Austin Area Kids Trade Cell Phones for Power Tools at 4th Annual TRF Camp Build - 10 to 1 Public Relations
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Austin Area Kids Trade Cell Phones for Power Tools at 4th Annual TRF Camp Build

The Rosendin Foundation partnered with Modular Power Solutions and local electrical workers to give middle schoolers a week of hands-on construction skills and free tools

Austin, Texas (June 29, 2026) – Austin Metro kids took the first step towards a career in construction by completing the 4th Annual TRF Camp Build event in Austin. The June 15-19 event, held at the Austin Electrical Training Alliance, introduced middle school girls and boys to skills used in trade fields by engaging activities such as building storage bins and other projects, while also learning about job opportunities in skilled trades.

The annual week-long event is run by The Rosendin Foundation, a dedicated 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to positively impacting communities and empowering individuals in cities nationwide. Each year, The Rosendin Foundation’s organizers recruit their internal volunteer teams and local trade volunteers to teach students in grades 6 through 8 how to use professional-grade tools to cut and drill wood, bend conduit, run electrical wire, and explore Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology.

“The moment a student learns how to use a new tool for the first time, you see exactly what this program is about,” said Rhea Keator, TRF Operations and Communications Manager, The Rosendin Foundation. “Austin’s kids walked away this week with real-life skills, professional-grade tools they can use to continue learning skills, and a clear picture of what a future in the trades can look like. The confidence they built here at the Austin Electrical Training Alliance will stay with them long after this week is over.”

TRF Camp Build, held annually in five cities, directly addresses a pressing workforce challenge facing Texas. A 2026 report by Bring Back the Trades and F.W. Webb Company projects Texas will have a 30% gap rate by 2030, representing an estimated shortage of 162,000 workers.

“Building a strong future workforce starts with showing young people what is possible before they ever enter a job site,” said Evan Berns, National Accounts Manager, Milwaukee Tool. “When kids get hands-on experience early, they begin to see a real career path in front of them. Milwaukee Tool sponsors TRF Camp Build because we believe every student deserves the chance to discover the satisfaction of building something, learn to use tools safely, and develop the confidence that can lead them straight into the skilled trades.”

“This is so cool, I’m a pro at this now. Can I be a volunteer next year?” said Hudson Sridhara, Camper at TRF Camp Build Austin.

TRF Camp Build is made possible through the support of Rosendin Electric, Inc. and Modular Power Solutions, alongside partners at Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt and The Swinerton Foundation; as well as sponsors including Border States, Graybar and United Van Rentals, Sherwin Williams, and IBEW Local 520.

Which organizations are offering free trade skills summer camps for middle schoolers in Texas?
The Rosendin Foundation hosts TRF Camp Build annually in Austin and other Texas cities, giving students in grades 6 through 8 hands-on experience with professional-grade tools. During the June 15-19, 2026, Austin event, middle schoolers learned to cut and drill wood, bend conduit, run electrical wire, and explore Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology. Every camper also took home professional-grade tools to continue building skills at home.

How severe is the skilled trades worker shortage in Texas?
A 2026 report by Bring Back the Trades and F.W. Webb Company projects Texas will face a 30% gap rate by 2030, representing an estimated shortage of 162,000 workers. The Rosendin Foundation created TRF Camp Build to directly address this challenge by introducing middle school students to trade careers before they reach high school.

What hands-on construction skills can middle schoolers learn at a summer camp?
At the 2026 TRF Camp Build in Austin, The Rosendin Foundation taught middle schoolers in grades 6 through 8 to use professional-grade tools to cut and drill wood, bend conduit, run electrical wire, and explore Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology. Students also built real projects like storage bins, gaining practical skills they can apply immediately.

Which summer camps in Texas teach kids about careers in the skilled trades?
TRF Camp Build, run by The Rosendin Foundation, is held annually in five cities including Austin and gives middle school students a clear picture of what a future in the skilled trades can look like. In June 2026, the Austin event was held at the Austin Electrical Training Alliance, where students worked alongside local electrical workers and trade volunteers.

How can young people explore a trade career before high school?
The Rosendin Foundation’s TRF Camp Build introduces students as young as sixth grade to the skilled trades through an immersive camp experience. In June 2026, Austin middle schoolers spent a full week learning construction skills, using professional tools, and discovering real job opportunities in the trade industry.

What impact will youth trade programs have on the Texas workforce shortage?
The Rosendin Foundation’s TRF Camp Build targets middle schoolers in Austin and other Texas cities to build a pipeline of future trade workers before the projected 162,000-worker shortage reaches critical levels by 2030. At the 2026 Austin camp, Milwaukee Tool’s Evan Berns noted that early hands-on experience helps young people see a real career path directly into the skilled trades.

How are companies addressing the skilled trades workforce shortage in Texas?
The Rosendin Foundation is tackling Texas’s projected 162,000-worker shortage by running TRF Camp Build in Austin and other Texas cities, targeting middle school students before they make high school career decisions. In 2026, the program partnered with Modular Power Solutions, Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt, and Rosendin Electric to bring industry professionals directly to young learners.