Multiple Summer Camps Provide Hands-On Construction Training for Youth, Adults in Wisconsin, Ontario

Several summer camps and programs across the U.S. and Canada are actively engaging young people, especially girls and minorities, to explore careers in skilled trades and construction. Madison College's “She Builds Wisconsin” camp provides middle school girls hands-on experience with power tools and construction projects, aiming to increase female participation in the industry. Similarly, the Latino Academy of Workforce Development in Madison runs a free pre-apprenticeship program funded by the Lowe's Foundation, offering adult students training and paid work experience in construction trades. The Kenosha Unified School District hosts a four-day Building Careers Summer Camp for middle and high school students to learn about various construction trades through interactive stations and site visits. At Illinois State University, a weeklong Engineering camp prepares freshmen with practical design and building experience, fostering peer connections. In Canada, the Skills Ontario Trades and Tech Summer Camp introduces young women to a broad range of trades and technology careers, emphasizing skill development and career exploration at a critical age for career decision-making.