For the third year running, the National Association of Women in Construction’s San Diego Chapter 21, in partnership with the Stanley E. Foster’s Construction Tech Academy at Kearny High School, hosted MAGIC Camp; a unique summer camp for female high school students interested in non-traditional construction careers from June 28-July 2. This year girls from North County Trade Tech in Vista were invited to join the students of CTA in this week-long event.
What is Magic Camp? Mentoring a Girl in Construction Camp is a unique hands-on training camp that teaches the basic skills of carpentry, electrical, plumbing, sheet metal, masonry, surveying and landscaping. The girls also receive basic safety skills as well as instruction using hand and power tools. They even learn how to operate heavy equipment used on construction job sites! Skills training combined with fun projects the girls make with their own hands keep their interest and focus throughout each day.
One of the events during the camp was an introduction to the plumbing trade, sponsored by the Associated Builders and Contractors San Diego Apprenticeship Trust. Girls had an opportunity to work with an assortment of materials and build several plumbing -related projects. For instance, using PVC, copper and steel pipes, the girls cut and glued PVC, solder copper fittings and assembled a section of steel piping to create a picture frame that they got to take home to show off their skills. They also learned how to replace the float valve and flapper in a toilet, cut and assemble a cast iron drain pipe, install a faucet, use a camera to scope a pipe for obstruction and how to use an electric snake.
Other local apprenticeship training programs were on hand throughout the week as well, demonstrating trades and answering questions about the lucrative opportunities available to females interested in skilled trades training. The girls were provided with a break-down of hourly and annual wages in the various trades – and they really took notice after realizing that upon completing an apprenticeship program, they have an opportunity to earn $35-$45 dollars an hour with full benefits.
21 new student “apprentices” participated this year along with 7 returning campers. These returning “journeymen” concentrated on building a solar greenhouse for the CTA campus. Ana Sical, an Engineering & Construction Management student at SDSU and graduate of CTA says of last year’s project, “Building a baseball shed in a week with these girls made me realize that deadlines and teamwork are always present. Thanks to MAGIC Camp, I have received a head start and hands-on experience that has me looking forward to and passionate about a future career in the industry.”
On the final day of MAGIC Camp a graduation ceremony and luncheon for the girls recognized their completion of this important trade skills course. Hawthorne CAT provided the BBQ lunch for family and friends, workers and volunteers. The take home projects were on hand for all to see and it was wonderful to see the pride of the apprentices as they showed off their handiwork.
Graduation followed with certificates of achievement presented by Supervisor Ron Roberts, who not only attended and spoke at our opening ceremonies on Monday, also a special effort to return on Friday to speak again at the closing ceremonies; Brian Jones from Brian Bilbray’s office, and Sherri Lightner, San Diego City Councilmember. Other awards were also supplied by State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth’s office, and U. S. Senator Duncan Hunter’s office.
Graduation certificates, tools, tool bags or aprons were given as graduating gifts along with red roses. The Camp Champs, apprentice Samantha Rivera and Journeywoman Kristina Hicks-Miller won pink tool chests.
The San Diego ABC Training Trust would like to thank Wes Ahrens with Ahrens Plumbing and Nathan Berkowitz with Viega for helping with the demonstrations, and El Cajon Plumbing Supply and Viega for materials they donated for this event.
Despite the current economy, we still ultimately face a shortage of skilled construction trades workers throughout the country and especially qualified tradeswomen. ABC Training Trust Executive Director Sherry Yarbrough states, “Associated Builders and Contractors is proud to be a part of NAWIC’s MAGIC Camp. Young women work with the tools of the trades while learning about the career opportunities available in construction. We want to let all young women know that there is definitely a successful career path for women through our apprenticeship programs.”
Friday, June 11th ABC San Diego celebrated the achievements of 107 graduates from our program - the most recent group of apprentices and trainees to successfully complete their trainingat ABC. Friends and family were invited to the Marriott Hotel in Mission Valley to honor them and to mark the occasion.
What began as a dream for a handful of contractors has grown into one of the finest merit-shop construction trades training programs in the country. Until the late 1970’s, mechanical and electrical contractors in San Diego who wanted to train their employees in a skilled trades apprenticeship program, were forced to join the union in order to do so. Then in 1976, thanks to a small but dedicated group of merit shop contractors, ABC San Diego was founded. After several years of extensive research, planning and development, the chapter’s first apprenticeship program standards were submitted to the state’s Department of Industrial Relations/Division of Apprenticeship Standards for approval - and ABC begin training apprentice electricians. Nearly a dozen years later, the plumbing and pipefitting programs were approved by the state, followed in several years by the chapter’s sheet metal program. In 2005, the first graduating class of Electronic Systems Technicians turned out. Graduates of the ABC training programs receive an ABC journeyman certificate; most of them will also be receiving a Certificate of Achievement from San Diego City College. In addition, a number of these individuals have completed additional required courses through City College to earn an Associate of Science Degree in their trade. All the fine young men and woman who have passed through ABC's doors, and have dedicated four years of their lives to learning a valuable career skill - one that will last them a lifetime - deserve to be congratulated for their hard work and perseverance. ABC would like to recognize a few extra-special 2010 graduates. These are students who have worked extra-hard over their three or four years with ABC, and whose efforts have helped to set standards for all students to model from.
Perhaps the most difficult part of any apprenticeship program is getting to school after a hard day’s work, especially if you have a 7:00 p.m. class. In the 2010 graduating class, there were several apprentices who managed to get through four years of class work with perfect attendance and ABC would like to commend them for their perseverance and hard work.
Cesar Torres, Davis Mechanical
John Horgan
Michael Trejo, Bergelectric
Jake GutzmerEach year ABC recognizes apprentices who have excelled over the course of the three or four-year program. Apprentices are evaluated on the basis of grades, school attendance and on-the-job performance and are selected by the training committees. These are individuals who have maintained nearly straight-A grades and almost perfect attendance, and have distinguished themselves in their trade. The 2010 graduates who received top honors this year are:
James Bartlett-May, Bergelectric
John Krage, Rowan Electric
Jason Carneiro, Bergelectric
Some years, but not always, ABC has an apprentice graduate that is designated as “outstanding”. This individual is always someone who exhibits the best qualities – academic and work achievement, attitude and dedication. It’s quite an achievement and it is not an award that is taken lightly. This year, Dylan Conforth with R.L. Electric, is a person A
BC feels exemplifies the designation. In addition to his excellent school and great on-the-job performance, straight A average and 0 absences, Dylan represented ABC San Diego in the National Craft Championship electrical competition. The classroom training is a vital part of the success of all our apprentices and trainees. Each semester the students are asked to evaluate the quality of instruction and provide feedback to the staff on the training they are receiving in the classroom. This year, Daric Kleppe was selected from among the many outstanding candidates to be honored as the 2010 Teacher of the Year.
ABC San Diego Crowns New Craft Champions!
A large crowd of contractors, tool suppliers and family members of competitors watched on December 5th as three construction craft champions were selected to represent San Diego Associated Builders and Contractors at the ABC National Convention & Craft Championship on February 3-7, 2010. The national competition brings together the top apprentices and trainees in the country who vie for honors and to be deemed “the best of the best.” San Diego has an excellent record at the nationals have won nine medals in the last five competitions.
Competitors are challenged to complete a trade-related hands-on project in a specified period of time. They are scored on categories such as safety, sequence of construction, and the quality of their craftsmanship, among other things. Those proficiency scores are then combined with their written test score to determine the top competitors.
The local ABC winners were selected from a group of 20 apprentices and Craft Trainees representing 3 different trades: Electrical, Plumbing, and Sheet Metal. All competitors received a tool bag and assortment of tools. In addition, top winners received cash awards.
The winners are as follows:
Electrical:
Plumbing:
Sheet Metal:
The local hands-on competition took place at the ABC Training Facility in Poway, CA from 8am to noon. A BBQ Lunch was provided by Bergelectric, and raffle prizes including a 32” flat screen LCD TV, a Nintendo Wii Game system, and a Gateway laptop computer were awarded throughout the morning.
This event takes place annually on the first Saturday in December. For more information on Associated Builders and Contractors, San Diego Apprenticeship Training Trust, please contact Sherry Yarbrough at 858-513-4700.
Prestigious Award recognizes Innovation in Education and Workforce Development
Creating a contiguous transition from high school into post-secondary education/training in the skilled trades is both an ongoing goal and a challenge for construction trade apprenticeship programs throughout the country.
Associated Builders and Contractors of San Diego and Vista-based North County Trade Tech High School are attempting to meet that challenge head on, by partnering in the development of a charter high school, now in its second year, that is bringing career technical education into the 21st century and back into the high school classroom.
With news of high school drop-out rates and unemployment escalating almost hand-in-hand, and limited job opportunities for those who are entering the construction workforce, having a well-rounded education – including technical and practical experience – provides distinct advantages for both employee and employer.
So in 2005, when Sherry Yarbrough, Executive Director of San Diego’s ABC Apprenticeship Training Trust was approached by Doreen Quinn, Chairman of the Board for North County Trade Tech High School to partner in the development of an integrated, charter high school for students seeking careers in architecture, engineering and construction trades, the answer was a resounding “yes!”
Currently in its second year with nearly a hundred 9th and 10th graders, the school is focused on graduating students who will have a high level of proficiency and be able to enter into high skill, high wage professions in the building and construction industry. It is expected that many Trade Tech graduates will chose to continue their education in traditional college and university programs and/or complete trades-based apprenticeship programs. Most will likely seek interim positions with companies in their chosen fields of study while continuing in post secondary education.
Trade Tech students will be successful in academic performance, and significantly advanced over traditional entry level workers through hands-on and project-based learning applications of the career technical instruction. Due to the success of this charter school project, Trade Tech has received a replication grant to assist with the replication of the school and its Apprenticeship Partnership Program across the country.
The efforts of those involved in the Trade Tech concept caught the attention of a major national construction group earlier this year. And on November 17 in Orlando, FL, at the Construction Innovation Forum’s international NOVA Award Dinner, “developed in 1989 to recognize and advance significant innovation in all areas of the construction industry around the world,” ABC and Trade Tech were presented with special honors and a Construction Users Round Table award recognizing their contributions to “Innovation in Education and Workforce Development.” “It is an honor to receive this recognition on behalf of Trade Tech and the ABC Apprenticeship Training Trust,” notes Yarbrough. “Many individuals, including a number of ABC members, have given their time and support to insure the success of Trade Tech. This award is for all of our industry partners, without whom we wouldn’t be standing here today.”
For more information, visit www.TradeTechHigh.org or www.abcsd.org, or call 760.598.0782 for Trade Tech or 858.513.4700 for ABC.