Construction camp introduces Lehigh Valley girls to building trades

Let’s Build Construction Camp for Girls celebrated its tenth anniversary this summer with a week of construction-themed experiences at Lackawanna College‘s Bethlehem Center. 

The camp is a program designed for middle and high school-aged girls to explore the construction trades, architecture, engineering, and construction manufacturing through hands on experiences and field trips.   

It was founded with a goal to ignite the spark within girls to explore the built environment through architecture, engineering, construction, and building materials manufacturing (AECM) related careers. 

Atas International, RL Reppert, Metal Building Contractors & Erectors Association and Whiting Turner have been legacy supporters of the annual camp providing financial and material donations, supports and tours of their facilities 

Jon Lattin, co-founder and camp director of Let’s Build, said the camp was started because women remain highly underrepresented in the construction industry, making up roughly 11.2% of the total workforce.  

He said that while the number of women has grown, they still only represent between 4% to 5% of on-the-job trades and field workers – and the majority of those jobs are largely concentrated in office, business, and administrative roles. 

However, Lattin said, the female construction workforce has increased by over 45% in the past decade as the industry addresses labor shortages. 

“Let’s Build is an introduction to the industry.  It was designed to show them a snapshot of the variety of careers available to them in the construction industry,” said Lattin.  “By empowering them in a judgement free atmosphere, they are comfortable to explore and learn.” 

He said girls at the camp have found it a rewarding experience, offering one of the comments a camper left as feedback. 

 “The fact that it was a girls camp I felt so comfortable and supportive the mentors were very nice and helpful also that I learned cool stuff,” the camper wrote. 

Lattin said it’s interesting to find out how the girls were attracted to the camp. 

He said he asked one of the campers, and she said she had taken some shop classes at school and was interested in looking at architecture.   

“She found us through a Google search and as camp ended, she determined that she really doesn’t want to do architecture now, said Lattin.  “She realizes how much she likes working with her hands and now is looking at more trades opportunities with her mom. “ 

The week-long camp revolved around the building of an “L” shaped wall assembly.   

“This allows us to intro them to carpentry as we framed out the walls and installed windows, electrical as we wired up outlets and a light, plumbing and HVAC as we installed a sink and demonstrated a mini split unit,” Lattin said.  “We split the week with a field trip to ATAS to learn about product manufacturing and toured their production facility, Spillman Farmer and Boyle discussed their involvement in an ATAS expansion.” 

He said Conspectus ran a LEGO activity to demonstrate the importance of including the entire team in the design of buildings.   

The campers then went shopping at Habitat for Humanity’s Restore with each group given a budget to purchase items to finish the theme of their walls.  

 Other trades covered include installation and finishing of drywall, installation of a shingled roof, installation of a brick facade and vinyl siding to finish the exterior, painting and flooring, Lattin said.   

The girls also assembled a sheet metal toolbox and bird feeder to take home. 

In one event, they participated in the design of extravagant chicken coops.   

“The beauty of the week is that everything is very structured and identical as the guts of the wall are created, but the creativity and individuality of the groups shine as their creations come to life on the last day,” Lattin said.   

Let’s Build Construction Camp for Girls started in the fall of 2016.  To get involved the girls fill Out an application online and selections are made by a planning committee.   

The camp is 100% free to campers, fully funded by donations and sponsorships.  

Lattin said he is very proud of the work the camp does. 

“It is super impactful with many of the girls wishing it was longer than a week,” he said. “The smiles and giddiness when they flip the switch and see their lights come on is always exciting.  The friendships that emerge and the sense of accomplishment as they show their loved ones their creations are what power the mentors and volunteers to come back each year.”