Construct My Future camp introduces students to careers in skilled trades

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Media Contact: Page Mindedahl | Communications Coordinator | 405-945-6733 | page.mindedahl@okstate.edu

Middle school students spent the week exploring career opportunities in the construction industry through the Construct My Future summer camp at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City.

Hosted at the Engineering Technology Center, the camp provides hands-on experiences for students who have completed fifth through eighth grades. Throughout the week, campers rotated through activities designed to introduce them to a variety of skilled trades and construction-related professions.

Each day featured four interactive courses that allowed students to learn directly from industry professionals while gaining exposure to careers that help build and maintain communities.

For Whitney Hill, owner of Central Staffing Solutions and a Construct My Future board member, the camp's mission is to help students make informed decisions about their futures before they enter high school.

"Whenever they're going into the ninth grade, they have to pick a career pathway," Hill said. "Exposing them to as many industries as possible in middle school helps them pick the right pathway. Eighth grade especially — whenever they're exposed to it in eighth grade, that's usually what they pick as their career."

Construct My Future aims to educate students and their families about the wide range of career opportunities available in the construction industry. Camp organizers say the program helps students explore potential career paths at an early age while highlighting workforce needs across Oklahoma and the nation.

Campers participated in activities related to plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, HVAC, concrete and masonry, welding, flooring, painting, roofing, pipefitting, surveying, heavy equipment operation and solar power technology.

The camp's hands-on approach allows students to experience the work involved in each trade while learning about the skills, training and certifications required for success in the industry.

"They're middle schoolers, and so hands-on experience is all they want," Hill said. "Whenever they're sitting in a classroom, you're going to lose them. Whenever they're doing hands-on experiences, that's when they're really engaged."

Among the campers was Tegan Cates, who is entering sixth grade and attended the camp to learn more about an industry familiar to her family.

"I wanted to come because my mom actually used to be in construction, so I wanted to see what it was like," Cates said.

Cates said electrical work was her favorite activity during the week, and one of the highlights of the camp was visiting local industry sites during a day of field trips.

The camp's impact extends beyond middle school participants. Former camper and current tradesman Isaiah Gramajo returned this year as a volunteer after discovering his interest in the trades through the program.

"This camp really showed how amazing the trades can be and how fun they can be," Gramajo said. "It gives you an opportunity to test everything out."

Gramajo said encouraging younger students to explore the trades is important because many industries need the next generation of skilled workers.

"It's really helpful to give kids the chance to have fun with the trades, too," Gramajo said. "It's not all just labor, it can be fun."

According to camp organizers, the construction industry continues to face workforce shortages as demand for skilled workers grows. Programs such as Construct My Future help students understand the variety of career options available outside traditional four-year degree pathways.

Hill said the organization has expanded significantly in recent years and plans to serve even more students in the future.

"Construct My Future has grown over 400% since I've been on the board," Hill said. "We will expand next year for this camp to about 75 more campers, and then we are going to have another one in Tulsa next summer."

Hill said the organization's high school internship program has also grown rapidly, increasing from 30 students when it launched two years ago to 100 students this year.

Many careers in skilled trades offer opportunities for paid training through apprenticeships and workforce development programs, allowing individuals to enter the workforce while continuing their education and professional development.

By introducing students to careers at a young age, Construct My Future seeks to build awareness of the essential role skilled trades professionals play in communities and encourage the next generation of Oklahoma's workforce.