SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A unique summer camp in Springfield is giving girls a hands-on introduction to the construction industry, aiming to inspire future careers in a traditionally male-dominated field. The 'Girls in Construction Camp,' a collaboration between Lincoln Land Community College and O'Shea Builders, offers participants the chance to learn practical skills and meet women who have established careers in construction.

Shelby, one of the campers, expressed her surprise at the interactive nature of the camp. "I was surprised when it was very interactive, and I didn't know we would be building and hands on," she said. Another camper, Kaylee, shared her excitement about the activities, saying, "One of my favorite parts was climbing up the ladder to screw in the trellis."

The camp includes building projects, such as constructing a trellis for the Enos Park Community Garden, and provides opportunities to learn about various construction jobs and visit building sites. Brittany Hunter, a seasoned professional in the construction field, shared her enthusiasm for mentoring the girls. "It was so much fun just to just kind of show them the hands on part, how to use a saw safely, facing fears and getting on scaffolding and ladders," she said.

The camp concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating the campers' achievements and the permanent addition of their work to the community garden.

Brittany Hunter emphasized the importance of empowering the girls, saying, "I tried to make it very clear they are totally capable and I hope I sparked some interest in these girls to maybe look into different trades and what not."


Blakely, inspired by the experience, said, "I love seeing all the women working in this workforce because it's something I want to pursue when I'm older ."

The Girls in Construction Camp is part of Lincoln Land's College for Kids summer program, which offers several career exploration camps.