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Happy Women in Construction Week! This annual event takes place during the first full week in March to highlight the great initiatives and history of women in construction.
CSI takes pride in supporting the work women do in the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner (AECO) community.
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The Let’s Build Camp for Girls is a key foundation for introducing teenage girls and young women to an opportunity to explore the world of building that the CSI Foundation supports for welcoming them into the field now and in the future.
“Most of the time AECO jobs are not spotlighted, especially for girls,” said Kristen Fallon with Let’s Build-Lehigh Valley. “We work to put that spotlight on those opportunities. We support them to come to camp, teach to a specific skillset, and show that there is a place for girls in all aspects of this industry.”
The free, week-long camp provides teenage girls and young women an opportunity to explore the world of building. Through hands-on experience and projects, the campers walk through the exploration of the architect, engineering and construction fields.
This unique construction camp puts the power into the hands of the campers by giving them the chance to build physical structures in a team environment while also exploring complementary career opportunities through field trips, games, and interactive discussions. The unique nature of the Camp organically teaches essential life lessons in leadership, communication, and confidence in problem-solving.
“We have more applicants than we can host,” said Jon Lattin, in an interview with CSI. “Not just from girls who think this is a fun way to fill the time over the summer, but from girls who are really interested in this as a career.”
Which is why the CSI Foundation is offering grants for CSI Chapters across the country to apply for funding to start a Let’s Build Construction Camp for Girls, Inc., in their area.
The program includes:
- Hands-on training through building a wall assembly
- Introduction to roles in the construction industry through guest speakers and field trips to area businesses
- Onsite demonstrations including a heavy equipment simulator and LEED primer
- Self-esteem development through skills training and challenging projects
- Inspiration and mentoring for girls to understand they have a place in the construction industry, and can become successful leaders in the future
How do you apply for funding? To get started click here. You will be able to fill out an application form and request funding for the program in your area and other resources.
Once teenage girls and young women have this opportunity, there’s no telling how many careers it will grow. In Lehigh Valley, several camp alumni continue to return every year.
Past camp attendee Paige Knowles has built an impressive social media presence around her career as a young woman working in construction. She told CSI, “Let’s Build Construction Camp has helped me realize what skills I have and encouraged me to work hard no matter my gender and goals. I’ve also gained a lot of confidence around people because of this camp, and that has helped my life in ways other than just my career.”
Learn more about how your chapter can welcome teenage girls and young women to a successful start in the AECO industry, and launch a Let’s Build Camp in your area.