Weekend wrap-up
Over MLK weekend, almost twenty carpentry and construction students from Sabin-Schellenberg Professional Technical Center (SSC) were hard at work at Westwind. Students worked on three concurrent projects to improve our cabins. Students began siding work on the interior of Alan-a-dale. Working as a team they measured, cut, and installed custom-cut wood paneling that adds warmth and light to the space. In Maid Marion, one team of students completed the initial demo. Another began installing insulation that will keep campers and guests warm all year long. Finally, led by SSC graduates, a team built a new deck on Tyee. Make sure to check it out (and its amazing view of Cascade Head) next time you visit!
Thoughts from Wright
Design builder by trade and inspired teacher by day, Angela Wright is the teacher leading the charge on this partnership. Affectionally known as “Wright” to her students, she has grown this partnership into a sustained program planning, designing, and constructing increasingly complicated and beautiful designs for Westwind. While on-site last weekend, Wright reflected on the first weekend she brought students to work at Westwind. After two days of hard work, there was still some work to be done. The students, mostly freshmen, came to Wright and asked to wake up early the next morning and complete their work. At this moment, recounts Wright, “I realized we were on to something.” This program survived almost nine months of distance learning. It has grown into a thriving community of hard workers and dedicated students, welcoming back recent grads to continue passing on knowledge and growing the next generation of design-builders.
Student outcomes
As Wright explains, and her students echo, the skills gained through our partnership with SSC are vast and varied. After one year of this program, students learn practical design and building skills. They can plan a project, measure with precision, work with hand tools, and clean up a job site. Students at the SSC work weekend explained they have used these skills to make repairs around their house, obtain summer internships, and prepare for future trade careers. In subsequent years, students build on these skills. They learn more technical skills, like designing blueprints, building complex designs, and teaching their skills to their younger classmates.
Beyond the technical and job site skills, the common theme echoed throughout the weekend, is the confidence these students gain. They are trusted to work with potentially dangerous tools, make in-the-moment decisions, and teach others how to perform tasks. At the end of the year, their hard work results in a project that they know they built. “Seeing the finished work, and knowing where we started, is a huge confidence boost,” explains fourth-year student Parker. Moreover, the community built during the work weekends is unmatched. Students play games, use silly, yet deep, questions to break the ice, and when the work allows, participate in archery, kayaking, and hikes. As Wright describes, the time at Westwind brings students together in ways that aren’t possible in a traditional classroom.
Why cabin remodels?
In 2017, a community survey told us that our cabins were a barrier to accessing Westwind’s programs, site, and community. They were too dark, too cold, and not comfortable enough. Our mission calls for us to be a leader in getting people outdoors. However, we understand emphatically that our guests cannot be comfortable exploring outdoors if they don’t first feel comfortable in our indoor spaces. And so, we launched a multi-year effort to renovate our cabins. With the help of SSC, we renovated eight of our thirteen camper cabins and are currently engaged in renovations to our Sherwood unit.
These remodels have improved comfort by building new bunks, replacing the interior with warmer wood, and improving lighting. They have improved safety with improved bunk design and better lighting. They improved energy efficiency with updated insulation and energy-efficient heaters. This work allows our cabins to be a place where community buds, and a comfortable place to recharge after a long day exploring our wild forests and sandy shores.
Inspiring stewards
Our mission is to inspire the next generation of stewards. This project allows young people to leave a lasting legacy at Westwind. These renovations will last for years and serve tens of thousands of people. Having safe and comfortable cabins will allow new generations of campers to discover their love for the outdoors. At Westwind, SSC students learn the skills they will use to build their communities by pursuing a career in the trades. They are also physically building our future, stewarding Westwind for new campers, families, and guests.
