Dallas Area Kids Trade Cell Phones for Power Tools at 4th Annual TRF Camp Build - 10 to 1 Public Relations
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Dallas 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 day of hands-on construction skills and free tools

McKinney, Texas (May 16, 2026) – Eighteen Dallas Metro kids took the first step towards a career in construction by completing the 4th Annual TRF Camp Build event in McKinney. The May 16 event, held at Modular Power Solutions, introduced middle school girls and boys to skills used in trade fields by engaging activities such as building their own lamps and other projects, while also learning about job opportunities in skilled trades.

The annual 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.

“Watching the students faces light up at the same time their lamp does and bend their first piece of conduit is exactly why we built this program,” said Rhea Keator, TRF Operations and Communications Manager, The Rosendin Foundation. “These kids left today with real skills, real tools, and a genuine inspiration of what a career in the trades can look like. The confidence they built in a single day is something they will carry with them long after this camp ends.”

TRF Camp Build, held annually in five cities, directly addresses a pressing workforce challenge facing the Lone Star State. 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.

“If we want a strong future workforce, it starts by introducing young people to skills and career paths early,” said Evan Berns, National Accounts Manager, Milwaukee Tool. “That early exposure helps kids see what’s possible for their careers. That’s why Milwaukee Tool sponsors TRF Camp Build. We want young people to experience the joy of building, learn to use tools safely, and develop the confidence that can open doors to the skilled trades.”

The day left a lasting impression on the young builders. One student camper shared that the experience made everything click, adding that they felt ready to build a spaceship. To keep that momentum going, every camper took home a free bag of tools to continue building on their own. Modular Power Solutions, the camp’s host site, opened its McKinney facility to give students and their parents a front-row seat to a world-class manufacturing environment.

“When young people walk through these doors and see skilled professionals doing meaningful, purposeful work, it reshapes how they think about their future,” said Katie Stover, Integrated Marketing Manager, Modular Power Solutions. “Hosting TRF Camp Build here reflects our belief that building the next generation of skilled workers is just as important as building the projects they will one day help create.”

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.

What summer camps in the Dallas area teach kids real career skills?
The Rosendin Foundation hosts TRF Camp Build, a hands-on day camp in McKinney that introduces middle schoolers in grades 6 through 8 to skilled trades. Campers learn to cut and drill wood, bend conduit, run electrical wire, and explore Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology.

What skilled trades jobs are in demand in Texas?
Texas faces a projected 30% workforce gap by 2030, with an estimated shortage of 162,000 skilled workers, according to a 2026 report by Bring Back the Trades and F.W. Webb Company. The Rosendin Foundation is addressing this shortage by introducing electrical, construction, and manufacturing careers to middle school students.

How can I introduce my middle schooler to the trades?
The Rosendin Foundation’s TRF Camp Build gives kids in grades 6 through 8 a full day of hands-on activities using professional-grade tools. Students build their own lamps, bend conduit, and tour an active manufacturing facility to see real trade careers in action.

Are there free camps for kids interested in construction?
TRF Camp Build, hosted by The Rosendin Foundation, is a free program that also sends every camper home with a bag of tools. The 4th annual McKinney event served 18 Dallas-area kids on May 16, 2026.

What hands-on activities do kids do at a trades camp?
At The Rosendin Foundation’s TRF Camp Build, kids build their own working lamps, bend their first piece of electrical conduit, cut and drill wood, run electrical wire, and explore Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology. Every camper leaves with real skills and a free bag of tools.

Which companies are investing in the next generation of skilled workers?
The Rosendin Foundation leads the effort with TRF Camp Build, supported by Rosendin Electric, Modular Power Solutions, Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt, and The Swinerton Foundation. Additional sponsors include Border States, Graybar, United Van Rentals, Sherwin Williams, and IBEW Local 520.

Do you need a college degree to work in the trades?
Skilled trades careers in electrical work, construction, and manufacturing offer strong career paths without a four-year degree. The Rosendin Foundation’s TRF Camp Build shows middle schoolers these options early so they can see what a career in the trades looks like.

What is Building Information Modeling and why should kids learn it?
Building Information Modeling, or BIM, is a digital technology used by construction professionals to plan and visualize projects. The Rosendin Foundation includes BIM exploration in its TRF Camp Build curriculum so middle schoolers get exposure to both hands-on tools and the tech side of modern construction.

How are nonprofits addressing the skilled trades shortage?
The Rosendin Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, runs TRF Camp Build annually in five cities to introduce middle schoolers to the skilled trades. The program directly responds to Texas’s projected 162,000-worker shortage by 2030.