Free Girls’ Construction Camps Empower Philadelphia Youth to Explore Skilled Trades Careers

For the 17th year, Mentoring young Women in Construction, known as MyWIC, will offer free day camps that introduce young women to careers in construction, facilities management and the skilled trades.

By Plumbing & Mechanical Editorial Staff

Three participants of the MyWIC camp. — Image courtesy of MyWIC.

This summer, a powerful movement to reshape the future of the construction industry is returning to Philadelphia as local girls entering grades 7 through 12 gain hands-on experience, mentorship and exposure to career pathways in fields where women have historically been underrepresented.

For the 17th year, Mentoring young Women in Construction, known as MyWIC, will offer free day camps that introduce young women to careers in construction, facilities management and the skilled trades.

This summer, MyWIC will operate two regional camps to serve more students:

Camp Dates for 2026:

Session 1, Northeast Philadelphia: June 15-26, 2026
Session 2, South Philadelphia: July 6-17, 2026

Each two-week camp will host 42 students per session, providing direct exposure to real job sites, union training centers and active construction environments. The program gives participants real-world experience, mentorship and access to opportunities many young women rarely see before choosing a career path.

Organized by the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, MyWIC is designed to build a sustainable and diverse pipeline for the skilled trades and construction industries. The program introduces young women to career pathways, boosts self-confidence and encourages them to consider careers where they can build, lead and make a lasting impact.

Among many others, key Sponsors supporting the 2026 MyWIC program include the General Building Contractors Association, NEST Integrated Facilities Management, the HRP Impact Foundation and the Karen M. Stone Foundation. Their support helps keep the camp free for students while providing access to tools, safety training, job site visits, mentorship and hands-on learning experiences that connect students directly with industry professionals.

“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.”

Throughout the program, participants will work side by side with industry professionals, gaining hands-on experience in trade skills, jobsite work, masonry and finishing, while also learning critical workplace skills, safety practices and leadership development.

Participants will visit local trade unions, including carpenters, sheet metal workers, ironworkers, bricklayers, finishing trades, laborers and electricians, where they will learn directly from apprentices, instructors and working professionals. They will also tour 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.

The camp also will include skill-building workshops and mentorship sessions with industry professionals, giving 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.”