Issue 2-09
CAWP again Hosts Construction Summer Camps
The Constructors Association was pleased to participate in the 2009 Summer Construction Camps for seventh and eighth graders again this year. These camps, held at the Central, Eastern, and Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Centers, consisted of hands-on construction-related projects, interaction with industry representatives, and a field trip.
In these week-long Construction Camps, the middle school students engaged in hands-on projects and instructional activities in the industry. The camps culminated in a field trip organized by CAWP.
Two of the camps had the opportunity to tour a Golden Triangle Construction Company project on Route 22, led by Project Manager Dave Sciullo. After first stopping at a concrete batch plant where the concrete for the project was being manufactured, Sciullo then took the students to the actual job-site on Route 22, where workers are pouring concrete as the next step of their efforts to expand the now three lane highway into five lanes.
The other camp had the opportunity to tour C.H.&D. Enterprises, led by owners Carol and Harry Brady. After explaining how a project goes from being bid to construction, they showed the students one of the jobs their company is working on for the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
After a tour of these sites, the students also had the opportunity to visit the Western Pennsylvania Operating Engineers Joint Apprenticeship site, near New Alexandria. Upon arriving at the site, the students learned about the skills needed to be a heavy equipment operator. The students were eager to go out and see different types of construction equipment firsthand. Led by instructors, they had the opportunity to operate various pieces of equipment. The instructors provided the students with positive feedback and helpful tips on how to improve their operation of the machinery. The students left the site with a renewed enthusiasm for the industry, and for many, a hope to be back in a few years to participate in the program themselves.
The Construction Camps were sponsored by CAWP, the Westmoreland-Fayette Building and Industry Partnership, the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, Triangle Tech, Western Pennsylvania Operating Engineers Joint Apprenticeship Training Program, Eastern, Central, and Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Centers, Golden Triangle Construction Company, and C.H.&D. Enterprises, Inc.
These construction camps represent CAWP’s ongoing efforts in workforce development.
