Shed Builds Provide Career Exposure for Students

To close out the last week of Careers in Construction Month, we're highlighting our Building Trades Exploration students who have been hard at work building a shed for our friends at the Urban Farming Institute!

Shed builds are wonderful projects for YouthBuild Boston, because they provide opportunities for our students to practice a variety of skills in a single project. Included in this article are photos of the current shed build for the Urban Farming Institute, as well as photos from our last project at the Family Nurturing Center.

Early project phases provide exposure to the design process, site analysis, site selection, site prep, blueprint reading, and building codes. Students learn about the foundation and the pros and cons of using a poured concrete slab vs. concrete footings, gravel bases and moisture/drainage issues. Students interested in these elements may want to learn more about careers in Design, Architecture, Engineering, Drafting, Surveying, or similar fields.

Once early construction begins, students gain a first-hand understanding of how to work with wood, general tool safety, how to use a variety of hand and power tools, and they practice basic carpentry skills including measuring, marking, leveling, cutting, and nailing. When construction is in full swing, students are hard at work framing. They help to lay out walls and floor joists while practicing their vocabulary for the different parts of a building, including joists, studs, and rafters. They also begin prepping for the roof and drywall installation (if applicable). Students who enjoy this hands-on work may be interested in a career as a carpenter, framer, drywall installer, craft laborer, roofer, or perhaps a project manager or site safety technician.

In the final stages of construction, students participate in the completion of the building envelope by hanging siding, installing doors and windows, painting, finishing, and weatherproofing. If students enjoy learning about the details of making a building weather-tight, they may be interested in learning more about careers in sustainable building technologies. Alternatively, many students pursue a career in painting or finish carpentry, and others are interested in learning more about how to become a building plan reviewer, permit technician, or building and code compliance inspector.

Students pose in front of our recently completed shed at the Family Nurturing Center.

Students taking a break on the construction site of the shed build for the Urban Farming Institute.

As you can see, projects like these provide opportunities for deep learning and career exposure in a short period of time for our Building Trades Exploration students. We owe a huge thank you to our friends at the Urban Farming Institute and the Family Nurturing Center for allowing us to practice our skills and give back to the community at the same time! Interested in learning more? Please contact us to learn more about our programs or ways to get involved.