At the Corvallis School District’s College Hill campus, senior construction students are spending their semester building microshelters; compact and dignified living spaces that give folks transitioning from homelessness a small, and lockable space of their own.
Through a partnership with Unity Shelter, these students are gaining real-world experience that goes far beyond the classroom. The idea according to School District spokesperson Kelly Locey is to show students that a career in the trades is one of service to others.
While the technical skills being learned are vital, the heart of this project lies in the “why.” Before heading out to a covered work area, the class discusses the importance of the person who will eventually call the microshelter home.
Teacher, Kevin Skillings, challenges students to see past the wood and screws. By focusing on the quality of their screw placement and the tightness of their seals, they are not just meeting a building code. They are ensuring that a future resident feels safe, dry, and valued.
Following classroom instruction, the students move to the outdoor work area to bring the plans to life. Working together, they navigate the challenges of a live build; reviewing plans in real-time, troubleshooting alignment issues, and communicating to ensure every measurement was exact.
The Science of the Build
Under the guidance of Skillings, students have been diving deep into the technical nuances of professional framing and assembly. Key learning milestones include:
Structural Integrity: Understanding the specific use of structural nails versus screws for load-bearing walls.
Precision Placement: Learning the “slide-into-place” technique to ensure perfect orientation before securing materials.
Advanced Framing: Mastering the function of “blocking”, the process of adding short pieces of lumber between studs to provide structural support and fire-stopping, and why staggering those blocks is essential for both strength and ease of installation.
Critical Thinking: When working with foam insulation, students practiced “racking” the material rather than simply cutting it, a lesson in re-assessing a layout to find the most efficient, durable solution rather than the quickest one.
As Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month continues, we are proud to highlight a program where technical precision, hands-on craftsmanship, and social responsibility intersect.
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