April 2, 2026

From camps to construction careers: buildHER broadens its reach across the region

Photo from buildHER [enlarge]

Teens learn the basic elements of various trades at last year’s Camp buildHER.

A local organization focused on attracting more women to the construction industry and best known for its South Sound summer camp is offering more events highlighting exposure to the AEC workforce, expanding to younger participants and widening its net across the region.

As buildHER gears up for its fourth year of camp in Kent this August, the organization is working to offer area girls (and non-binary youth) more hands-on opportunities in the trades as well as reach people who live further north, said director Mercedes Gamor, buildHER's founder and president.

“It was always our plan to expand buildHER — we want to have more than one touch point a year, and really showcase the breadth and depth of the industry,” Gamor said. “Adding in Exploration Days and job tours allow us to have that opportunity.”

The organization hosted its first career exploration day in December. More than 48 kids attended the electrical apprenticeship training center event.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN APRIL AND JUNE

Two free April events are planned for teens, and applications are still open for both.

BuildHER is hosting another career exploration day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 10 at Ironworkers Local 86 JATC at 4550 S. 134th Place in Tukwila.

Photo from Amtrak [enlarge]

Spots are still open for the group’s April 16 tour of Amtrak’s new $300 million maintenance facility at King Street yard that topped out earlier this month.

Kids will get a chance to suit up in a harness, participate in hands-on ironworking demonstrations and a facility tour, and learn “more about how ironworkers bring structure to the bridges and buildings around us,” according to buildHER. That event is open to high schoolers only, with registrations open through Friday. Lunch will be provided.

Next up, touring Amtrak's new $300 million maintenance facility at King Street yard that topped out earlier this month. The tour is slated for 9 to 10:30 a.m. on April 16, led by Amtrak and the project's builder, PCL Construction, who will also provide boots for the kids who attend. Registrations for the Amtrak tour are open through Monday for seventh to 12th graders.

A Gear Up Builder Camp is scheduled for June 22 to 24, along with Gear Up Achievers of South King County and the Clean Energy Institute. The camp aims to help students explore the intersection of AEC and clean energy technologies.

BuildHER is also collaborating with First Tee and The Pro Shop for a June 19 event aimed at connecting students with AEC professionals, providing networking and mentorship experience while introducing them to the game of golf.

The event includes a golf clinic, an AEC industry panel, and a nine-hole golf game with women in the AEC industry serving as caddies to the students.

BACK TO CAMP, ACROSS THE REGION

The group is also gearing up for its fourth-annual camp this summer, and that's growing as well.

The annual South Sound camp has added a fourth day, set to run this summer from Aug. 4 to 7 in Kent. The first day of camp is for returning campers and high school juniors and seniors only. The rest of camp is open to girls and non-binary rising seventh to 12th graders, also expanding the camp to younger campers.

Campers get a hands-on experience of construction careers through projects, panels and mentorship with women working in the industry. Past projects have included designing and building a park bench, touring jobsites and going on a blueprint-guided scavenger hunt.

BuildHER is also adding a camp to reach more students in the North Puget Sound region.

“We don't want location to be a barrier to access, so buildHER North was a natural expansion for us into an area that has been asking,” Gamor said. “We have had many students come down to Kent from up north and we know how difficult that can be.”

BuildHER North will be an all-day camp on July 16 at Chad Fisher Construction at 5900 Preston Place in Burlington.

WHAT AEC CAN DO TO HELP

So what can people in the industry do to support the cause, beyond spreading the word to kids who might be interested?

Gamor said the group is always looking for sponsorships from area companies, as well as industry volunteers, material donations, and of course more jobsite tours and career exploration opportunities.

Learn more about buildHER's upcoming events and ways to get involved: https://campbuildher.com/