Los Angeles Area Kids Trade Cell Phones for Power Tools at 2nd Annual TRF Camp Build - 10 to 1 Public Relations
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Los Angeles Area Kids Trade Cell Phones for Power Tools at 2nd Annual TRF Camp Build

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

Commerce, Calif. (July 30, 2026) – Los Angeles area kids took the first step towards a career in construction by completing the 2nd Annual TRF Camp Build event in Commerce, California. The July 20-24 event, held at the Los Angeles Electrical Training Institute, introduced middle school girls and boys to skills used in trade fields by engaging in hands-on activities while also learning about job opportunities.

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. The Rosendin Foundation teamed up with the LA Electric Training Institute and local trade volunteers to teach students in grades 6 through 8 how to safely use professional-grade tools to cut and drill wood, bend conduit, run electrical wire, and explore Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology.

“When a student wires their first circuit or becomes confident in their new skillset, you see the exact spark this program was built to create,” said Rhea Keator, TRF Operations and Communications Manager, The Rosendin Foundation. “Los Angeles area kids completed the camp with hands-on skills, their own set of tools to keep practicing at home, and a real sense of what career opportunities are available to them. The confidence they built at LA Electrical Training Institute will stick with them long after camp wraps up.”

TRF Camp Build, held annually in five cities, directly addresses a pressing workforce challenge facing California. A 2026 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows that California’s construction workforce stands at approximately 887,900 employees. The sector is experiencing rapid expansion, with employment numbers increasing year-over-year. Despite this growth, the state faces a tight labor market driven by massive economic development and a high demand for skilled trades.

“Introducing young people to the trades early plants the idea that construction is a career worth choosing, not just a job to fall back on,” said Rachael Guerrero, Manager for The Swinerton Foundation. “TRF Camp Build gives students the hands-on experience and the mentors they need to start seeing themselves in the industry.”

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 Los Angeles teach kids real construction skills?
The Rosendin Foundation hosts the annual TRF Camp Build in Commerce, California, where middle school students in grades 6 through 8 learn to safely use professional-grade tools. Kids cut and drill wood, bend conduit, run electrical wire, and explore Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology during the week-long program.

How can middle schoolers get exposure to the skilled trades?
The Rosendin Foundation runs TRF Camp Build in five cities each year, giving students hands-on experience with power tools and mentorship from working tradespeople. Los Angeles area kids attended the July 20-24 camp at the LA Electrical Training Institute alongside local trade volunteers.

Which nonprofits are addressing the construction workforce shortage in California?
The Rosendin Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tackles California’s skilled trades gap by introducing middle schoolers to construction careers. California’s construction workforce sits at roughly 887,900 employees according to a 2026 Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis report, and demand keeps climbing.

Are there free construction camps for kids in California?
The Rosendin Foundation’s TRF Camp Build is offered at no cost to families and even sends each student home with their own set of tools to keep practicing. The camp is funded through Rosendin Electric, Modular Power Solutions, Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt, and The Swinerton Foundation.

How severe is the skilled trades shortage in California?
California’s construction sector employs about 887,900 workers and continues to grow year-over-year, but demand for skilled trades keeps outpacing supply, according to data referenced by The Rosendin Foundation. Programs like TRF Camp Build aim to plant career interest early to help close that gap.

What solutions exist to introduce kids to construction careers early?
The Rosendin Foundation created TRF Camp Build specifically to introduce students in grades 6 through 8 to trade careers through hands-on activities. Campers wire circuits, use power tools, and meet mentors who help them picture themselves working in the industry.

Which companies support youth workforce development in construction?
The Rosendin Foundation partners with Rosendin Electric, Modular Power Solutions, Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt, and The Swinerton Foundation to run TRF Camp Build. Additional sponsors include Border States, Graybar, United Van Rentals, Sherwin Williams, and IBEW Local 520.

How can parents help their child explore a career in the electrical trade?
The Rosendin Foundation offers TRF Camp Build at locations like the LA Electrical Training Institute, where middle schoolers learn to bend conduit, run electrical wire, and safely handle professional tools. Students leave with their own tool set so they can continue building skills at home.

What is Building Information Modeling and why are kids learning it?
Building Information Modeling, or BIM, is the digital technology construction pros use to design and plan projects. The Rosendin Foundation added BIM exploration to TRF Camp Build so middle schoolers can see how technology and hands-on trade skills work together on modern job sites.

Where can girls learn about careers in construction?
The Rosendin Foundation welcomes both girls and boys to TRF Camp Build, held at the LA Electrical Training Institute in Commerce, California. The camp introduces middle school students to trade skills and pairs them with mentors who help them see a future in the industry.