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ISSUE NO. 31 • July 31, 2025 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
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Creating, welding flowers, building relationships - all a part of WeBuild! Summer Camp Article by Jean Gordon. Contributed Photos.
Concentrating on the art of drilling.
Up close and measuring.
We Build campers’ first time at welding.
Bailey Marie - 5:30 PM Scotty Hasting - 6:45 PM John Michael Montg go 30 PM Montgomery - 8:30
“It was a week full of fun, jam packed with learning... and a huge success.” That is how director Ali Bovender High described the third annual WeBuild! Summer Camp hosted by Rutherford Housing Partnership and Women Roofers with numerous sponsors helping with camp and bringing snacks. The annual camp is for rising 4th-7th grade girls and is held in the construction department on the campus of Isothermal Community College. There were 34 campers, including 20 from last year’s camp, as well as 30 volunteers with the campers. “It was beautiful to see them arrive Monday morning and run and hug each other, excited to be back at camp together,” Ali said. “Their sense of togetherness quickly rubbed off on the new campers and before you knew it they were mingled together,” said Ali. WeBuild! was so much more than hammering and sawing as the camp gave young girls hands-on opportunities to explore various trades. “This year we focused on carpentry skills and welding,” Ali said. By the end of the five day camp, each girl had created their own Plinko game board, Tic-Tac-Toe board, tool carrier, and they had welded a flower out of metal. They also helped create three wooden planters that were donated to the KidSenses museum’s garden. On Friday campers enjoyed water day, led by the Broad River Water Authority. The campers learned how to repair a water main break as well as build a backyard mister and a water blaster for playing. Each day brought its own delightful experiences and some challenges. Ali said several campers were nervous about welding, since the trade was new to the campers and even for adults, could have been intimidating. Ali shares this story of one camper.
Adding touches of paint on their own personal new “welded” flowers.
“She came to me several times to check in and be reminded that if she did not want to weld she did not have to and that someone would make her flower for her so that she could still take it home. I watched her group leader work with her and talk to her about this time and time again. Each time that group leader was reminding her of how brave and strong she was and that she could do anything she set her mind too. On Thursday when it was time for her to weld she didn’t miss a beat. She put on all of the protective gear and was one of the first from her group to step in the booth and weld her flower. When she finished and lifted her welding hood she looked at me and said, with a smile from ear to ear, ‘I was brave. I did it!’ That is what camp is all about. These little moments that surround us daily where these campers realize how strong they are and that they truly can do anything they set their mind too. These young ladies are our future and we are in good hands,” shared Ali. On the last day of camp, the campers presented their projects. Ali said she was amazed at how well they did and the details they shared about the work. “Several groups took it upon themselves to have the different tools that they used as props to show the families,” Ali said. We Build! 2026 is a year away, but Ali is ready to lead the camp again. “When the rising 7th graders are
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John Michael Montgomery
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begging to be volunteers and the younger campers are telling you about all the friends they are bringing with them, you know you’re doing something right,” Ali said. “I am truly blessed to be able to do this and honored to work alongside such amazing volunteers and campers.” Ali also believes the best way to invest in the future is by spending time investing in children. “This camp gives endless opportunities to do that. Campers meet volunteers and other campers that they may have not met otherwise. They spend a week growing and learning together, building one another up, and pouring in to each other. That is what it’s all about.” “As a former educator, I love everything about WeBuild. I love planning it, watching it come together, working with others to improve it year to year, and spending the week with a fierce group of young women that always blow me away,” Ali said. Ali said as adults, the volunteers tend to start the week off thinking about their respective lessons and how they might impact the campers. “It never fails that by the end of the week they have taught me more than I could have ever taught them,” she continued. “I’d have to say the campers inspired me to direct camp and they will be what inspires me to do it year after year.”
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