COLUMBIA, S.C. — Some Midlands students are doing their part to help stop habitat loss and potential extinction of birds. It's part of a decade-long project at Heyward Career and Technology Center in Richland School District One.
Mr. Frank Gilbert's construction class is hard at work.
"You're moving around, cutting stuff, just making sure you get stuff done in here," Qweshion Myers, construction student said.
The call from the South Carolina Wildlife Federation: To build 60 bird houses for screech owls, wood ducks, and eastern bluebirds -- all bird populations at risk of extinction or habitat loss.
"We have to take care of this earth. We live here," Frank Gilbert, one of the construction teachers said.
And, according to the Federation, over 60% of these birdhouses are used year after year, with hopes of that percentage flying higher. The students love the project.
"You can build a lot of different things in construction that can help the environment," Ronald Morant, construction student said.
"Probably building the boxes. Really, like nailing them together. I know we do a lot of cutting and whatever, but I really like the nail," Anthony Barajas, another construction student said.
And although the focus of the project is building and construction, students are learning much more than that.
"Grabbing ahold of this, it leads them into what they might really want to do, even if it's not construction ... motor skills, communication skills, learning leadership skills, things that are going to actually get them a job," Ray Pierce, construction instructional assistant said.
These construction teachers said once the birdhouses are finished, students will get to take a field trip to see them installed by the Wildlife Federation at Congaree National Park.
