Free weeklong construction camp for girls returns in Canfield; here’s what they will learn
By Kelcey NorrisMahoning Matters
A weeklong construction workshop in Canfield inviting girls from around northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania to participate in hands-on workshops meant to give them a glimpse into the field.
It’s happening this week for free for the third year at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield.
What do girls learn at construction camp?
(left to right) Heather Estes, Senior Codes and Regulatory Compliance Specialist at GAF Roofing, Shelly Higgins, organizer of Let’s Build Construction Careers’ Camp for Girls and Kimberly Santiago-Vega, Roofing Academy Program Manager at GAF Roofing. Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters
Higgins is the architectural and national accounts director for S-5! Metal Roof Innovations and managing trustee for LBCC INC.
“I’m doing a demonstration today and the girls will be installing solar panels. My company, we make attachments for metal roofing, so if you want to attach anything metal roofing without voiding the warranty and penetrating, if it’s a standing seam, we will not penetrate through, and we keep the warranties intact,” said Higgins.
She said the first lesson at Let’s Build Construction Careers Camp for Girls is how to properly use a hammer and get acquainted with some of the terms used on job sites. The girls are put in groups to travel to the different workshop stations and compete against each other.
“By introducing these young women to the construction and roofing industries, we hope to inspire a new generation to consider the trades a viable and rewarding career option,” Higgins said. “We teach them how to do brick and mortar; install a GFCI [outlet], a light switch and a light. They work with their instructors who help them, but the girls do the work themselves.”
Volunteers like Heather Estes, senior codes and regulatory compliance specialist, and Kimberly Santiago-Vega, Roofing Academy program manager at GAF, walk the girls through installing shingles.
“As roofing professionals, we have a responsibility to positively impact the industry as a whole, especially when it comes to diversifying the workforce,” said Santiago-Vega. “We are proud to donate the materials needed to make this camp a success and continue to encourage young women to become leaders in traditionally male-dominated careers.”
Throughout the week, they’re teaching the girls their skills in building and roofing.
The girls got to learn about electrical wiring, synthetic rubber materials for building and how to use sealants on a foundation to prevent the water from coming into the basement.
Why is the camp free?
Several sponsors fund Let’s Build Construction Careers Camp for Girls and volunteers help run operations during the week, taking away financial burdens from families whose girls want to participate.
“When I grew up, we didn’t have a lot, and I couldn’t afford to do things. It was so embarrassing as a kid, and my camp is free because I am not doing that to these kids. I refuse to do that,” Higgins said. “I reached out to my friends, colleagues in the roofing industry, but I’m in a different aspect of I call on architects, specifiers engineers and consultants. I’m working on projects. I’m teaching continuing. I put together programs.”
Higgins said there’s an endless supply of jobs in construction and other fields like welding, engineering, specifications writing and roofing.
“What I say to the girls is, ‘Do you want to go to college?’ Great. If you don’t want to go to college, great. I want you to see there are so many opportunities and no matter what you want to do, you can actually do it in construction,” Higgins said.
Feedback from students
Higgins said the feedback from students has been great, especially students who go on to pursue training and apprenticeship program opportunities after being at construction camp.
“I had five students come back from last year. When one student went back to school, she went to the counselor and asked about a construction program in the area,” Higgins said. “They found one, it’s a new program and she’s part of the pilot program. She wants to be builder. So it is making a difference.”
Sixteen-year-old Elyse is one of the girls donning a hard hat participating in Let’s Build Construction Careers Camp for Girls.
Elyse is a woodworker, set to start eleventh grade at Fox Chapel Area High School in the fall.
“There’s not a lot of women in the industry, and we’re really cool,” said Elyse. “We’re really detail oriented. I think that helps because you gotta have details when you’re building something people will live in for years.”
“After high school, I might either go to a trade school or to learn plumbing, probably. Then after I get really good at that, or after I graduated from trade school, I could go on to flip houses,” said Elyse. “I won’t have to hire a plumber. I can just do it myself.”
“At the end of the week, we do competitions, camp conversations and talk about the week,” said Higgins. “Last year, they were doing their competitions, and almost everybody finished them. One girl was really struggling, and then you could see she started getting upset and I’m feeling horrible. I’m like, ‘Do I end it?’ I don’t want her feel bad that she couldn’t finish, right? So she kept going and the girls are cheering her on, all of them. And she did it.”
