Pre-apprenticeship at ABC Keystone

By: Stephanie Larkin, VP of Education, Safety & Workforce Development

As life returns to something closer to normal, ABC Keystone is once again hosting workforce and career awareness and exploration events.

  • The Chapter will hold Construction Wars, its middle school career exploration event, on May 26, 27 and 28. Over 100 students from our region are expected to attend. We’re seeking volunteers to help at the hands-on stations (carpentry, electrical, tool demo, and plumbing), and there are also opportunities to lead a group for the day.
  • From June 14-18, we host our inaugural All ‘bout Construction (ABC) Camp for Girls. This first camp is for Lancaster County* girls ages 14-19 and features field trips to job sites, building take-home Steampunk charging stations, and lots of interactions and conversations with women in the industry. For more information or to apply, please visit our website. Camp applications are due by April 30. * This camp is grant-funded through the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board, and therefore, in this inaugural year, only Lancaster county residents are eligible to attend. We look forward to opening the camp to other counties when it is next offered.
  • Our Summer 2021 Pre-Apprenticeship classes begin on June 28. Pre-apprenticeship is open to anyone 16 or older that wants to learn the foundational skills applicable to any trade offered by ABC Keystone. This tuition-based program consists of 60 hours of training including construction math, an introduction to construction drawings, hand and power tools, materials handling, forklift, rigging and a certification in OSHA 10-Hour Construction. Information and applications can be found on our pre-apprenticeship webpage. Seats are limited.
  • Finally, the Chapter is working with SCPA Works, a regional workforce development board in our area, to arrange a forum for contractors and workforce professionals around the topic of reentry. Reentry is a term used to refer to issues related to the transition from the criminal justice system back to society. Our workforce partners are seeking a better understanding of how our industry can best work with reentrants and the obstacles faced when hiring a person with a criminal background. Please contact Stephanie Larkin if you are interested in being part of this important conversation.

Posted April 14, 2021