Minnesota North College’s EMPOWER Program to host Free Summer Camps

The Empow(HER) Summer Camps are open for enrollment! Girls ages 14-17 can sign up for classes across the Iron Range and experience work in the trades. There are three sessions:

June 10-13: Minnesota North College, Hibbing Campus

 Automotive

 Heating and Cooling

 Electrical Maintenance & Construction

June 17-18, 20-21: Minnesota North College, Eveleth Campus

 Electrical Controls

 Industrial Mechanical Technology

 Welding

June 24-27: The Forge, Grand Rapids

 Carpentry

 Solar Power

 Welding

EMPOWER seeks to support the education of women entering high-wage, high-demand non-traditional fields and roles. This workforce development program, EMPOWER, seeks to support the education of women entering high-wage, high-demand non-traditional fields and roles, such as welding, IT, auto mechanics, diesel and heavy equipment mechanics, electrical maintenance, law enforcement, HVAC, industrial mechanics, carpentry, natural resources, engineering just to name a few. These fields are well-represented across the Iron Range, and support mining, construction, transportation, and heavy-industry sectors. This also meet goals around diversifying these workforces, bringing new perspectives and talent to these fields.

EMPOWER also hosted job fairs across all Minnesota North College campuses- Women in the Workforce. Since 2023, over 450 students from local high schools have attended this event. These events have allowed students to feel supported and guided while getting their education in a trade program.

A former diesel student and EMPOWER graduate said, “Empower has helped me with finding information I needed, tools to do my schoolwork in the shop and honestly just the comfort of knowing there are other women involved in these courses that are mainly men makes me feel better about being able to accomplish this course.”

Sign-ups for this camp can be found here: bit.ly/Empower-Camp-2024. Participants can sign up until May 15, 2024. Transportation is available if needed. For more information, please contact Angela Heikkila at angela.heikkla@minnesotanorth.edu.

Minnesota North College prepares lifelong learners and engaged citizens through inclusive, transformative experiences reflecting the character and natural environment of the region. For more information about Minnesota North College, please contact Annika Freiburger at annika.freiburger@minnesotanorth.edu.