Students at Lake Trail Community School have been busy building homes - homes for birds… to give to seniors, and others in the Comox Valley.
Grades 6 and 7 students in a cross-curricula class constructed 50 birdhouses that were distributed to various senior residences, care homes and assisted living facilities throughout the Comox Valley between March 17 and 19.
William Bakker and Dawnn Thorson brought the unique community outreach project to their students with the support of the District Careers Department that oversees Applied Design, Skills and Technologies (ADST) learning and instruction.
“We do a lot of hands-on projects with our elementary and middle school students,” Dawn Anderson, the district co-ordinator for junior ADST told The Record. “We provide all the tools and materials, and guidebooks, and then teachers can work with students to build whatever it is they decide on. We have a bunch of different projects they can build.
“So these classes have been building birdfeeders and they asked if they could donate them to senior care facilities. So we called and contacted a bunch of facilities and we are hoping to get between 10 and 15 birdfeeders put around these properties for the seniors to enjoy some birdwatching.”
Anderson reached out to the various senior care residences, care homes and assisted living facilities in the Valley, and had numerous responses from interested groups.
Kiwanis Village, Comox Valley Seniors Support Society, The Junction, Cumberland Lodge, Stevenson Place Independent Living and the Immigrant Welcome Centre all received birdhouses.
“It’s amazing even during COVID how much collaboration this (project) involves,” said Bakker. “This is a part of schooling we don’t think about and school administrators have given the leeway to pursue the project.”
Students involved in the project said the experience was fulfilling and are pleased their bird feeders are being given to seniors who have been isolated.
“I prefer a balance between bookwork and hands-on learning because it is good for creativity,” Jacob Price said.
-With files from Comox Valley Schools
