Junior Carpenter Program Thrives At GSV
When New Holland Elementary School teacher Meghan Clisham saw how fifth-grade students and Garden Spot Village (GSV) residents corresponded via a pen pal program, it inspired her to consider how other intergenerational partnerships might work. "I saw the powerful connections that students made with their pen pals and thought it would be so neat to connect the students to these residents in other ways," recalled Clisham.
Through GSV director of life enrichment Colleen Musselman, Clisham reached out to other groups at the retirement community. Larry Knepper of the GSV woodshop responded. During the summer of 2018, Clisham and Knepper met and decided to run a program for fifth- and sixth-grade students one hour each week for four weeks. "That would allow for enough time to complete a project for each student," said Clisham.
The first session began in March 2019. Knepper put out the call for volunteers from GSV to help the 16 participants learn some rudimentary woodworking skills. "The students may choose to make one of several different items," said Knepper, who listed a paper towel kit, a tool box, a book case or napkin holder, a stool, and two types of birdhouses as projects students could choose to make.
This fall, when the program ran from the week of Sept. 30 to the week of Oct. 28, 21 students were divided into groups to work with each of seven volunteers from GSV. "This is an opportunity for us to teach them about woodworking and how to use various tools safely," said Knepper, who added that the spring session went so well that several of the spring volunteers returned to work with students again in the fall. "The children were well behaved," he recalled. "No problems with discipline, and they seemed to be really interested in the different processes."
The volunteers begin by showing students samples of the finished projects. "They teach them to read the plans and understand the dimensions," noted Knepper. While only woodshop members operate the power equipment, students learn to measure, sand, drill, hammer, and hone other skills that are necessary to complete the project. Knepper emphasized that volunteers, a few of whom are retired teachers, take time to allow students to ask questions.
Clisham noted that the students gain more than woodworking skills from the experience. "(The students meet) someone (they can) work with weekly that they can look up to as a role model and to build memories with (and who can) answer their questions and spark their curiosity. They also get to hear about (the volunteer's) life experiences that many find very interesting."
Some of the volunteers hope that for some of the students a serious terest in carpentry may be ignited. "There's a need for carpenters in the workforce in this area," said Knepper. "Maybe some of them will pursue this."
Volunteer Gordon Lash agreed. "I think it's fun to watch the kids do something creative ... but it's broader. All the trades are looking for skilled workers, and there aren't enough."
Bob Winegardner of GSV said he volunteers to pass on what he has learned from other members of the GSV woodshop group. "When I came here, I didn't know how to do any of this," he said. "These guys here have taught me."
Volunteer Charlie Hentz said that he wants to pass on the feeling of satisfaction he receives from completing a project, and John Moore, another volunteer, said he is glad the students are having time with adults outside of school. He added that the students are not the only ones who benefit. "(The volunteers) who have done it before felt that they got something out of it," he said. "I felt good about it, and we are willing to do it again."
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