Students from Schenck Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center offered their technical assistance to the Cradle of Forestry in building a roof cover for the Cradle’s outdoor amphitheater.  The project started in mid-October, and the students put the finishing touches on the amphitheater in the first part of December.

While students from the painting department completed the staining of the wood for the ceiling, the Carpentry students constructed the roof cover over the stadium seating in the amphitheater.  The students applied a finish roof covering with an architectural shingle.  Underneath the shelter, they applied a tongue and groove 1 x 6 cypress wood finish and then trimmed it out.  The Carpentry students’ work also involved extensive scaffolding work, including erecting and dismantling the scaffolding at least three times. 

Gary Hosey, the Supervisor of the Maintenance Department at the Cradle of Forestry expressed his appreciation for the students’ work: “I’m glad that we had the opportunity to work together with Schenck Job Corps.  Due to a lack of funding, we relied on assistance from Schenck Job Corps.  The students from Schenck Job Corps were able to step in and finish the project, and we will definitely need more help from Job Corps in the future.” 

After this project, the Carpentry students will complete another task for the Cradle of Forestry.  The students will move the scaffolding to the Main Exhibit Hall, where they will take down the old, weathered siding and provide a fresh new look with new siding. 

Jason Ostman, United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) Instructor, commented on these projects: “When it comes to training youth of America, there’s nothing better than hands-on training, and these projects provide a great work opportunity for our students.”