Jean Gordon
Wednesday, June 5, 2024 8:33 am
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A popular camp focusing on teaching young girls the skills of building is returning this summer.
WeBuild Day Camp, hosted by the Women Roofers and Rutherford Housing Partnership (RHP), is a five day camp July 22-26 to be held at Isothermal Community College.
The camp is offered to rising fourth to seventh grade girls and this year is the first time since 2019 the camp has been held. There is a capacity for 30 participants and a few spots are remaining. Cost of the camp is $120 and scholarships are available.
Ali Bovender High, a Rutherford County Schools elementary teacher and a former team leader at WeBuild, is this year's camp director.
"There is value in girls learning about these trades and understanding that they, as much as anyone else, can have a future in them," Ali said. "Through this, they gain confidence and team-building skills that they can carry with them throughout life...plus it's a lot of fun!"
The girls will learn skills in carpentry, masonry, plumbing, roofing and electrical by making wooden stools, lamps from Mason jars, and string art. The campers are also building doghouses to donate to Heart of the Foothills Animal rescue.
Support for the camp is coming from the Stonecutter Foundation, the Melanie Price Memorial Fund, the Women Roofers, Rutherfordton Kiwanis Club and other individuals and businesses.
WeBuild is a collaboration between ICC, RHP and Women Roofers.
The Women Roofers discovered a book, Girls Who Build, written by Katie Hughes, founder of Girls Build they plan to give each camper. The Rutherford County women roofers met Hughes when they in Portland, Oregon, a few years ago. WeBuild is modeled after Girls Build.
Women Roofers, RHP and others can buy the book at $8 each from Girls Build. Donations are appreciated to help purchase a book for each girl at camp. Write checks or donate at https://www.rutherfordhousingpartnership.org and make sure to indicate it's for WeBuild. To mail checks, send to PO Box 1525, Rutherfordton, NC 28139.