MAGIC Camp gives girls opportunity to explore skills

More than twenty Burke County girls recently learned the basic skills for carpentry, electrical work and welding, thanks to Southern Nuclear and Georgia Power. Southern Nuclear and Georgia Power, along with several other sponsors, hosted Mentoring a Girl in Construction Camp (MAGIC) at Burke County High School.

“This week-long camp really allows these girls to learn more about employment opportunities available to women in the construction industry,” said Renee Conner, owner of Precision Tapping Inc. and founder of MAGIC.

The girls had the opportunity to learn multiple skills during the camp, but for rising junior Charlexus Houston, welding was particularly interesting. “I was a little scared at first, but I learned a lot and it was really fun,” said Houston.

Armand “Trip” Allen and Joyce Bailey, Southern Nuclear mechanics at Vogtle 1 and 2, led the welding portion of the camp, and helped the girls fabricate butterflies made of rebar and various metal pieces. “There are a lot of good opportunities for women in skilled labor and industrial fields,” said Bailey. Bailey was the first Southern Nuclear female employee to earn a nuclear welder certification. “Things were very different when I started in 1988. These young ladies have a bright future if they stay focused and get involved now at a young age.”

MAGIC camp ended the week with a tour of Plant Vogtle where the girls learned about how nuclear energy works and the opportunities in skilled labor at the plant.