Apply for Girl Power Camp

DEC apprentice lineworker Megan Simmons' co-op career began in 2021 when she was hired as an underground cable locator. After about a year-and-a-half, Simmons says she was ready for a new challenge and signed up for DEC’s apprentice lineworker program — the first woman to do so in the Co-op’s 88 years of operation.                               

“It's important for women to explore all of their opportunities,” Simmons says. “You never know what you'll fall in love with if you don't at least try.”

This fall, Simmons looks forward to sharing her love of linework and demonstrating the skills required for "keeping the lights on" with young women throughout Delmarva who sign up to participate in this year’s Girl Power Camp. Hosted by Delaware Electric Cooperative and the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC), Girl Power Camp offers high school students the chance to explore careers in the utility field. The camp began in 2021 and has been hosted in Palmyra, Va., for the past three years. Growing interest has led to expanding its reach with an additional camp serving Delmarva. The interactive experience introduces students to a variety of career paths in the energy industry — including utility linework — at no cost. 

“We’re overwhelmed by the response and support we’ve received over the past few years,” says Jim Robertson, VMDAEC manager of member services. “Our generous industry partners and member co-ops are helping us reach dozens of young women who are still at the stage of figuring out their future career paths. Witnessing these students realize they have what it takes to do these jobs is rewarding.”

The one-day energy career experience is intended for students interested in or curious about working on a line crew, in a substation, as a drone operator, with advanced-metering technology or as a fiber broadband technician. Instructors will lead students through various activities, teaching them about safety on the job: including how to safely climb a utility pole, operate a bucket truck and operate a drone.                                                        

DEC’s CEO Rob Book says he is excited by the increased interest young women are showing in operations jobs within the co-op industry, and believes experiences like Girl Power Camp will broaden their scope of potential career paths as they prepare to enter the workforce.

“I feel it’s important for young women to participate in these types of events, as they can serve as a lightbulb moment for those who may not have considered utility work as an option before. My hope is that it helps them realize, or reinforce, an interest in pursuing careers in the utility field.”

Girl Power on the Eastern Shore is scheduled for Oct. 3 at the Choptank Electric Cooperative district office in Salisbury, Md. Camp begins at 9 a.m. and should finish by 3:30 p.m. Registration is now open at vmdaec.com/girl-power-camp. Please email any questions to [email protected] or contact DEC’s Lauren Irby at [email protected].