Charlotte-area students explore construction trades at Camp Build

North Carolina Construction News staff writer Middle school students from the Charlotte area spent a week learning construction skills during the fourth annual TRF Camp Build, a program designed to [...] The post Charlotte-area students explore construction trades at Camp Build appeared first on North Carolina Construction News .

North Carolina Construction News staff writer Middle school students from the Charlotte area spent a week learning construction skills during the fourth annual TRF Camp Build, a program designed to introduce young people to careers in the skilled trades. The June 22-26 camp, hosted by The Rosendin Foundation at Rosendin’s Huntersville facility, gave students in grades 6 through 8 hands-on experience using professional-grade tools and equipment. Participants built projects, learned basic electrical work, bent conduit, ran electrical wire and explored Building Information Modeling, or BIM, technology.

The camp is part of The Rosendin Foundation’s workforce development efforts aimed at exposing students to careers in construction at an early age. “Watching a student successfully operate a new tool for the very first time tells you everything you need to know about what this program stands for,” Rhea Keator, operations and communications manager for The Rosendin Foundation, said in a statement. “North Carolina’s young people left this week armed with hands-on experience, industry-grade tools they can take with them to keep building their expertise, and a genuine understanding of what a career in the trades could hold for them.”

Each participant received professional-grade tools to continue practicing the skills learned during the camp. The program comes as North Carolina’s construction industry continues to face strong demand for skilled workers. According to a 2026 report by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis cited by the foundation, the state’s construction workforce totals about 290,800 employees, with employment increasing 4.9% year over year.

“Exposing students to the trades and providing opportunities for them to get hands-on experience is an impactful way to inspire young minds to imagine themselves in construction careers,” said Rachael Guerrero, manager of The Swinerton Foundation. “Events like Camp Build are a great way to reach students who may otherwise have never considered a career in the construction trades.” Camp Build is held annually in five cities across the country and is organized by The Rosendin Foundation, a nonprofit that supports workforce development and community programs.

The Huntersville event was supported by Rosendin Electric Inc., Modular Power Solutions, Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt, The Swinerton Foundation and several industry sponsors, including Border States, Graybar, Sherwin-Williams and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.