HBAs Partner with Boys & Girls Clubs to Bring Trades to Life
Students with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cathedral City (Calif.) build cornhole boards to practice their new construction skills.
Summer Program Connects Indiana Teens to the Trades
The Home Builders Association of St. Joseph Valley (HBASJV) recently partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor (BGCNIC) for a four-week summer program to introduce teens to basic construction concepts and raise awareness of the rising demand for skilled trades workers.
Each week during “Trades Day Thursday,” HBASJV members guided about 20 teens through educational sessions and hands-on projects. Teens learned how to use a hammer, hang shingles and even mix their own concrete. An HVAC company explained how A/C units work, and the group even put their new skills to use by building birdhouses.
“By volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club, our association members have an opportunity to inspire teens to consider the wide variety of possibilities in the construction industry,” said HBASJV Executive Officer Bob Penrose. “If we have sparked an interest in just one of the teens who may consider a career in construction, it will have been well worth the efforts.”
HBASJV is already planning to build upon this in 2026 and hopes to expand its summer programming to create more elaborate projects like a doghouse or shed. The association also plans to begin volunteering during BGCNIC’s after-school programming this fall and to participate in its annual career fairs.
Jobsite Tour Brings New Jersey Construction Careers to Life
The Shore Builders Association of Central New Jersey (SBACNJ) recently organized a jobsite tour with Lennar and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County to give teens a firsthand look at residential construction.
Students visited Lennar’s Parc at Marlboro housing development, where they toured homes under construction and learned about the home building process directly from the site team.
“The professionals we have involved with the group are at the top of their fields and are very happy to share their extensive knowledge with budding minds,” said Gina McNamara, executive officer of the SBACNJ.
The visit offered students a unique opportunity to see the trades in action and learn about career paths directly from the industry members. It’s part of SBACNJ’s broader effort to expose young people in New Jersey to opportunities in construction and inspire the next generation of home builders.
California Students Explore Trades Through Birdhouses and Cornhole Boards
The Desert Valley Builders Association (DVBA) teamed up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cathedral City (Calif.) to introduce local youth to potential careers in residential construction. The three-day, hands-on project was led by members of the Professional Women in Building Council (PWB) and recently recognized by NAHB with a 2024 Association Excellence Award.
Over the first day and a half, 65 students in kindergarten through fourth grade built birdhouses from scratch. Under the guidance of PWB members, the students learned how to use tools and assemble parts, and heard about the industry and different career paths. On days two and three, 22 middle and high school students paired up to build and decorate cornhole boards, while a local builder taught them about careers in residential construction.
“A number of our youth do not have the opportunity to go to college or pursue careers requiring secondary education, so we’re trying to inform them that there are opportunities in construction, whether directly in the trades or related industries like banking and interior design,” said Gretchen Gutierrez, executive officer of the DVBA. “There’s a living to be made and other opportunities beyond college.”
Gutierrez said the association plans to replicate the program at a new Boys & Girls Club location this summer to broaden its impact.