By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – About 110 Aroostook County girls attended a daylong conference at Northern Maine Community College last Wednesday that was designed to encourage young women to consider careers in fields traditionally dominated by men.
The fourth annual TNT (Tools ‘N Trades) conference featured sessions ranging from carpentry and metal fabrication to firefighting and bridge building, all providing an opportunity for the girls to experience some aspect of the profession through a practical exercise.
“We want to give girls a hands-on workshop experience to spark their interest and/or raise awareness about a career field that they may not have previously considered, as well as provide female role modes – women who can lead by example, having already succeeded in pursuing work that traditionally is viewed as ‘man’s work,’” said Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau, regional manager of the Central Aroostook office of Women, Work and Community, a statewide organization committed to improving the economic lives of Maine women and their families.
WWC, NMCC, the Maine Department of Transportation, Women Unlimited, the Maine Career Center, local contractors, local school representatives, and other interested community partners comprise the Aroostook Coalition for Women and Girls in Trades and Technology, the sponsors of TNT.
The focus of the coalition is to raise awareness of and provide support and opportunity for women and girls who pursue or are pursuing non-traditional careers in trades and technology fields.
“We have girls from as far south as Danforth and as far north as St. Agatha and Fort Kent,” said Senechal-Jandreau, noting that 43 girls attended the first TNT conference. “The interest increases every year, but we always have girls from all over the county.
“We try to offer some different workshop opportunities every year,” she said. “This year we added orienteering. We had a trauma surgeon come, so we deal with different occupations … not just trades.”
Among the careers being explored at this year’s Tools ‘N Trades included plumbing and heating, carpentry, firefighting, orienteering, metal fabrication, heavy equipment, trauma surgery and bridge building.
Kylee Lothrop, an eighth-grader at Ashland Community High School, said she wanted to attend Tools ‘N Trades to “learn what it’s about.”
“I’ve had friends come here and learn all the stuff, and they liked it,” she said.
“This has been a lot of fun,” said Lothrop. “It’s given me a chance to see what types of careers are out there. It’s nice to make new friends who are just girls, and it’s easier to work on what you’re doing when the guys aren’t around. We’re able to focus on things and not worry about what other people think. I hope a lot of girls get the chance to attend Tools ‘N Trades.”
Eighth-grader Kelsey Fitzpatrick was one of nine girls from Houlton Junior-Senior High School who attended the conference. She said she signed up for Tools ‘N Trades because “I thought it’d be fun to run heavy equipment.”
“We learned how to maneuver a pay loader,” she said. “That might be something I’ll want to explore later on. I’ll also be attending a workshop on trauma surgery. It’s been a lot of fun and a good learning experience.”
Attending the all-girl conference was “cool” for Carrie Jackson, a junior at Presque Isle High School.
“You get to experience the different things in the future like what you want to do with your career,” said Jackson. “I’m interested in the medical field, but I attended workshops on heavy equipment and firefighting.
“I guess I really wouldn’t want to do heavy equipment because I’m a girly-girl and not into driving big trucks,” she said, “but this gave me a chance to figure that out.”
Jackson said while some guys are more open-minded than others, quite a few think, “You’re a girl. You can’t do that.”
“This [TNT conference] gives us a chance to prove them wrong,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of girls here that I haven’t seen in a long time, so it’s a chance to make new friends and see old ones. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Hannah Holmes, an eighth-grader at Caribou Middle School, was anxious to attend Tools ‘N Trades.
“I wanted to come and see what else there was for girls to do because a lot of girls don’t do a lot of heavy jobs like metal fabrication or heavy equipment,” said Holmes. “I’ve learned that if you’re a girl, it doesn’t matter, you can still do whatever you want.”
Holmes said she’s thinking about being a nurse or working in auto body.
“I’d encourage girls to come next year because they can learn what other girls do, and if she wants to do something that boys might think isn’t good for girls, she can actually try it out and see if she likes it,” said Holmes. “I’ve had a lot of fun. It’s been a worthwhile experience.”
The conference was geared toward Aroostook County girls in grades eight through 12.
Funding for the activity is made possible through monies provided by Louisiana Pacific and the Maine Department of Transportation.
In addition to participating in two workshop sessions, participants were treated to a luncheon and fashion show featuring women currently employed in non-traditional fields.
A panel discussion featuring several women working in trade and technical occupations completed the day.
