Recently, students participating in the Vermont Construction Academy‘s July Carpentry Boot Camp visited DEW Construction’s North Hero Fire & Town Garage project to experience construction firsthand and learn about opportunities in the skilled trades.
Hosted by DEW’s project team, the visit gave students the opportunity to tour an active construction site, meet with DEW employees and trade partners, and gain a behind-the-scenes look at how a project comes together.
More importantly, the experience helped connect classroom learning to real-world construction. By seeing an active project in progress, students gained exposure to the people, processes, and jobsite conditions that shape a career in the trades—insight that’s difficult to replicate in a classroom environment.
For DEW, opportunities like these are an important part of building the next generation of builders. Through partnerships with organizations like the Vermont Construction Academy, students can explore rewarding career paths, better understand the realities of the industry, and see firsthand the opportunities available to those willing to learn and grow.
“Building the next generation of builders starts by giving students the opportunity to experience construction firsthand,” said Matt Cadieux, General Superintendent. “When students step onto an active jobsite, they can see how classroom learning translates into the real world, explore the opportunities available in the trades, and begin to envision a future for themselves in our industry. As construction professionals, it’s our responsibility to open doors, share our knowledge, and help inspire the workforce that will build our communities for years to come.”
For two students, Damian Morrison and Malakai Dearmin, that exposure led directly to an opportunity with DEW.
Before the day was over, both students had submitted employment applications in the job trailer with DEW General Superintendent Matt Cadieux. Today, Damian and Malakai are members of the DEW team, beginning their careers as Carpenter Apprentices.
Their story reflects the impact workforce development programs can have when education and industry come together. By giving students the opportunity to experience construction firsthand, programs like the Vermont Construction Academy’s Carpentry Boot Camp help create pathways into meaningful careers while supporting the future workforce of the construction industry.
As a longtime supporter of workforce development initiatives through the Vermont Construction Academy, DEW was proud to host the students and share firsthand insight into careers in construction.
Special thanks to Ross Lavoie and the Vermont Construction Academy for their continued partnership and commitment to developing future construction professionals, and to our North Hero team for welcoming the students onto the jobsite, taking time to answer questions, share their experiences, and help students see firsthand the teamwork, craftsmanship, and opportunities that make a career in construction rewarding.
Watch the video to hear how real-world jobsite experiences help prepare students for careers in construction—and how one visit to North Hero led two aspiring tradespeople to begin their careers with DEW.
