The Shelby County College and Career Center hosted their annual “Girls Can Camp” June 15-19 for eighth through tenth grade girls.

The camp offers non-traditional skills for girls  with an “I can do this too” attitude.

The girls spent a full day in each program learning skills in the following areas:  drafting/design, carpentry, electrical, & welding

The camp was taught by College and Career Center instructors, who were assisted by Alabama Power’s E.C. Gaston Steam Plant employees skilled in the special areas. Carpentry and electrical was taught by Van White from the College and Career Center and Doug Forsythe from Calera High School.  Steve Brooks and Lynn Miller from the College and Career Center taught drafting and design and welding.

Girls designed and constructed a wooden table, wired a lamp through hardback books, and attached to top of table. The activities promoted teamwork, communication, & leadership.

They finished the week by taking field trip to an industrial site on Friday to E.C. Gaston Steam Plant in Wilsonville.

As a result of the camp, three girls have expressed interest in becoming welding students at the College and Career Center, with one already putting in an application to attend the program for next year.

Sponsors of the camp this year were:

• Alabama Power
• Brasfield & Gorrie
• Go-Build Alabama
• Irondale Industrial Contractors
• McAbee Construction
• Magnus & Co
• Colburn Construction
• Local 78 Insulators
• United Rental
• Women United