Free Summer Programs for Teens on Chicago's South Side in 2026, Including One That Pays You to Learn Construction Skills
- TUF
- Jul 21
- 7 min read
If you're a parent, guardian, or teen in Englewood, Roseland, Auburn Gresham, Chatham, or anywhere on Chicago's South Side trying to figure out what to do this summer, this list is for you.
There are real options. Programs that pay. Programs that teach. Programs that give young people something to do that actually matters for their future.
And one of them, TUF Teens, run by Tools Up Foundation right here on the South Side, is doing something no other free summer program in the city is doing: teaching teens ages 14–17 how to work in the construction industry, handing them real industry certifications, and connecting them to a career path that doesn't require a college degree or a dime of student loan debt.
This is a foundation.
Why Free Summer Programs on the South Side Matter Right Now
Every summer, tens of thousands of Chicago teens are looking for something meaningful to do. In 2025, more than 31,000 young people were hired through the City of Chicago's Chicago Youth Works program, and collectively earned over $30.9 million in wages. The demand is real and the need is urgent. City of Chicago
But here's what most people don't know: many of these programs are competitive, have long waitlists, and fill up fast. And most of them, even the good ones, don't lead anywhere specific after the summer ends.
That's the gap. A teen can spend six weeks doing something that looks like job training on paper but doesn't translate to a career, a credential, or a next step.
TUF Teens was built specifically to close that gap.
What Is TUF Teens?
TUF Teens is a program run by Tools Up Foundation, a nonprofit based on Chicago's South Side. It is designed for young people ages 14 to 17 who want to explore the construction industry, whether they've thought about it before or have never considered it at all.
Here is what makes it different from most summer programs:
It's hands-on. Teens don't sit in a room watching PowerPoints. They learn construction basics the way you actually learn construction, by doing it. They handle tools. They work on real skills. They understand how a project comes together from the ground up.
It builds toward something real. The construction industry is one of the few industries in America where you can earn a six-figure income without a four-year degree. TUF Teens is an early introduction to that world, specifically designed so that teens who complete it are better positioned to enter TUF's adult programs, union apprenticeships, or construction careers when they're ready.
Tools Up Foundation was founded by Dominique Jones, a Black woman with over a decade of experience in the construction industry and the CEO of her own general construction firm. She is an active mentor and instructor in the program. That matters. Representation is not a talking point here; it is built into how the program runs.
The numbers back it up. 61% of TUF Teens graduates are young women. In an industry where less than 5% of the workforce is female, this is what intentional recruitment and a genuinely welcoming environment produce.
A Quick Look at Other 2026 South Side Summer Programs for Teens
We want to give you the full picture. Here are other options worth knowing about for Chicago teens this summer:
Chicago Youth Works (Formerly One Summer Chicago)
The City of Chicago's official summer youth employment program. The program connects youth ages 14–24 with paid work experiences, career exploration, and leadership development opportunities through partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and city agencies. Chicagobility is open to youth ages 14–15 and provides a paid stipend for 120 hours of activities over six weeks. The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) serves ages 16–24 with job placements and specialized training opportunities. Applications typically close in late May each year. Visit ChicagoYouthWorks.org. City of ChicagoCity of Chicago
After School Matters
Summer programs run from June 22 through August 9, with teens able to apply to multiple programs in areas including arts, communications, leadership, sports, and STEM. Teens earn money for participating. Visit afterschoolmatters.org. Chicago Southsider
Chicago Public Library Summer Internships
Paid summer internships for teens are available at every CPL library location through Chicago Youth Works. Good option for teens interested in community work, literacy, or exploring administrative experience. Chicago Southsider
Chicago Housing Authority Summer Youth
CHA's 2026 summer offerings include programs like Be Your Own Boss, Next Level Photography, Summer of Code, and several others. Primarily for CHA residents. Chicago Housing Authority
Revolution Workshop
A construction and woodworking job training program with a South Side location at 120 E. 111th Street in Roseland. Focused on adults, but worth knowing about for older teens who age out of teen programs. Revolution Workshop
Why Construction? Why Now?
This is the question most South Side teens, and their parents, have never been asked.
So let's answer it directly.
Construction is one of the most stable, well-paying industries in the country. It does not ship jobs overseas. It does not disappear in a recession the way retail does. It is physical, skilled, and in Chicago specifically, it is booming.
The construction industry needs to attract an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 just to meet demand, and that number is projected to rise to 456,000 in 2027.
Contractors in Chicago are turning down projects right now because they don't have enough trained workers to staff them. Chicagoconstructionnews
That shortage is an opportunity. And it is an opportunity that is wide open to South Side teens who get trained, certified, and connected now, before they're 25 and starting from scratch.
The construction workforce is getting younger. The median age of electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and HVAC professionals has dropped by as much as five years since 2020. The industry is actively looking for the next generation. TUF Teens puts young people from Englewood, Roseland, and Auburn Gresham directly in front of that opportunity. ADP
What Does a Teen Learn in TUF Teens?
If your teen has never held a power tool or thought about construction as a career, that is perfectly fine. The program is built for that exact starting point.
Through TUF Teens, participants get introduced to:
Construction techniques and how real projects are built
Basic safety protocols and site awareness
Hands-on tool use and project work
What different careers in construction actually look like, from carpenter to project manager to site supervisor
What it means to be a professional on a job site: showing up, communicating, working on a team
They also get exposure to a world most of their peers have never seen. A 15-year-old who spends a summer learning construction at TUF Teens graduates with more practical career context than most adults have at 25.
Who This Is For
TUF Teens is designed for Chicago youth ages 14–17. There are no prior skills or experience required. You do not need to know anything about construction. You do not need to have thought about it before.
What it does require is showing up and being open to learning something new.
The program is particularly well-suited for teens who:
Learn better by doing than by sitting in a classroom
Are curious about how things get built
Are looking for something that leads somewhere, not just something to fill the summer
Come from neighborhoods like Englewood, Roseland, Auburn Gresham, Chatham, or anywhere on the South Side
And specifically for parents reading this: if you have a daughter between 14 and 17 who has never been pointed toward the trades as a real option, this is that moment. 61% of TUF Teens graduates are young women. The industry is changing. The door is open.
The TUF Teens Summit, August 2026
Tools Up Foundation is hosting its first-ever TUF Teens Summit in August 2026, a summer event bringing together teens to explore TUF's programs, connect with industry professionals, and get a firsthand look at what a career in construction actually looks like.
This is a free event designed for teens across the South Side. If your student has been curious, this is the perfect low-stakes first step.
More details coming soon. Follow Tools Up Foundation on Instagram and Facebook for announcements.
Ready to Get Your Teen Involved?
TUF Teens spots fill up. If you are a parent, guardian, counselor, or teen reading this in July, the time to reach out is now, not in September.
Visit toolsup.org to learn more and apply.
You can also follow Tools Up Foundation on Instagram and Facebook for program updates, graduate stories, and information on upcoming cohorts.
If you are a school counselor or CTE coordinator at a South Side Chicago Public School and want to refer students or bring TUF Teens into your school's awareness, reach out directly at [contact info]. One conversation can change the trajectory of a student's life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TUF Teens free?
Yes. TUF Teens is a free program for Chicago youth ages 14–17. There is no cost to participate.
What neighborhoods on the South Side does TUF Teens serve?
Tools Up Foundation is based on Chicago's South Side and specifically recruits from Englewood, Auburn Gresham, Roseland, Chatham, and surrounding South Side neighborhoods. You do not need to live in a specific ZIP code to apply, if you're a Chicago teen, you're eligible.
Does my teen need any prior construction experience?
No. Zero. The program is designed for young people with no background in construction whatsoever. All you need is a willingness to learn.
Why construction? My teen wasn't thinking about that.
Most teens on the South Side weren't, because nobody told them to. That's exactly the problem TUF is solving. Construction is one of the few industries where you can build a career that pays well, provides benefits, and offers genuine upward mobility without a college degree or student debt. TUF Teens is an introduction to that world, not a commitment.
What happens after TUF Teens?
Graduates of TUF Teens are positioned to continue into TUF's adult programs, including Pave the Way Up (a free, paid pre-apprenticeship for ages 18+) and Build Up (construction project management training). They also have a foundation for pursuing union apprenticeships, trade schools, or entry-level construction work when they're ready.
Is this program for girls too?
Absolutely. 61% of TUF Teens graduates are young women. The program actively recruits and welcomes young women. Founder Dominique Jones is a Black woman who built her own construction company, and she mentors and teaches directly in the program.
What is the TUF Teens Summit in August 2026?
It's Tools Up Foundation's first-ever summer event specifically for teens, a free opportunity to explore TUF's programs, meet graduates, and learn about construction careers in a hands-on setting. Follow Tools Up on Instagram for dates and details.
How is TUF Teens different from Chicago Youth Works?
Chicago Youth Works is a broad city-run employment program that places teens in a wide range of jobs and internships. TUF Teens is a specialized construction education program. They are not competing, they're complementary. A teen who does Chicago Youth Works one summer and TUF Teens the next is building a genuinely strong foundation.
Where is Tools Up Foundation located?
Tools Up Foundation's new location is at 1834 E. 31st Street, Chicago, IL on the South Side.
Tools Up Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All programs are free to participants and funded through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program and community partnerships. Tools Up Foundation is located on Chicago's South Side and serves young people and adults across the city's South Side neighborhoods.
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