Michigan Works! Hammer Time Boot Camp Offers Carpentry Training

Spring program provides hands-on skills and job site preparation for Upper Peninsula residents

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Michigan Works! and the Carpenters and Millwrights Local Union 1510 are partnering to offer the second annual Hammer Time Boot Camp, a 5-day carpentry training program open to Upper Peninsula residents with a high school diploma or GED. The program teaches hard skills like carpentry, job site orientation, and safety, as well as soft skills for working in a union environment.

Why it matters

The Hammer Time Boot Camp provides an opportunity for Upper Peninsula residents to gain valuable carpentry skills and prepare for careers in the construction industry, which can offer stable, well-paying jobs. The program's partnership between Michigan Works! and the local union also helps connect participants with potential employers and career pathways.

The details

The Hammer Time Boot Camp is limited to 10 participants and will take place from April 13-17. Applications are open through March 23. The program covers hands-on carpentry training as well as job site orientation, safety skills, and soft skills for working in a diverse team.

  • Applications are open through March 23, 2026.
  • The Hammer Time Boot Camp will take place April 13-17, 2026.

The players

Carpenters and Millwrights Local Union 1510

A local labor union representing carpenters and millwrights in the Upper Peninsula region.

Michigan Works! U.P.

A workforce development organization that provides training, employment, and career services in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Kaya Borghi

Talent services manager at Michigan Works! U.P.

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What they’re saying

“The Hammer Time Boot camp teaches those hard skills on carpentry, job site orientation, and safety skills. This also includes some soft skills that will be beneficial coming into a union and working with a diverse group of individuals.”

— Kaya Borghi, Talent Services Manager, Michigan Works! U.P. (wzmq19.com)

What’s next

Applications for the Hammer Time Boot Camp are open through March 23, 2026, and the program will take place April 13-17, 2026.

The takeaway

The Hammer Time Boot Camp provides an accessible pathway for Upper Peninsula residents to gain hands-on carpentry skills and prepare for careers in the construction industry, which can offer stable, well-paying jobs in the region.