About
As we celebrate the fourth year of the Heavy Metal Summer Experience (HMSE), I am thrilled by the remarkable progress we’ve made together. This year, we reached 36 camps across the U.S. and Canada, introducing more than 500 students to the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) trades. The enthusiasm and dedication of these young minds has been nothing short of inspiring!
Our success is largely due to the unwavering support of our sponsors. We extend our heartfelt thank you to DEWALT for their generous Grow the Trades grant and donation of 300 tool bags, and to Milwaukee Tool for their similar contribution of tool bags. We are deeply grateful for the three-year commitment from SMACNA and SMART, along with Procore for once again joining us on this journey. We also appreciate Trane’s two-year support and the sponsorship from MCAA and the UA. Their belief in our mission fuels our drive to continue to expand and improve.
The impact of our camps is evident in the growing number of graduates now pursuing apprenticeships. Hearing these success stories reaffirms that our program is making a significant difference, and the positive feedback from students, parents and camp hosts truly underscores the value of HMSE. To that end, we’re excited to share that all our previous host camps have committed to participating next year, and we anticipate expanding to 25-35 additional camps in 2025!
As we look to the future, we continue to feel the critical need for skilled workers in our industry, especially with a significant portion of the workforce nearing retirement. Our program plays a vital role in addressing this gap, but we need the ongoing support of contractors, unions, manufacturers and vendors to sustain and build on our success.
Thank you for your current and continued support! Together, we can make a lasting impact and ensure that the Heavy Metal Summer Experience remains a beacon of opportunity and excellence in the trades.
Learn more by downloading the 2024 Impact Report.
