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The buzz of electric saws and the pounding of hammers could be heard in the construction area at Isothermal Community College (ICC) last week as 29 girls ages fourth to seventh grade became familiar with construction tools.
The Women Roofers hosted the WeBuild Day Camp with its theme, Girls--Power--Tools.
The young girls, under the supervisor of volunteers from The Women Roofers and Rutherford Housing Partnership (RHP) spent a week together. The adult women gave the young girls hands on opportunities to explore some of the trades not typically thought for women.
The idea for WeBuild! came from a trip last year to Portland, Oregon where some of The Women Roofers were invited to witness a similar camp.
The Women Roofers came home with the desire to offer young girls in Rutherford County the same opportunities.
Plans for the first ever camp in Rutherford County were ongoing for months with the partnerships of ICC, RHP and Lowe's.
One day at camp, young Olivia Harris, listened intently as her instructor Jane Alexander Bell, a roofer, taught the steps of using a measuring tape to frame a house.
The girls also learned about roofing, painting, solving mechanical problems, electric circuits and big pipe plumbing.
Another roofer, Susie Kernodle, assisted Lily Conner in the task using a power drill.
Susie is so good with this age of girls," said Nell Bovender, executive director of RHP and a charter member of the Women Roofers.
On a special water day Thursday, the girls built a water sprinkler, stopped the leaks and learned about water operations from Maria Hunnicutt, general manager of Broad River Water Authority.
As the young girls were learning about electric circuits, they developed a game that provided not only instruction but fun.
According to the camp flyer, "WeBuild! is much more than hammering and sawing...The girls were introduced to skills they will carry with them the rest of their lives."
Even if the girls never pick up another power tool, they will have a better understanding of how things work and come together.
Camp ran from 8 a.m. to 12 noon Monday through Friday. A pizza party and a certificate presentation was held Friday and the girls took home their projects -- a wooden stool designed by Dr. Joe Godfrey, a member of the Rutherford County Woodworkers Club; their tiny homes and thread art in the design of the state of North Carolina.
