Throughout the United States every February NAWIC chapters gather the young contractors together to use their imagination and creativity and learn about the construction industry in a contest called "Block Kids". The construction industry faces a drastic shortage of workers. While we realize a contest introducing young children to the industry will not immediately solve the shortage, it addresses the problem by exposing the children to the construction industry.

It has been determined that by the time children reach high school age they have often begun to chart a career course. Block Kids help reach our young people before they form preconceived ideas about the construction industry.

By exposing children to the fun of building and to industry role models who serve as contest judges, children will gain a lasting impression of a positive image of the construction industry. The contest not only gives the children an opportunity to build the project, but each child must describe what they built and why they built it to industry professionals. The contest also introduces various career opportunities, not only through the contest itself, but through the various activities planned to take place while the judges are deciding.