The Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC) Junior Builder Program

BIASC developed its first Junior Builder program in 2019, as an annual summer camp designed to present local youth with the unique opportunity to learn about the home building industry and its importance in the greater community in which they live and play. Students ranging in age from approximately 9 to 14 years of age, drawn from local and underserved youth organizations such as the YMCA and The Boys & Girls Clubs, have enjoyed the experience of building their passions through Junior Builder activities that include: guided field trips to communities under construction, home building education, online home design competitions and presentations, and hearing directly from industry experts – all of which bring their special talents to life.

Through the support and interaction of industry leaders and valuable sponsors, a series of one-to-three-day builders camps have effectively taught students about honoring the history and future of Southern California housing, while learning about principles associated with design, building, energy and so much more.

Most notably and in conjunction with the BIASC’s recent centennial year, members of Junior Builder played an integral role in conceptualizing an award-winning float in the 2023 Rose Parade®.

The 2025 Junior Builder camp calendar will soon be revealed. In the interim, if interested in supporting the builder program through hosting a camp, sponsorship or in-kind contributions, please contact Cristina Walters at cwalters@biasc.org.

Click Here to View our Rose Parade Float

BIASC Junior Builder Founders

Mia Montejano

Mia Montejano is the co-founder of the Junior Builder program, a program she created alongside her sister, Maddie, when she was just 11 years old.

Mia is a senior at San Clemente Highschool and will spend this summer planning for the Junior Builder summer program expansion programs in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties with underserved communities and children’s youth organizations which will incorporate a comprehensive science STEM program in partnership with SoCalGas. Mia was recognized by the California State Senate for the 2024 California Woman Making Herstory Award.

Maddie Montejano

Maddie Montejano is the co-founder of the Junior Builder program, a program she created alongside her sister, Mia, when she was just 9 years old.

Maddie is a junior at San Clemente Highschool who will spend this summer planning for the Junior Builder summer program expansion in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties with underserved communities and children’s youth organizations which will incorporate a comprehensive science STEM program in partnership with SoCalGas. Maddie was recognized by the California State Senate for the 2024 California Woman Making Herstory Award.

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For more information about Junior Builder, please contact Cristina Walters at cwalters@biasc.org.

Professionals at the Builders for Better Communities Foundation event, including construction workers & representatives.

Students at a Junior Builder program, giving thumbs up and peace sign, engaged in home building education.

Group of young students in hard hats at a home building education site, smiling and posing for a photo.

Young participants of the Junior Builder program in hard hats posing in front of the Toll Brothers site sign.

Three young students at a Builders for Better Communities event, holding ID badges and smiling.

Students participating in the Junior Builder Program, seated on stairs while listening to an instructor.

Students in blue t-shirts participating in a hands-on design workshop, working with materials in a modern showroom.

Two women wearing blue hard hats sitting in front of a Building Industry Association of Southern California sign.

Two Junior Builders wearing blue hard hats and matching hoodies wave while seated on a colorful parade float.

Three women wearing blue hard hats sitting on a flower-covered float, smiling and waving.

Four people wearing blue hard hats and matching hoodies standing together and smiling in front of a colorful float.

Group of children and adults in hard hats and sunglasses at a Junior Builders event, posing for a group photo outdoors.

Children in orange shirts and hard hats walking with adults.

Close-up of a child playing a game on a tablet, with other children in the background during a workshop.

Children stacking large wooden blocks at an outdoor community event, with other people and balloons in the background.

Junior Builder graduation ceremony with children wearing hard hats and badges.

Junior builders working on designs in a classroom setting, drawing plans in notebooks on a wooden table.