Scouting America Dan Beard Council broke ground last week on the $2.5-million, 12,000-square-foot Dever Family Foundation Skilled Trades Education Center on the 550-acre Camp Friedlander in Loveland, Ohio that will provide a safe, effective and unique venue for introducing, educating and instructing Scouts along with community youth to in-demand skilled trades.

The center is being developed to address the growing demand for skilled workers by inspiring and preparing youth for rewarding careers in the trades.

Students will be able to take advantage of hands-on training for automotive maintenance, robotics, carpentry, welding, plumbing, electrical work and more.

“The Dever Family Foundation Skilled Trades Education Center will help thousands of young people discover careers in the trades, gain confidence through action, learn life-long skills and connect with industry mentors who believe in their potential,” Dan Beard Council CEO Andy Zahn wrote in a LinkedIn post.

“It’s workforce development. It’s youth empowerment. It’s the future, and it starts right here with Dan Beard Council, Scouting America in Greater Cincinnati.”

SKILLED TRADES EDUCATION CENTER

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS THE NEW SKILLED TRADES EDUCATION CENTER ALL ABOUT?
The Skilled Trades Education Center is a 10,000 square foot facility at Camp Friedlander in Loveland to provide a safe, effective, and unique venue to introduce, educate, and instruct Scouts as well as community youth to the in-demand field of skilled trades.

WHY ARE THE SCOUTS SPONSORING THIS INITIATIVE?
Since 1914 the Dan Beard Council has been helping youth become the leaders of tomorrow. The Scouting program includes effective introductions to several skilled trades through merit badges and activities. Building the new Education Center is a natural extension of its mission and will be instrumental in the development of our area’s future workforce.

WHY THE FOCUS ONLY ON SKILLED TRADES?
Local businesses are struggling to find enough talent to fill their job openings; this will only compound as experienced employees continue to retire over the next decade. In addition, high school graduates are increasingly searching for career paths beyond the expensive option of going to traditional four-year college.

WHAT SKILLED TRADES DO YOU EXPECT TO TEACH?
There will be six bays within the Center dedicated to instruction and Merit Badge qualification in Automotive Maintenance, Carpentry, Plumbing, Electricity, Home Repairs and Welding. There will also be space in the building for companies and community organizations to use for their offsite meetings and training programs.

WHAT IS THE EXPECTED COST AND TIMING FOR THIS PROJECT?
We expect construction of the building to range from $1.5- 3.0 million. The final scope will be dependent on the level of support received from local companies and trade associations. The project is on track to open Fall 2025.

IS THIS NEW CENTER GOING TO COMPETE WITH OTHER EFFORTS SUCH AS GREAT OAKS IN EDUCATING YOUTH ENTERING THE SKILLED TRADES?
Absolutely not! We are helping expose youth in 5th through 10th grades to the possibility of an exciting career in the skilled trades. This will help strengthen the pipeline of high school students who want to enroll in training programs in these fields. Sixty-four percent of Scouts today indicate that their Scouting experience contributed to their career choice.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP SPONSOR THIS NEW EDUCATION CENTER?
There are several exciting avenues to join forces with Scouting America to make this dream come true. They include cash and in-kind donations for construction of center, providing staff to help train and mentor students, donating classroom equipment (both initial & on-going), hosting merit badge and skill workshops, and endowments to support the ongoing operation of the Center.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU EXPECT THE SKILLED TRADES CENTER TO HAVE ON YOUTH IN THE AREA?
Initially, we hope that about 500 Scouts per year will participate in about ten hours of hands-on training per selected Merit Badge during their week at Summer Camp. What they learn at Camp and on designated weekends at the Skilled Trades Center can positively influence their decision to pursue a career in the skilled trades.

HOW MANY YOUTHS ARE SERVED BY THE DAN BEARD COUNCIL?
Dan Beard Council is the largest youth-serving, non-profit organization in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Metro Area. There are over 12,000 Scouts and about 3,400 adult leaders involved in the local Scouting Program. The Council geography serves five counties in Ohio and seven in Northern Kentucky.

IF I WANT TO LEARN MORE, WHO SHOULD I CONTACT?
Please feel free to reach out to Andy Zahn at [email protected].

Learn more about the Dan Beard Council at: https://danbeard.org