Kelso High School Wood Tech Students Build Homes For Wildlife In Decline (Photo) - 10/06/26
A donation of cedar, three summer articles, and Kelso High School Advanced Wood Tech students are coming together to create dozens of new homes for some important—and declining—members of the local ecosystem.
Students in Joe McWilliam’s Advanced Wood Tech class are building owl nesting boxes, bat houses, and Mason bee houses as part of a hands-on Career and Technical Education (CTE) project combining woodworking, research, conservation, and community service. Each student is building at least two houses: one to install at home and one to donate for placement in the community. Some students were so inspired by the project, they decided to make even more. And the impact will continue to grow: all three Advanced Wood Tech classes offered throughout the school year will take on the project.
The timing is especially fitting for one of the project’s beneficiaries: October is Bat Appreciation Month, dedicated to raising awareness about the important role bats play in healthy ecosystems and the challenges facing their populations.
The idea began this summer when McWilliam read three different articles about declining populations of owls, Mason bees, and bats. While each species faces different challenges, the articles had something interesting in common: cedar is particularly well suited for constructing their homes. That caught McWilliam’s attention.
At the end of last school year, local business A&J Fencing Inc. donated approximately 3,000 pounds of cedar to Kelso School District’s CTE program. McWilliam saw an opportunity to put that generous donation to work while giving students valuable hands-on experience.
“As soon as I relayed this information to the students, they were on board,” McWilliam said.
Before picking up their tools, students researched how to properly construct homes for each species, including different nesting-box requirements for various types of owls.
The details matter. Owl boxes provide alternatives when natural nesting cavities are scarce. Mason bee houses require properly sized, smooth nesting tunnels to help protect the bees and their young. Bat houses provide dry, protected roosting spaces for animals that play an important role in controlling insect populations.
Once the houses are complete, McWilliam plans to contact state and local parks about possible placement. Houses may also be installed on private property throughout Kelso. Community members interested in placing one on their property may be able to receive a house in exchange for donating additional cedar to help students continue building.
The project gives students an opportunity to develop technical skills while using those skills to solve a real-world problem and make a difference beyond the classroom.
From one generous donation of cedar, Kelso High School students are building much more than woodworking projects. They’re building habitats, and giving some of their smallest and most important neighbors a little more room to thrive.
About Kelso School District
Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.
