Philadelphia Empowers Future Female Leaders with Free Construction Camp for Girls, Summer 2023

June 29, 2023 : Local Philadelphia-area girls in grades 7 through 12 will have the opportunity to attend a unique construction camp this summer to provide real-world experience, mentorship, and education about the diverse opportunities available in the construction industry, regardless of their gender. Known as MyWIC (Mentoring Young Women In Construction), the camp is scheduled to run from Thursday, July 6, to Friday, August 11, in Philadelphia.

The NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation, in collaboration with prominent companies like NEST, a leading national facilities management company, and Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern Jersey, has joined forces to bring MyWIC to life. The camp aims to create a sustainable labor pool within the construction industry while exposing young women to career paths they may not have previously considered. The Philadelphia Youth Network Work Ready has generously provided funding to cover some of the camp’s expenses.

Mary Gaffney, President of the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation, emphasized the camp’s role in cultivating the next generation of female leaders in the construction and skilled trades industry. With only approximately 10% of the construction industry comprising women, MyWIC aims to boost the girls’ self-confidence, self-esteem, and overall self-image by the end of the program.

Rob Almond, CEO of South Jersey-based NEST, highlighted the vast range of career opportunities available in the construction industry, which are in high demand in Philadelphia and nationwide. He stressed that the MyWIC camp is a longstanding tradition that introduces girls to the remarkable career prospects within these industries, dispelling misconceptions that construction is limited to manual labor.
Throughout July and August, the construction camp will be held at various trade locations in the Philadelphia area. Each day, the girls will explore different specialties within the trades, including carpentry, sheet metal, safety training, electricians, finishing trades, steamfitters, plumbers, and retail construction.

Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern Jersey is the organization responsible for coordinating the camp attendees.
Mentoring Young Women In Construction (MyWIC) is a free day camp for girls in grades 7 through 12 in the Philadelphia region. The NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, organizes and runs MyWIC with support from various organizations across the Philadelphia region.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is a nationwide organization with over 115 chapters, offering its member’s education, support, and networking opportunities to advance women’s careers in construction, enhance their technical skills, and cultivate leadership abilities. NAWIC’s primary purpose is to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry, spanning from tradeswomen to business owners. The Philadelphia Chapter of NAWIC and the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation operate as volunteer organizations.

Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey has served girls and young women in the Greater Philadelphia region since 1961, originally known as Teen Aid. Collaborating with schools, community partners, the juvenile justice system, shelters, corporations, and approximately 300 volunteers, Girls Inc. provides programs each year to empower thousands of girls and young women in under-resourced communities. Their comprehensive approach recognizes that empowering girls to become successful and independent women necessitates equipping them with tools for making informed decisions about their bodies, receiving academic enrichment, exposure to mentors in various careers, strategies for addressing bullying and violence and engaging parents and caregivers in their success.