At NBCC, carpentry students build useful things with wood and tools. They also build with their hearts and souls, leaving a legacy of community leadership that remains long after they graduate.
Carpentry students at St. Andrews Campus recently put their newfound skills and training to work for the Passamaquoddy Children’s Centre, building three unique outdoor structures for the non-profit organization.
Each year, the Carpentry program chooses a local organization to be the benefactor of its project for the Orientation to Community Service course offered through NBCC’s Robertson Institute for Community Leadership. A key course component is participating in a community service activity, something Carpentry instructor Steve Gowan says has become an essential part of the overall learning experience for his students.
“It allows them to step outside of their own world and introduces them to volunteering and giving back to their communities,” Gowan shared.
Together, the Carpentry students volunteered their time and donated the materials to build two standard small-scale picnic tables, a raised garden bed, and a custom picnic table with built-in sandbox.
Courtney James, Executive Director of the Passamaquoddy Children’s Centre and a proud NBCC alumna, is grateful for the donations and is looking forward to seeing the children at the Centre using the items.
“We’re a non-profit organization, so it was wonderful to have these items built for us,” said James. “As soon as the weather permits, we will put them out, and the kids will start using them right away.”
The NBCC St. Andrews Carpentry program has worked with several local organizations over the years, including the Dragonfly Centre for Autism, Habitat for Humanity, St. Stephen Middle School, and more.
The Orientation to Community Service course is a pre-requisite for all NBCC programs and has inspired many meaningful projects and connections over the years.
“This course was built on the tradition at NBCC of our staff connecting with their communities and doing projects throughout the year,” said Amanda Bent, Coordinator for the Robertson Institute. “We want to ensure that every student in every program has that same opportunity.”
