MAGIC Summer Camp teaches girls about a future in construction

NORTH KANSAS CITY, Missouri - "When I was in high school I didn't know about the opportunities for women in the construction industry," remembers Jennifer Lyon. She’s doing her best to make sure this generation won’t have that problem.

She says there, "definitely there needs to be more women."

Jennifer is an instructor at the MAGIC (Mentoring a Girl in Construction) Camp taking place this week at the Builder's Association Training Center.

"I thought it'd be a great way to get young girls involved in carpentry and let them know the opportunities in construction," says Jennifer.

"The high school girl is a great place to hit them because that's really where they're making their career decision and what direction they're going," says Camp Director Alise Martiny.

She believes young women today are getting the wrong impression that construction is just a man's world.

"Huge misconception,” says Martiny, "We are not meeting the goals of females in the construction industry. There is a huge need."

And the fifteen young women in attendance are excited to help fill that need.

"Not very many women work in construction and I think it would be fun to be one of those few women that did," says camper Leah Brown.

Fellow camper Miranda Wolfe agrees, "In our history there's just all this stuff that women can't do this and then I actually get to see these women doing this. It’s empowering."