WeBuild day camp for girls set this summer

The Women Roofers and Rutherford Housing Partnership (RHP) have once again joined forces with the Building Construction Technology Department of Isothermal Community College (ICC) to present WeBuild, the popular day camp that introduces young girls to the construction trades.

This year's WeBuild is July 14-18, each morning from 8am until noon, on the campus of ICC.

The camp provides girls who will be in fourth to seventh grades in the fall hands-on experience with carpentry, roofing, plumbing and bricklaying and demonstrations of electrical projects and welding. It is based on Girls Build, a similar program in Portland, OR, that the Women Roofers discovered.

RHP was happy to sponsor WeBuild, said Michael Lewis, RHP executive director.

"At RHP, we believe it's never too early to build confidence and hands-on skills. WeBuild gives young girls the chance to learn real-world construction skills, empowering them to see themselves as builders, problem-solvers and leaders."

Camp director Ali High of Rutherfordton agreed. "It is a beautiful way to bring girls together and empower them to believe in themselves," she said.

Empowering women to do something out of the ordinary has been central to The Women Roofers since the group formed 23 years ago to provide roofing labor for RHP, Habitat and groups like these that depend on volunteers. RHP provides urgently needed repairs to the homes of qualified low-income homeowners. Volunteers provide as much of the labor as possible.

Leading WeBuild lessons will be current and retired school teachers, members of The Women Roofers and local tradespeople.

Registration is limited to 30 girls. Early-bird cost is $80 through April 30 and $100 May 1-31, when registration ends. Scholarships are available.

For more information about the camp, email WeBuildDayCamp@gmail.com.