Midland, Michigan, August 2017 – For the fourth year in a row the Greater Michigan Construction Academy (GMCA) along with the Midland County Educational Service Agency (ESA) conducted a construction trades camp for area middle and high school students.
Two groups of students came to the GMCA Midland training facility where they were given basic instruction and information on a variety of construction careers. The week of July 17, twenty-two students, and the week of July 24, twenty-eight regional students attended the three-day camp (Monday – Wednesday, 8:00am – 4:45 pm). Students heard presentations and participated in hands-on activities with local businesses in the trades of welding, scaffolding, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, carpentry, safety and heavy equipment. The last part of the camp consisted of a field trip arranged through the Home Builders Association of Midland County, touring residential building sites in different construction phases as well as some completed homes.
Staff from Northwood University gave a presentation on construction entrepreneurship allowing the students to see where a career in construction trades has the potential to take them.
“My son told me JE Johnson hires people for their attitude. He is going to work on developing a CAN DO attitude. This camp was one of the best things I could have spent my money on!” said one mother following a parent tour at the end of the camp session.
“Greater Michigan Construction Academy is committed to its partnership with the Midland County ESA and local school districts to create career exploration & training opportunities for youth. There are incredible career opportunities in construction – both residential and commercial. By opening up our facility to the camps and engaging employers from the region, we hope to ignite an interest in future construction training and careers in the industry.” – Bridget Sadenwater,
Director of Education at GMCA
Area businesses who donated their time to work with the students were: Niles Plant Services, JE Johnson, Valley Electrical Contractors, Midland County Habitat for Humanity, The Tancor Corporation, Bierlein Environmental Services, Great Lakes Safety Training Center, Three Rivers Corporation, Midland Home Builders Association and Northwood University.
GMCA currently trains in twelve different construction trades specialties. The Academy is a nationally registered program with NCCER and the Federal Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT). GMCA is also the first vocational school of its kind to go through the process and receive ACCET accreditation.
For more information and class descriptions, fees, and registration contact GMCA at (989) 832-8879. Email Stephanie Davis at sdavis@gmca.edu or you can visit our web site at www.gmca.edu
For more information on how to participate in the Starting at Square One construction trades camp next summer contact Kristen Sanborn at the Midland County ESA at (989) 631-5892 or email ksanborn@midlandesa.org.