About the pilot
A small, local experiment.
Started by a real neighbor.
Weekend Apprentice connects people who want to learn practical, hands-on skills with local people who already know how to do those things — woodworking, home repair, auto basics, gardening, cooking, home networking, and more.
Think less “online course,” more “learning from a capable neighbor.”
About Brad
Hi, I'm Brad. I live in the Twin Cities metro area and have spent over 20 years working in technology and infrastructure.
I started Weekend Apprentice because I think a lot of practical knowledge is getting harder to pass along. Many of us have something we wish someone had shown us earlier — how to use basic tools, how to make a real meal, how to fix something simple around the house.
At the same time, there are capable people in every neighborhood who know how to do these things and might be willing to show someone else for an hour or two.
Weekend Apprentice is my attempt to bring those two groups together.
What this pilot is
This is not a full marketplace yet. There are no public profiles, automated scheduling, or payment processing. I don't want to build a big platform before knowing whether people actually want this.
For now, everything is intentionally small and manual. I review signups myself, look for matches by hand, and try to make sure the first sessions are clear, comfortable, and useful.
How matching works
After you sign up, I look at the skill, location, availability, and any notes you share. If I see a possible match, I won't send people to each other blindly. I'll first confirm the basics with both sides:
- ✓Who the mentor is and what they're comfortable teaching
- ✓What the learner wants to get out of the session
- ✓Where it would happen and whether there's any cost
- ✓Any safety or comfort considerations
If both people are comfortable, I'll make the introduction and let them coordinate from there. For these first sessions, I may also offer a short phone or Zoom call before anyone meets in person.
How payment works
Weekend Apprentice is not taking a fee during the pilot. Some early sessions may be free in exchange for honest feedback. If a mentor charges for their time or materials, that gets discussed and agreed to before anything is scheduled.
No one should be surprised about cost, location, or expectations.
Trust and safety
Because this involves in-person sessions with strangers, trust matters. Matching is done manually — this isn't an open marketplace where anyone can instantly book anyone else.
Participants should only agree to sessions, locations, and formats they're comfortable with. Topics that involve major safety risks, licensed trade work, or hazardous materials are not a good fit for the pilot.
What I'm asking for
If you participate in an early session, I'll ask for honest feedback afterward — what worked, what felt unclear, and whether you'd do it again. If it goes well, I may also ask if you'd share a short testimonial. No pressure either way.
What happens next
If the pilot shows real interest, the next version may include mentor profiles, reviews, scheduling tools, and payment processing. But for now, I'm starting small on purpose.
Real people. Real skills. One weekend at a time.
Want to join the pilot?
Whether you want to learn something new or share a skill you already have, I'd love to hear from you.