Girl Scouts are Builders Too!

HBA: Master Builders Association of Pierce County

Category: HBA Operations

Location: Tacoma, Wash.

Size: 601+ members

Year: 2025

Within the first 18 months of its charter at the Master Builders Association of Pierce County (MBAPC), the Professional Women in Building Council hosted a mentoring and hands-on training workshop where the Girl Scouts of Western Washington learned about the construction trades and walked away with practical skills, experience and a greater knowledge of opportunities in the industry. During the two-day event, participants were taught proper safety for using a variety of hand tools and they listened to construction blueprint and about the importance of collaboration to work safely and efficiently. The participants left with their own take-home toolkits and a functioning, permanent camp facility at their regional Girl Scout camp to come back to.

Understanding the workings and safety around trades provided participants a foundation for a lifetime of projects with tangible, physical results and provided the opportunity to learn about career paths as they move through junior and high school programs. This initiative is planned for further replication with the introduction of a PWB Girl Scouts patch and badge and will continue to empower and unite women in the residential construction industry.