For the last fourteen years, the Mentoring Young Women In Construction Camp has been introducing teenage girls to different trades and the advantages of a career in the field, writes Zachary Phillips for the Construction Dive.
Over time, the number of camp goers has increased significantly, from around 15 at the start to 40 today. The free camp is run by the Philadelphia Foundation of the National Association of Women in Construction.
The nonprofit foundation is led by Mary Gaffney, who was previously a donor and member of NAWIC Philadelphia. She runs the camp every summer with the help of volunteers and unions, as well as sponsors.
The first thing participants receive at the camp is a first-aid training lesson. Then, they are handed a backpack filled with PPE and basic tools. After a few days of safety training and orientation, the girls visit construction sites throughout the city to learn more about specific trades.
“Each trade location, they spend the day there, where they meet women in the trades, but they also learn about the trades,” said Gaffney.
Read more about the Mentoring Young Women In Construction Camp in the Construction Dive.
______
