A group of Valley students is getting a hands-on experience aimed at empowering them and teaching them skills for the future.
The Rosendin Foundation, a non-profit organization, is sponsoring a camp for more than a dozen middle school students this week.
Six through ninth graders are learning to use power tools and do roofing and framing to build their own lamps and construct doghouses. Those doghouses will be donated to a local non-profit group.
Beyond woodworking, students will also learn electric work and what it takes to build a lamp.
Getting inch-deep in various trades of construction takes away the intimidation of how tools are used.
“Now they’re building the confidence of ‘now I know how to properly use a hammer, I don’t just like whack something’. You learn how to use a drill, it can be very intimidating,” said Jolsna Thomas with the Rosendin Foundation.
The camp, called TRF Camp Build, will also take the students on a visit to Meta’s Data Center in Mesa so they can learn even more about the skilled trades.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the more than 11 million construction workers in the U.S., less than 11% are women.
“The girls that come through this program, as well as the boys, know there’s a variety of career paths available to them,” said Thomas.
Learning how to build physical things, isn’t the only takeaway from this camp. By Friday, students ABC15 spoke with have started a strong foundation for building friendships.
“We will probably be inspiring other girls to like get into the industry,” said Shafa, a student involved.
The Rosendin Foundation hosts these engaging camps in cities across the country.
For more information on The Rosendin Foundation and the free camps, click here.
