Inside Camp Build 2026

Shaping The Next Generation

Demand for skilled trades continues to grow, with roles like electricians increasing faster than the national average over the next decade, according to 2026 BlackRock trades report drawing on BLS data. At the same time, fewer students are being introduced to these paths early on.

Camp Build expands how students see the industry. They hear directly from volunteers in our electrician, project management, design, and deployment departments, giving them a wider view of how many paths exist within this space. For many, it is the first time seeing how all these roles connect and what a future here could look like. 

This is work that is not going anywhere. It depends on skill, precision, and people who can step in and do it well. With demand growing faster than the workforce behind it, creating that early exposure matters. 

Students moved through different stations throughout the day, each one giving them something new to step into. They learned about personal safety, spent time bending pipe, explored BIM, and picked up tools that were new to many of them. You could see them settle into it as the day went on, getting more comfortable with each station.

Building their own lamps stood out for a lot of them. It gave them something to take home, but more than that, it gave them a sense of pride in something they made themselves.

There is something different that happens when students are given the space to try.

Ty C., an MPS employee and volunteer, saw that firsthand.

“I had an amazing time volunteering at the Milwaukee Tool station, helping kids learn tool safety and seeing their excitement as they got hands on experience. It was incredible to watch their confidence grow in just a few minutes. Many started out timid, but once they got going, they didn’t want to stop! Being a part of that experience was rewarding and motivating, and I’m grateful I got to connect with such a great group of kids.”

The impact of the day carries beyond the activities. It gives students something to hold onto. For some, it sparks an interest they did not know they had. For others, it makes a possible path feel more real.

Parents notice it too.

April T., an MPS employee and parent of a camper, shared what stood out to her.

“It was so cool to see the campers so interested in learning! Camp build was so unique because the campers learned not only how to build but how to also do it safely. As a parent of a camper, getting to watch him learn so much about what may be his future career was a very cool thing to watch. I am grateful for the opportunity.”

Camp Build comes together because people choose to be part of it. Volunteers show up ready to share what they know and take the time to help students through the process. That presence matters more than anything else.

This camp hosted in McKinney may only be a day, but it leaves something behind. Camp Build is one way we continue to invest in what comes next.