Noah Johnson Daily Press The 26 students at the Upper Peninsula Construction Council (UPCC) had lunch with various tradespeople Tuesday to pick their brain on what it's like to work in a particular field. The six-week program is scheduled to wrap up on Aug. 14.

GLADSTONE – 26 local high school students are spending their summer learning various trades.

The Upper Peninsula Construction Council (UPCC) is in the middle of its 2025 Building Trades Summer Camp, the fourth camp to be held by the UPCC.

The majority of the students are either freshmen or sophomores.

The six-week camp, which began in July, is set to wrap up on August 14.

26 students within a 45-minute driving distance learned the ins and outs of various skilled trades from individuals in the industry, such as electricians, laborers, fitters, boilermakers, sheet metal workers, painters, operators, iron workers, brick-layers, and carpenters/millwrights.

The students are in their fourth week of the camp, and they are earning $13 an hour for their efforts.

The camp is split into two shifts: morning from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and a day shift from noon to 4 p.m.

Before attending the camp, students had to apply and then attend resume writing and interview workshops provided by UP Michigan Works.

After being hired, students completed a safety workshop with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration before stepping onto any construction site.

On Tuesday, UPCC invited the local media to the Operating Engineers facility in Gladstone.

“Today, we’re celebrating our safety stand down. So, we always take a break with the students, bring in our contractors, and many of our trades(people). They have lunch with them and talk about safety; That’s our number one priority,” said UPCC Executive Director Michael Smith.

The students enjoyed lunch and donuts while speaking with several tradesmen.

“These students are working with each and every trade over the course of six weeks. We’ve got sheet metal workers here today, (and) we’ll have pipe fitters on Wednesday and Thursday,” Smith said.

On Friday, the students head out to Rock to explore the Renegade Solar Project.

“The students will be able to go and check out that site, which is under construction, which is cool,” Smith shared.

He added that it’s been a great first four weeks, and expects the students to finish strong.

These students are very focused; they want to be here,” Smith said.

The camp is already seeing the fruits of its labor, as Smith shared that a former student is working with heavy machinery, going from the camp to the Construction Connect Program to an apprenticeship.

Developing young individuals in the trades is vital, as an increasing number of current tradesmen are getting ready to retire.

“In the next five to seven years, currently most folks who are in the field that look like me, 40% of them will be eligible to retire,” Smith said.

While those eligible for retirement may not choose to hang it up, Smith wants younger individuals to be prepared to enter a trade.

“We want to keep our talent in the U.P.,” Smith said.

“Our number one export is 18 to 25-year-olds; they’re exiting the U.P. You want them to know that there is a family-sustaining career right here in the U.P.”

The students have been hard at work in the community throughout the program, recently pouring concrete at the U.P. State Fairgrounds.

The students will return to work for the community in the next two weeks, building a large storage shed for the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District (DSISD) Learning Center. They will also build a ramp for a resident who needs barrier-free access to and from their home.

Two incoming sophomores at Gladstone High School shared their experiences over the past four weeks.

“It’s been really fun, learning a lot of new trades and getting exposure,” said Landon

Pepin.

He said he is particularly interested in carpentry.

Another student, Hayden Larson, who is interested in becoming a lineman, echoed Pepin, saying, “We’ve been learning a lot of cool stuff,” Larson said.

Both students got the opportunity to learn about cranes, excavators, boilermakers, iron workers, pouring concrete, and more.

Pepin and Larson said they would encourage their peers to get involved with the camp next summer, as it is helping them prepare for life after high school.

“It’s just a really good program, and everyone should try it if they can,” Pepin said.

Smith recognized the parties that made the camp possible, including UP Michigan Works, the Workforce Development Institute, various contractors, corporate sponsors, and more.

“Without them, we couldn’t do this work,” he said.

To learn more about UPCC, visit www.upconstruction.org.