Forget the typical summer camp lineup. In Philadelphia, dozens of girls will spend part of their summer welding, wiring, building and touring major construction sites — all while discovering career paths they may never have imagined.
For the 17th year, Mentoring Young Women in Construction (MyWIC) is bringing its free summer day camps back to the city this June and July, offering young women entering grades 7 through 12 a hands-on introduction to careers in construction, facilities management and the skilled trades.
The program, organized by the nonprofit NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation, aims to help reshape an industry where women remain significantly underrepresented. Through workshops, job-site tours and mentorship from professionals in the field, participants get a chance to see themselves not just visiting construction sites — but leading them someday.
“Through MyWIC, we are cultivating the next wave of female leaders in the skilled trades,” said Mary Gaffney, president of the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation. “Women remain significantly underrepresented in construction, yet the need for skilled professionals continues to grow. This program helps young women build confidence, learn directly from industry professionals and see that these careers are absolutely within reach.”
Each two-week camp session will host 42 students with Session 1 taking place in Northeast Philadelphia from June 15 to 26, and Session 2 taking place in South Philadelphia from July 6 to 17. Participants will work side-by-side with industry professionals and gain hands-on experience from local trade unions, carpenters, sheet metal workers, ironworkers, bricklayers, finishing trades, laborers and electricians.
Active job sites, including the Durapods plant, Penn Medicine Montgomeryville, the Bellwether District, CHOP’s Health Center, 30th Street Station renovations, I-95 CAP project, and Gilbane’s Amtrak Station Renovation project are some of the places these students will visit during camp.
Skill-building workshops and mentorship sessions with industry professionals also give students a clearer understanding of the career opportunities available in construction and the skilled trades.
“Before MyWIC, I didn’t even think about construction as a job for someone like me,” said Leah S., a returning high school participant. “Now I can see myself doing this as a career, and I’m not scared to try things I’ve never done before.”
That confidence-building is a major part of the program’s mission. Organizers say MyWIC is designed not only to teach practical skills, but also to help young women see themselves as builders, problem-solvers and leaders in industries that offer strong career growth and long-term opportunities.
