Middle school girls in Sioux Falls recently participated in a hands-on construction camp designed to spark interest in skilled trades and introduce them to potential career paths in the industry.
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The event, called “Pizza, Pop and Powertools,” was organized by the Associated General Contractors of South Dakota and the National Association of Women in Construction. The program welcomed eighth-grade students from schools across the Sioux Falls area for a morning of interactive activities focused on the construction field.
Participants rotated through five activity stations, where they learned and practiced different skills commonly used in the construction industry.
These stations included:
The hands-on format allowed students to gain a practical understanding of the work involved in construction while exploring different specialties within the industry.
“It’s just a couple hours in the morning and the kids get to cycle through stations and try out different things, get a little taste of different parts of the construction industry. And then we wrap up with, of course, some pizza and pop,” said Regan Duvall, a safety trainer at AGC.
One of the key goals of the camp was to encourage more young women to consider careers in construction, an industry where women remain underrepresented.
Many of the instructors and volunteers leading the activities were female construction professionals, offering students the opportunity to see women actively working in the trades and engineering fields.
Organizers said having women demonstrate tools and techniques helps break down stereotypes about construction jobs and highlights the growing role women play across the industry.
Programs like this are becoming increasingly important as the construction sector faces ongoing workforce shortages across the United States. Industry groups say introducing students to skilled trades at an early age can help expand the future talent pipeline.
Hands-on camps and career exploration programs allow students to discover trade careers they might not otherwise consider, particularly those who enjoy working with tools, building projects, or solving technical problems.
Events like “Pizza, Pop and Powertools” also help students understand that construction careers can include a wide range of opportunities, from field work and equipment operation to project management, safety training, and engineering.
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Educators and industry leaders say middle school programs are particularly effective because students are beginning to explore future career interests during these years.
By providing a supportive environment where students can experiment with tools and construction materials, the event helps build confidence while also highlighting the variety of career options available in the trades.
Organizers hope the experience leaves students with a better understanding of the construction industry and inspires some of them to pursue training or education in trade careers later in high school and beyond.
Originally reported by Dakota News Now staff in Dakota News Now.
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