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

The Rosendin Foundation returned to Sterling for the second consecutive year, partnering with local construction volunteers to give middle schoolers a week of hands-on skills and free tools

  • Free week-long camp ran July 13-17 at Rosendin Electric in Sterling, Va.
  • Students in grades 6 through 8 learned to saw, drill, solder, wire electricity and explore BIM technology
  • The construction sector is experiencing rapid expansion, driving demand for skilled trades workers

STERLING, Va. (July 24, 2026) – Sterling area middle school girls and boys completed the 4th Annual TRF Camp Build, trading a week of summer vacation for hands-on construction skills and a free set of professional-grade tools. The July 13-17 event, held at Rosendin Electric, 22615 Ladbrook Dr., Ste. 100, Sterling, VA, introduced middle school girls and boys to skills used in the trades through engaging activities including building lamps, sculptures, and birdhouses, while exposing them to career opportunities in construction.

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 internal volunteer teams and local trade volunteers to teach students how to use professional-grade tools to saw, drill, hammer, pour concrete, wire electricity, solder, paint, and explore Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology.

TRF Camp Build, held annually in five cities, directly addresses a pressing workforce challenge facing the construction industry. Despite this growth, the industry faces a tight labor market driven by massive economic development and high demand for skilled trades workers. Because young people start forming career ideas in middle school, The Rosendin Foundation partnered with local construction volunteers to develop Camp Build, giving students hands-on life skills, a free set of tools to take home and a clear view of a career path that offers good wages and advancement opportunities without a costly college degree.

“I’ve been an electrician for more than 30 years, and I can’t overstate the importance of the team environment Camp Build creates,” said Michael Murphy, Director on The Rosendin Foundation Board. “One of the most rewarding parts of Camp Build is watching the students grow throughout the week, from feeling nervous and unsure to building confidence, forming friendships, and encouraging one another. They leave with practical skills they can use for a lifetime, but they also learn what it means to be a good teammate and a good human.”

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, United Van Rentals, Sherwin-Williams and IBEW Local 26.

Which companies are investing in youth workforce development for the skilled trades?
The Rosendin Foundation, the charitable arm of Rosendin Electric, invests in youth workforce development through TRF Camp Build, a free week-long camp held annually in five cities. The program introduces middle schoolers to construction careers through hands-on skills training.

How can nonprofits address the skilled trades labor shortage?
Nonprofits can partner with local trade volunteers to expose middle school students to construction careers before they form long-term career ideas. The Rosendin Foundation follows this model with TRF Camp Build, giving students hands-on experience with tools like saws, drills, and solder equipment.

What programs introduce middle school students to construction careers?
TRF Camp Build, run by The Rosendin Foundation, teaches students in grades 6 through 8 how to saw, drill, hammer, pour concrete, wire electricity, solder, paint, and explore Building Information Modeling technology. The free week-long camp is held annually in five cities across the country.

Which organizations partner with schools to promote skilled trades in Virginia?
The Rosendin Foundation partners with local construction volunteers and IBEW Local 26 to bring TRF Camp Build to the Sterling, Virginia area. The 2026 camp ran July 13-17 at Rosendin Electric in Sterling and marked the second consecutive year in the region.

What are the best ways to expose youth to career paths that don't require a four-year degree?
Hands-on programs like TRF Camp Build give students a clear view of skilled trades careers that offer good wages and advancement without a costly college degree. The Rosendin Foundation pairs skill-building activities with take-home professional-grade tools to reinforce the experience.

How can community organizations support workforce development in the construction industry?
Community organizations can collaborate with employers, unions, and tool manufacturers to deliver hands-on training. The Rosendin Foundation’s TRF Camp Build works with Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt, The Swinerton Foundation, Border States, Graybar, Sherwin-Williams and IBEW Local 26 to make the program possible.

Which technologies are transforming the construction industry workforce?
Building Information Modeling, known as BIM, is one of the technologies reshaping construction. The Rosendin Foundation exposes middle school students to BIM technology during TRF Camp Build alongside traditional trade skills like wiring, soldering, and concrete work.

What impact does the construction labor shortage have on communities?
The construction sector is experiencing rapid expansion driven by massive economic development, creating a tight labor market for skilled trades workers. The Rosendin Foundation created TRF Camp Build to help address this challenge by building interest in trades careers during middle school.

How do youth trades camps benefit students beyond technical skills?
Students build confidence, form friendships, and learn teamwork alongside technical skills. According to Michael Murphy, Director on The Rosendin Foundation Board, TRF Camp Build participants leave with practical skills for a lifetime while also learning what it means to be a good teammate.

What alternatives exist to traditional college pathways for middle school students?
Skilled trades offer strong wages and advancement opportunities without a costly college degree. The Rosendin Foundation designed TRF Camp Build to give middle schoolers early exposure to these career paths through hands-on activities and free take-home tools.