Young women wanted for Girls Can Too program

June 1, 2016 · 0 Comments

There are a lot of things girls can do, and three local young woman plan to demonstrate that this summer.
Bolton resident Dana Pugh said they are coordinating Girls Can Too, for women of high school age.
Pugh said they are university students who are passionate about environmental education and making a change in the community.
The program will start July 4 at Bolton Camp, and Pugh said they will be working on a number of projects, like maintaining trails, constructing a boardwalk, making garden boxes, etc.
“We have noticed that females are given less opportunity to explore trade skill related jobs such as construction, and environmental careers,” she stated. “Through our hands-on projects, such as building a boardwalk and trail restoration, we hope to provide our program volunteers with the opportunity to explore hands-on tasks with an environmental focus.”
As well, she said there will be training sessions with professionals from various different specialties, like tool training, architecture aquatic ecosystems, etc.
Pugh said the program was created by herself, Nadia Zanardi and Danielle Scepanovic. They “set out to create a program that gives female high school students the opportunity and the encouragement to learn about construction and ecology in an entirely hands-on way.”
“Research from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education indicates that women are underrepresented in high school apprentice programs for the skilled trades,” she observed. “Although high schools offer trades classes, such as wood shop and auto shop, they are typically male-dominated, making it difficult for women to receive the support and encouragement required to gain access to the skilled trades.
She also cited Statistics Canada reports that women aged 15 and older are 27 per cent more likely to be employed in the sales and services sector, while men of the same age were more 26 per cent likely to be in management and skilled trades positions.
“These gender gaps will remain unchanged if young women are not provided with opportunities to learn about, and gain hands-on professional experience in the skilled trades and environmental sectors,” she stated.
There will be four sessions lasting two weeks, and Pugh said they are hoping to have 10 to 15 girls per session. It will be free.
She said they ran three sessions last summer, with 26 participants.
For more information or to apply, email boltongirlscantoo@gmail.com