Middle schoolers try out skilled trades at TRF Camp Build

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North Carolina Construction News

The Rosendin Foundation teamed up with local Charlotte construction professionals and volunteers to introduce 10 middle school students to the excitement of hands-on building projects.

TRF Camp Build, a free week-long construction camp hosted in cities nationwide, aims to educate children about career options that are often overlooked in traditional school curriculums.

Held from July 15-19 at the Carolinas Electrical Training Institute (CETI), the co-ed camp provided 7th to 9th-grade students from nine schools around the Charlotte area with expert instruction in various specialized construction skills. The campers learned to use power tools safely, wire and build lamps and switch labs, saw, sand, and solder copper stands. They also explored virtual construction through VR and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology commonly used in the industry.

“We are thankful to all our volunteers and partners who took the time to help teach our campers new skills and the joy that comes with building something with your hands,” said Jolsna Thomas, President of The Rosendin Foundation. “We designed TRF Camp Build to build and empower the next generation of builders, and it was inspiring to see students who had never picked up a power tool before walk away with new confidence.”

CETI training director Denise Schnell praised the camp’s diverse skill set training, noting its similarity to real-life apprenticeship programs. “We wanted to give these students an experience as close to on-the-job training as possible while also introducing them to career opportunities,” Schnell said.Students from Charlotte, Indian Trail, Fort Mill, Mooresville, and Denver, many of whom had never used power tools before, learned to drill, mix concrete, strip wire, bend conduit, operate heavy equipment, and solder. To ensure they could continue practicing their new skills at home, each camper received a free bag of tools, courtesy of Milwaukee Tool and DeWalt/Stanley Black & Decker.

“My mom told me to come to this and I was hesitant. But I actually am having a lot of fun and enjoy learning how to operate power tools to build,” said Xia Hoover, an 8th grader.

Viviana Villavicencio, a camper parent, echoed the sentiment, saying, “TRF Camp Build teaches my son life lessons and how to use tools. My son has enjoyed every day. Each day he shares what he learned and is excited to come back.”

The Rosendin Foundation sponsored this event and four others nationwide, thanks to sponsors and in-kind donations. Patron-level sponsors Rosendin and MPS, Diamond-level sponsor United Rentals, and in-kind donors such as Milwaukee Tools, Stanley Black and Decker, Border States, and Graybar significantly contributed to the program’s success.

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