Trades for Tomorrow

HMSE Day 4 ⚡

Heavy Metal Summer Experience was electrifying today! We spent the day with the Electricians (NECA IBEW Electrical JATC ), where the campers got to bring their 3D metal signs from yesterday to life by wiring them up and lighting them up. The crew also got plenty of hands-on experience learning how to bend conduit and pull wire just like the pros. 💡🛠️

A huge thank you to the team at IBEW Local 16 for hosting us and showing our campers the skill, math, and precision that goes into lighting up our world!

HMSE Day 3 🛠️
We had another big day of hands-on learning at our Metal Summer Experience! We spent our time with the SMART Local Union 20 Evansville , where the campers got to experience the fabrication process firsthand. They took flat pieces of metal and used their new layout and cutting skills to create their very own 3D signs.

🐔 Lunch Break: A huge thank you to Chick-fil-A West Evansville for providing lunch today and taking great care of our hungry campers!

Thank you to the Sheet Metal Workers for hosting us and showing our crew how a flat sheet of material turns into a finished product through the power of the trades!

HMSE Day 2 🚧
We kept the momentum going for day two of Heavy Metal Summer Experience with a big morning tour of the West Lloyd construction project, hosted by Ragle Group The campers got a firsthand look at heavy highway construction in action, checking out three different bridges all being built in different phases. Afterward, we loaded up the van and headed over to the Operators Local 181 for a great lunch and an afternoon of heavy equipment fun.

A huge thank you to the teams at Ragle and IUOE Local 181 for giving our crew such an unforgettable, inside look at what it takes to build our city's infrastructure!

Day one of Heavy Metal Summer Experience is officially in the books, and it was a big one! We spent the day at Iron Workers Local 103 where our campers jumped right into the action and learned how to weld. We also had a visit from the team at DEWALT , who stopped in to teach us some essential power tool safety to keep everyone safe on the job site this week.

🍕 Lunch Break: A huge thank you to Kipplee's for giving us a great deal on pizzas to keep this hardworking crew fueled up!

Thank you to the Ironworkers and DeWalt for making our first day such an incredible experience. We are just getting started!

Our students were back on site yesterday for another big day of work! This crew focused on prep by laying down underlayment to get the house ready for new flooring. It was a great day for hands-on skill building as the kids used a jigsaw to make precision cuts and mastered the nail gun to secure everything in place.

A huge thank you to Community One for the partnership, and a special shout-out to Courtney Mickel Lander from CenterPoint Energy for stopping by to see the action! It’s because of generous donations from supporters like CenterPoint that these builds are possible. Thank you for investing in our students and our community!

Ever seen a middle schooler build their first piece of ductwork or wire a light switch? The pride on their face says it all!

Today is National Skilled Trades Day, and we’re on a mission to show the next generation that their own two hands can build a high-demand, high-wage career.

Invest in a student. Build a community. Your donations get kids out of the classroom and onto the job site.
🔗 Give here: https://donorbox.org/tradesfortomorrow


SMART Local Union 20 Evansville NECA IBEW Electrical JATC

A "First" for the Painters!
Today was a big day as a select group of students from Glenwood made history as our very first field trip to the Painters Local 156 FTI!

These students didn't just pick up a brush; they learned the technical side of the trade. They practiced the precision skill of "cutting in" at the ceiling and even stepped into the future of training with a virtual reality boom lift!

Seeing these kids master a steady hand and navigate high-tech simulators shows just how much variety there is in the modern trades. Huge thanks to the team at Painters Local 156 for opening your doors to us and giving these students such a unique experience!

🙏 Special Thanks: These opportunities are made possible by our incredible supporters, including the 100 Guys Who Care - Evansville . Thank you for helping us expand our reach to new trades!

🏗️ First Field Trip Success: New Horizon Takes the Helm!

We kicked off our very first trip with the students from New Horizon Christian Academy today, and we went BIG at IUOE Local 181 ! 🚜💨

A huge thanks to James and JB for hosting us! They gave the students an inside look at the world of Heavy Equipment Operators and the massive machines that build our infrastructure.

The highlight? The kids didn't just look—they got to:

🧗 Climb into the cabs of the heavy equipment to see the controls firsthand.

🚩 Signal the crane, learning the high-stakes communication required on a job site.

Seeing the excitement on their faces as they "commanded" the equipment is exactly why we do this. Thank you, Local 181, for inspiring the next generation of operators!

🛠️ Building the Pipeline: Helfrich Park After Hours!
School might have been out, but the learning was just getting started! 🔔 Our Helfrich Park STEM Academy crew showed some incredible initiative yesterday by heading straight to the Plumbers & Steamfitters, Local 136 Training Center after the final bell.

The students got an inside look at the high-skill world of pipefitting including plumbing their own working water supply and drain lines. Seeing these students spend their own time exploring future career paths is exactly why we do what we do.

🙌 A Special Shoutout: Thank you to Mrs. Dillow! She was instrumental in rounding up these students, even driving them over in the minibus. It truly takes a village (and a great teacher) to build the next generation of tradespeople!

🏠 Community Build: Real Skills, Real Homes!

On Wednesday, a group of motivated students showed up for our Community Build after school—entirely on their own time!
The team spent the day laying flooring—measuring, cutting, and fitting every piece to perfection. There’s something powerful about seeing these kids realize that the work they’re doing today will be part of someone’s home for years to come.

🤝 Teamwork in Action: A massive shout-out to our partners at Community One for giving these students the opportunity to contribute to their mission and gain invaluable experience in the field.

🙏 A Huge Thank You: This hands-on programming is made possible by the generous support of CenterPoint Energy . Thank you for investing in our youth and helping us build a stronger community together!