WOMEN CAN DO

The workshops are taught mostly by women who are practicing professionals in their field. They are all hands-on, designed to give girls the opportunity to actually try out the real equipment and tools and techniques used on the job. Girls at the conference might get to drive a bulldozer, use a chainsaw, operate a fire hose, solder a pipe, or build a web page. They can investigate a mock crime scene, try their hand at drafting and create their own computer animation. Click here for descriptions of past workshops.

Women Can Do is open to girls in 9th – 12th grade. Students must register through their guidance counselors (home-schooled students can register directly with VWW). Registration materials for the 2008 conference will be available in high schools as soon as school opens in the fall, and they are available to download from this website.

"I encourage every woman to join a tech program and pursue an extraordinary career. Thank you so much for today, I had so much fun, I just want to cry because I feel so good about myself." - Women Can Do participant

Did you know..

*64% of girls currently enrolled in a trades or technology program in a technical center agreed or strongly agreed that the conference made them feel that they will have a better experience in their center from now on.
*39% of girls not currently enrolled in a trades or technology program in a technical center agreed or strongly agreed that they are considering enrolling in a trades or technology program in a technical center.

Women Can Do is produced and supported by:

• Barre Technical Center/Spaulding High School
• Center for Technology, Essex
• Crystal Rock/VT Pure
• Engelberth Construction
• FairPoint Communications
• Green Mountain Technology & Career Center
• Hartford Area Career and Technology Center
• Lyndon Institute
• North Country Career Center
• Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center
• Randolph Technical Career Center
• River Bend Technical Career Center
• River Valley Technical Career Center
• Stafford Technical Center
• Vermont Agency of Transportation, office of Civil Rights
  and Labor Compliance
• Vermont Commission on Women
• Vermont Department of Education
• Vermont Department of Labor
• Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
• Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity
• Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
• Vermont Technical College

Special Thanks to:

All of our amazing workshop presenters!

• Associated General Contractors
• Blue Wave Taekwondo School
• Burlington College
• Guillot - Vivian - Viehmann Architects, Inc.
• IBM
• Local 693 United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters
• Norwich University
• Orange County Sheriff's Department
• Red House, Inc
• River Valley Technical Center
• Society of Women Engineers
• South Hero Volunteer Fire Department
• Students of the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center
• Tech Savvy Girls
• University of Vermont
• Verizon
• Vermont Center for Geographic Information
• Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
• Women Unlimited

Past Women Can Do Workshops

MAKING THE CONNECTION: Curious about CISCO Networking? You will be able to make patch cables using CAT5 cable and RJ45 connectors and then will test them using Fluke cable meters.

THE POWER OF WOMEN: Do you know how strong you are? In this workshop, you will learn simple, effective self-defense moves and discover how powerful you are. This workshop will be physical and interactive.

3D COMPUTER-AIDED-DESIGN: Thinking about mechanical engineering or industrial design? Using Mechanical Desktop software, a powerful package used for mechanical design, students will simulate 3D shapes and assemble them on the computer to create virtual machines by extruding, revolving, cutting holes, and joining other shapes to them.

NATURAL RESOURCES OUTDOOR INVENTORY: Evaluate a piece of land by using plant and wildlife identification processes. Test water quality and then use compasses, a global positioning system and mapping techniques. Dress for outside work.

VIDEO PRODUCTION: With the advent of digital TV, many more channels are available. Programming needs for these channels will create great career opportunities in the future. In this workshop you will gain an overview of video production as well as work with cameras and computer editing. You will videotape other workshops and produce a video to show at the end of the day.

PLAYING IN THE DIRT: Learn to maneuver heavy equipment like a roller, excavator, bulldozer, back hoe and hydraulic crane.

RAVING RIVETERS: Are you curious about what holds the skin of the airplanes together? Learn the basic procedure for installing solid shank rivets. Find out about different fasteners as well as why certain materials are used in aviation maintenance.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE: Try a variety of forestry measurement tools to measure a tree's diameter, height, and volume in board feet. Measure forestry inventory plots with 10% BAF prism, diameter tape and a clinometer. Also learn to use a compass and to calibrate its pace.

I WANT TO BE A FIREFIGHTER WHEN I GROW UP: This workshop will introduce you to the diverse field of firefighting - from wildland firefighting to rappelling off buildings, from child psychology to volunteer firefighting. You will get the chance to try on some of the gear, including a self-contained breathing apparatus.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY: Rehabilitation Engineering Makes a Difference! Assistive technology enables people to use the skills they have and to empower them to do more. In this workshop you will be able to make battery interrupters to adapt toys for kids with disabilities. This workshop is linked to careers such as occupational therapy and mechanical engineering.

IS THERE A MOUS IN THE HOUSE? Becoming Industry Certified in the Computer Field: Yes, MOUS is misspelled; it stands for Microsoft Office User Specialist, one of the many computer industry certifications. Are you thinking of a career in the computer field? Learn about certification paths, try a hands-on A+ scavenger hunt and play MOUS jeopardy. Come investigate the many opportunities that involve working with computers- some may surprise you!

THE ART OF WELDING: An introduction to basic welding using an oxygen-acetylene torch. You will bend steel rods and weld pieces together. Please bring a hat to cover your hair.

DESIGN AND CREATE A PAGE: Graphic designers communicate visually every day with people. Become a designer for the day! Roll up your sleeves and create your own page in "The Hand Book of Time".

WOMEN AND WORK: Explore your career options and educational possibilities! Learn some facts about women in the workforce through games and fun activities. Learn more about yourself, your career interests and how to get to where you want to go!

FENDER BENDER? LEARN HOW TO MEND 'ER: Ever crashed a car? Pound a dent into a car and learn how to fix it! Learn auto body repair skills like grinding, sanding, body filling and priming.

COOKIE CUTTERS: Want to be a Lumber Jill? Learn how to safely use a chainsaw to cut a few log "cookies" to take home.

LAWNMOWER MAINTENANCE: Does your mower sputter out while your grass keeps growing? Learn how to service your family lawn mower for winter and keep it going all summer long.

PLUMBING POWER: Measure, cut and solder different types of pipes! Then use pipe dies to make threads and wrenches to assemble steel pipe and fittings.

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE: In this workshop, you'll learn the basic skills involved in the electrical trade. Participants will get a hands-on lesson in bending, stripping and connecting wires to create an electrical lighting circuit.

SAFETY FIRST: This workshop will introduce you to careers in fire prevention and occupational safety.

HOW WE LEARN BEST: Students from South Burlington High School will present their independent study projects completed when enrolled in the Women In Technology course and invite reflection on what it feels like to be in a male-dominated classroom. Discussion and activities will define individual learning styles and develop tools for excelling in a computer-based classroom.

INTERNET EXPLORATION: Do you like to use the internet? Today's society uses it for business, learning and recreation. In this workshop you will have the chance to create a web site about career opportunities created by the World Wide Web.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A GEEK TO CONTROL THE INTERNET: Do you like to e-mail, chat, or browse the internet? How would you like to get paid for using the Internet? Somebody gets paid to create those online quizzes, design cool web sites, and monitor chat rooms. Could that someone be you? Learn about the need for graphic artists, photographers, writers, web designers, computer programmers, animators, multi-media specialists, database administrators, and more cool careers for those who want to CONTROL THE NET (not just surf)!

ROBOTS IN ACTION: Not all robots are as "human" as those in Star Wars, but for high tech manufacturers like IBM, they are often the ones that do much of the hands-on work now. Try your hand at telling a robot what to do and meet two of IBM's robotics technicians.

ANIMATION: Have you ever wanted to create an animated movie you could share with friends over the internet? The key to animation on the web is Macromedia's Flash 5. In this workshop you will create a small movie depicting a creature of your creation on a search for food. Bring a floppy disk or be prepared to email it to yourself.

THE JAVA JIVE: One of the fundamental tools of computer science is programming. In this workshop, you'll learn to use the Java programming language to develop graphics, called Java applets, and how to add them to web pages.

GET A LOCK ON CORRECTIONS: Get an introduction to today's correctional setting. From behaviors and handcuffs to fingerprinting, this workshop is interactive. This is a great stepping stone for any law enforcement or human services career.

ROCK OUT WITH WOOD: This workshop will give you an introduction to wood working skills. You will build a small CD rack using power saws, drills and various hand tools. Also, learn about related careers including framing, detailing, cabinetry, furniture making, appraising and inspecting.

YOU'RE FRAMED! Try out different building techniques in this double length session. Using power and hand tools, framing materials, and good will, this group will construct a community service project that will be donated to Vermont Technical College, Randolph, Vermont.

BIOTECHNOLOGY: Did you ever wonder how scientists could determine to whom a hair or blood stain belonged, how vaccines work, whether genetically modified foods are safe or why cancer is so difficult to cure? You will see tools used in biotechnology and experiment with some of the techniques that are vital to this field.

WOMEN AT THE HELM: Do you like being on the water? Have you ever considered a career on the water? Meet the women who pilot the Lake Champlain ferries, and learn about opportunities to work on boats -- from the engineer room to the deck and the pilot house.

SCIENCE SLEUTHS I - A Crime Scene Investigation: Are you interested in forensics or a legal career? In this workshop you will be able to investigate a crime scene and use deductive reasoning to determine the nature of the crime.

SCIENCE SLEUTHS II - A Forensics Laboratory Investigation: In this follow-up workshop to Science Sleuths I, you will use laboratory analyses to investigate evidence collected from a simulated crime scene. Analysis of this evidence will allow "forensic investigators" to theorize a solution to the crime.

THE CATAPULT: Do you like to tinker and create things? Ever consider the world of engineering as a career? This workshop will give you a hands-on experience from start to finish as you build and test your design for a working catapult. A friendly competition is part of the plan.

WOMEN WORKING IN THE WILD: There are hundreds of hiking and biking trails across Vermont. Learn how to get involved in environmental conservation, a field that takes you into the woods building trails, friendships and communities. You'll learn how to use hand tools and how you can maintain the natural beauty of Vermont by working on a back country trail crew.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND TRACKING: The outdoor education field is growing, and animal tracking especially is gaining popularity. Biologists, ecologists, and conservation organizations use track and sign information to tell them which animals are where. Come have fun learning about tracks and signs, and bring warm outdoor clothes.

FLY HIGH IN AVIATION: There is an ongoing demand for people to do all sorts of work in the aviation field. Some you've probably heard of -- like pilot and flight attendant. Others get less publicity, like dispatchers, schedulers, and mechanics. Learn about all of these and how you can get into a career in aviation.