Philadelphia Construction Camp Introduces Teenage Girls to Trade Careers

The National Association of Women in Construction’s Philadelphia foundation is introducing young girls to the skilled trades for the 14th year with its free MyWIC camp. Attendees of this year's program, which began July 6 and ends Aug. 11, travel around the Philadelphia area to learn basic safety and construction skills.

Campgoers are provided with a first aid training lesson, a backpack with PPE and basic tools, additional construction safety training and orientation, and ultimately, hands-on experience on construction sites throughout Philadelphia where the girls can learn more about specific trades. The teen attendees participate in building lessons to make birdhouses, toolboxes, and other small projects, Construction Dive reports.

Both [Mary] Gaffney and [Robert] Almond spoke to a sticking point many contractors have had with recruiting workers over the past few decades: the push for higher education.

“We’re trying to break the stigma that college is the only option, by telling the girls ‘look at this building, you could be a part of something like this,’” Almond said.

“We want them in the trades, it’s just such a fulfilling job in my view, and it’s to help them be very independent,” Gaffney said.

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