I'm in the same boat as you, so I was just wondering if you found anything yet or made any progress? I live in North Chelmsford and the only thing I've been able to find is the classes at Greater Lowell Tech ( http://www.gltech.mec.edu/adulted/education.html). They're priced about right but unfortunately they ended already and won't start up again till september. Yesterday I went to the Welding shop by my house and he just told me about some Lowell vocational classes. I didn't ask about watching, maybe I will next time, but I'd like to get a welder before I do that so I could practice after seeing what they do.

P.S. Where can you go to off-road in the MA/NH/RI area? The only place I know of is in Brookline, NH.