Session: Builder Bootcamp, summer 2024
Builders: 37 middle school students
Materials: redwood 2x4s, exterior paint, miter saw, band saw, jig saw, drill and impact driver, screws, sanding blocks, wood stain
Description: This summer’s Builder Bootcamp project was an absolute delight! Our middle school students built a 7 ft. wooden cat sculpture for Berkeley Animal Care Services, an animal shelter that’s right around the block from our workspace. This sculpture will be installed in the center median in the shelter’s parking lot and will be visible from the Gilman Pedestrian Bridge and the highway! This project was a playful way for our middle school students to learn how to use multiple power tools, including the chop saw, band saw, jig saw, drill and impact driver. Because the sculpture was built modularly, our students worked in small groups to build parts of the cat, making it an excellent exercise in teamwork! The cat is bolstered on each side with redwood planter boxes, ensuring that the sculpture will not tip over when installed.