A free, one-day event in mid-May sponsored by the Rosendin Foundation’s TRF Camp Build for middle school students in McKinney, Texas, offered hands-on learning with professionals from the construction and electrical industries, with the purpose of developing interest in the electrical trade.

Designed for students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades, the program focused on skill development and community involvement through activities such as personal safety training, conduit bending, building information modeling (BIM) and estimating, tool use and lamp wiring. A total of 15 students from Allen, Dallas, Farmersville, Frisco, McKinney, Sherman and Van Alstyne learned to use a variety of hand tools and power tools, bend conduit and build a lamp, and were introduced to electrical equipment.

This is the third year of TRF Camp Build, which also took place in Austin, Texas, and Commerce, Calif. in June of this year, and is scheduled for Sterling, Va., and Huntersville, N.C., in July. While the camp in McKinney focused specifically on electrical work, the other four camps offered an introduction to the broader construction industry. A number of manufacturers are supporting the program.

Sapna B., a 7th grader who participated in the Austin camp, described the experience in a video interview with Fox 7 Austin: “I learned about a lot of the tools—like drills and sawing, and we also learned how to weld, and soldering,” mentioning later that her favorite activity was the electrical project of building a lamp. On the importance of working safely, she said she “learned a lot about responsibility because, with your PPE, you need to have everything, and if you don’t, you don’t get to participate.”

"TRF Camp Build has been instrumental in sparking interest in the electrical trade among young students. By offering hands-on experiences and mentorship from industry professionals, we are not only building skills but also building futures," said Hope Piernick, operations manager of The Rosendin Foundation. "Our commitment to fostering a new generation of skilled workers is evident in the enthusiasm and curiosity we see in these young participants."

"Volunteers from the construction field are essential in mentoring the young participants, imparting their knowledge and enthusiasm for the trade," Piernick continued. " Their commitment and guidance offer invaluable insights and motivation to the campers, making the camp experience significantly more impactful."