About
“WHAT IF?” TO “WHAT’S NEXT?”
Six years ago, we set out to give young people a firsthand look at careers in the skilled trades. Today, we’re seeing something even more exciting: HMSE is turning that first spark of curiosity into careers. This summer, nearly 900 students took part in 61 camps stretching coast to coast and into Canada, with many applying for apprenticeships or even being hired to work for participating contractors! That’s the impact we hoped for when HMSE began, and I couldn’t be prouder of the community we’ve built.
One of the biggest steps forward this year was welcoming Ellen Young as our executive director. After a full HMSE season — from camp visits to graduations — Ellen has a firsthand understanding of what makes this program special, and is bringing her unique perspective to our long-term planning and growth strategies. Our post-camp Town Hall sessions also continue to give host sites an opportunity to share ideas and challenges, and many of our longest-running camps are now mentoring new locations as they get off the ground. Thank you to everyone who took part!
We’re also proud of the progress we’re making in opening the trades to more young people. Women make up just 11.2% of the overall construction workforce, and closer to 4% in the field. This year, 14.4% of HMSE campers were female, 26% Hispanic and 11.5% African American. Every one of them left camp knowing there’s a place for them in the trades.
None of this growth happens without the partners who believe in what HMSE can do. We worked closely with grant writers this year to secure new funding and welcomed new names to our ever-growing list of donors. A special shoutout to Ferguson, who not only renewed their support but significantly expanded their investment in HMSE. A big thanks to DEWALT and Milwaukee Tool for continuing to put quality tools in the hands of our campers. This year, we established a new partnership with DEWALT allowing us to provide boots for campers at a significant discount. Speaking of boots, HMSE partnered with Red Wing on their Big Boots to Fill campaign this year, celebrating the people who build our communities and inspiring the next generation to follow in their footsteps.
But numbers and partnerships only tell part of the story. The real measure of HMSE is what happens after camp: students getting jobs in the trades, parents telling us their kids came home excited about a future they hadn’t considered, campers reflecting on the hands-on experience that changed how they see their potential … and their futures. Six summers in, we’re seeing the impact of HMSE take root. It’s a special feeling for me personally, and incredibly rewarding for my team and the many people working behind the scenes to make the magic happen.
Our next chapter is about taking what’s working and getting it in the hands of even more young people. That means reaching new states, provinces and communities, with our eyes on getting all 50 states represented on our program map. I can’t wait to see how far we can take it together!
Angie Simon
Learn more by downloading the 2026 Impact Report.
