Explore Construction Careers | Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland

Announcing an exciting new partnership!

Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland is excited to annouce a new partner patch program in partnership with The House That She Built.

This patch program is built for everyone! Whether you’re a troop leader looking for a group activity or a Girl Scout who wishes to complete this on your own, this self-paced patch program has something for every level.

Exploring careers in construction is a great way to develop skills and discover new ones. Together, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland and The House that She Built want to empower girls to think about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and construction careers by meeting real professional women in the building industry. The patch program helps girls build self-esteem and develop skills through curiosity and hands-on activities.

The Mission Behind the Movement

The House That She Built aligns with Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland's new Dream Big transformational initiative to reimagine the 220-acre Camp Ken Jockety into a STEM leadership and in-demand job immersive campus. Hundreds of all-female crews including a Girl Scout Alum, Kristi Allen, worked on the building the house that would later become known as The House That She Built. The impactful project showed unity among women in construction and displayed the talents of an all-female home-building crew. The building project inspired a book, The House That She Built by Mollie Elkman, and the book later created a movement that empowers girls to pursue careers in construction. Learn more below.

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This challenging project was comprised of a group of 100 dynamic female construction workers (some being former Girl Scouts) from across the country, and it quickly made history. Later, it inspired a book showcasing different careers responsible for building the home. The book focuses on empowering children to later pursue jobs that were once historically for men.

Today, women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, but they are drastically underrepresented in many fields like STEM, in-demand jobs, and leadership roles. The statistics around women in the workplace tell us that there is a serious need for more robust STEM programming to help our girls learn about jobs of the future to spark their interest and curiosity. With access to cutting-edge programs, a safe place to learn new skills, and mentors encouraging them along the way, our girls will have hands-on programs designed specifically for them, providing girls the skills and confidence they need to be our leaders of tomorrow. Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland also seeks to build relationships with partners that further these important goals for our girls.

The House That She Built is a best-selling children’s book that inspired a movement and educates young readers about the people and skills that go into building a home. One by one, readers learn about the architect, framer, roofer, and many more as they contribute their individual skills needed to complete the collective project — a new home. To discover more about this amazing initiative, visit the House that She Built's website.