ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - A small fraction of workers in construction are women. Virginia Western Community College said it is trying to change that with its Magic Camp: Mentoring a Girl in Construction, which happens July 8.
The three-day camp is part of the school's summer S.T.E.M.-H programs.
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"We know construction is not for everyone," said instructor Veronica Spradlin. "But there are employable skills and there's no reason why we can't offer an environment where it's low pressure. Girls can learn from other girls."
The camp, running from July 8-10 will expose girls in grades 7-12 to all aspects of the construction industry - from plumbing, to carpentry and engineering, to architecture. The idea is to help them learn what the industry is all about.
"We're going to cover everything from what you would consider white-collar jobs which would be engineering, architecture, planning, management and owning your own construction company to more of the blue-collar trades. We're going to go over electrical and plumbing, how that fits in, carpentry. We teach them how to handle tools safely, we teach them about OSHA regulations and working with safety glasses, hardhats, all the tools that they need to stay safe."
The girls will build a shed for a Habitat for Humanity family in Roanoke during camp, as well. There are a limited number of spaces. You can find registration information here.