On June 23, 2021, ATAS hosted a group of 19 girls and several adult camp volunteers at their headquarters in Allentown, PA.  They toured two of ATAS’ manufacturing facilities and learned about the products being manufactured, and how they contribute to a sustainable building envelope.  A highlight of the tour was to learn about InSpire, the solar air heating wall panel system, and how it can contribute to lowering winter heating costs and help toward clean energy production.

Let’s Build Construction Camp for Girls is the result of a collaborative effort between the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter and the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Eastern PA Chapter.  It is a free week-long camp designed for middle and high school age girls to explore the construction trades, architecture, engineering, and construction materials manufacturing through hands-on experiences and field trips.  The fifth annual camp was held the week of June 21^st at the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School in Bethlehem, PA.  ATAS has been a proud sponsor of the camp since its inception in 2017.

On Thursday, June 24^th, Kevin Klersy, CAD Draftsman, and Tim Coughlan, Technical Advisor, spent the afternoon with the campers, demonstrating and assisting in the installation of metal wall panels and trims.  In past years, campers have also learned about the installation of metal roof panels, including at last year’s camp, when standing seam metal roofing was installed on a shed that the campers built for a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser.

Lee Ann M. Slattery, Sales Support Manager for ATAS, who has been involved in the planning of the camp for the past five years, stated, “ATAS was pleased to be involved in the camp this year, as we have been since its inception.  We are a strong supporter of the development and training of students within the local community.  This camp is a great opportunity to expose these middle and high school age girls to potential careers in architecture, construction, and manufacturing.  With workforce development being a concern for many local employers within these industries, events like this camp are important for our future and the future of the campers.”