Career Explorations for middle school students
Tribute to Terry Herndon, March 1934 – August 2022
We mourn the passing and celebrate the life of our longtime donor and supporter, Terry Herndon, whose initial gift in 2012, launched Apprentice Learning.
Experience Ignites Purpose
Apprentice Learning provides real-world work experiences for middle-grade youth. In direct partnership with schools and employers, we leverage career exploration to teach skills, ignite purpose, and nurture dreams.
Let’s Hear From Famata!
Our Programs
Workplace Explorations
One-day engagements with local professionals offer opportunities to meet, practice skills, and learn on the job.
Apprenticeships
Hands-on classes and real world work experiences that help youth identify interests, strengths and put their professional skills into practice with an adult mentor.
LaunchPlus
A virtual paid internship for current 9th grade alumni to deepen professional skills, and support youth in completing digital summer job applications.
City Summer Internship
A five-week paid internship where rising 9th grade alumna explore STEAM and career fields where women are underrepresented.
“The Apprentice Learning program was my first real work experience. It showed me that I had options for my future jobs. If it wasn’t for the Apprentice Learning program, I would not have thought about my future profession at such young age. I personally always had a goal of college but the Apprentice Learning program opened my eyes to job opportunities.”
– Kaya Fields, AL Alumni 2013-14, Mission Hill School
Get to Know Our Supporters
Get to Know Our Partners
Director, Bain Capital 
Program Manager
Helen Russell is the Founder and Executive Director of Apprentice Learning. Over the past 30 years, Russell has advocated for connecting students and schools to their communities using hands-on learning experiences. She spent over a decade in the Boston Public Schools (BPS) in external affairs, program development and fundraising at Boston Arts Academy and the Mission Hill School. Prior to working with BPS she was an instructor and program director for Thompson Island Outward Bound and is a senior trainer at Project Adventure. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Boston College and a Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. | 
AVP, HR Manager & Senior Business Partner
Chief Development Officer, Brookview House 
Head of Middle School, The Meadowbrook School of Weston