Wisconsin’s future workforce—that’s what happens when you link real-world experience with education. 🛠️ ➕ 🏫

DWD is proud to be part of this opportunity and so excited for the future of apprenticeship in Wisconsin!

04/30/2026

For part of the day today, Shawano area students were truly living in a simulation, a financial reality simulation. Through the efforts of Capital Credit Union, Shawano Schools, CESA 8, a little help from us, and a lot of help from volunteers representing various local businesses, students from multiple high schools were able to participate in a Reality Fair.

To prep for the event students chose careers and were assigned incomes that correlated with those careers. From there, they were randomly assigned other qualities that might impact their simulated financial choices such as children and spousal income. Students then had to budget their life through housing, transportation, insurance, and MANY other expenses that adults encounter in their lives.

We hope that this experience gave these seniors a little more preparation for what lies ahead.

04/28/2026

📈 Youth Apprenticeships Are at a Record High—And Employers Are Leading the Way

Wisconsin youth apprenticeships are growing faster than ever, giving employers a proven way to build a skilled, local workforce while shaping future talent today.
✅ Develop talent early
✅ Strengthen your workforce pipeline
✅ Make a real impact in your community

Join the employers investing in tomorrow’s workforce through Wolf River Youth Apprenticeship.

https://www.insightonbusiness.com/industries/educationtalent/youth-apprenticeships-reach-record-high/article_ab140a98-caab-4b8c-b1bf-0b2c20ae3c90.html

04/23/2026

Kudos to the School District of Bonduel for recognizing seniors who are currently participating in Youth Apprenticeship! The district proudly showcased these students with banners displayed throughout the school. These were designed and created by Bonduel’s Promotional Media students. A great example of celebrating student talent and career readiness

04/23/2026

It is so much fun being a small part of this event, we hope it sparks an interest that leads to a valuable youth apprenticeship for these young students.

02/09/2026

02/02/2026

Sorry, Groundhog — you’re popping back underground for a moment, because it’s SCHOOL COUNSELORS WEEK!

💙 Happy National School Counseling Week! 💛

Today, instead of asking whether we’ll get six more weeks of winter, we’re celebrating the people who give students weeks, months, and YEARS of guidance and support.

To all of our amazing school counselors:
☀️ You brighten students’ paths, no matter the forecast.
🪴 You help them grow, even when they feel stuck in the shadow.
🐾 And unlike a certain groundhog, you never disappear when things get tough.

Your compassion, dedication, and steady support make an enormous impact every single day. From helping students through tough moments to opening doors to life‑changing opportunities, your work truly matters.
We appreciate you—this week and every week!

02/01/2026

We are at the School District of Bonduel tonight!

New Year, new opportunities, especially in youth apprenticeship.

For sophomore and junior students at the School District of Bonduel, Clintonville Public School District, Marion School District, Shawano Schools, School District of Shiocton, and Wolf River Lutheran H.S. it is time to start preparing to apply for next school year.

Our guardian/student informational meetings are approaching fast, mark your calendars and plan to attend one!