Fourteen Alaska Job Corps students arrived at the Birchtree Charter School on a misty Friday morning.  Each student was geared up with hard hats and  safety boots.  As they filed off the bus, they were uncomfortable.  This was a busy and unfamiliar place.   The Charter school’s “natural playscape”construction plans appeared ambitious and unique.

The students walked slowly to the sign-in facility.   Birchtree volunteers greeted the students enthusiastically, saying,  “We’re so glad you’re here.”  Then the Build Director, Liam introduced himself.  He shook students’ hands and treated them like skilled professionals.  It was the school’s warm welcome and  respect which  inspired these students to labor hard.

Job Corps students spent the next six hours digging gravel, placing tires, compacting soils, moving sod, and stripping cedar bark.  This equates to 84 hours of sweat equity and training.  More importantly, this is community service.  Training and public service are the two sturdy Job Corps goals which help students learn employability.  At the Birchtree Community Build, carpentry and facility maintenance students were able to work with elders, children, parents and teachers.

Students pulled  long, woody strips from giant cedar logs, shipped up for this project from South East Alaska.  As the ragged bark was peeled off, a strong moist fragrance filled the air.  It was a spicy, primitive aroma—of deep forests;  this raw scent of cedar, moss and pungent wood  made conversation easy.  Students talked about boats, canoes or carvings done by their ancestors.    

Behind students’ maturing skills is both compassion and muscle.  Community talent and appreciation helps students to walk proud.  Late afternoon, Job Corps students left the site dirty and sore.  But most importantly, there was the great feeling of from a hard day of volunteer work