On any given day, the sound of whirring power tools and jovial voices can be heard outside Bridges High School. A short walk around the back and you might find a lively group of high schoolers constructing a tiny home with Ben Kite, their construction instructor from Youthentity.
“Make sure the boards are flush,” Kite told his eager students on a recent Thursday morning. “Now line up the nail so the board doesn’t split.”
A respectful hush fell among the group as they observed a peer steadying his nail gun. “Bang.” He placed it easily and the team congratulated him before moving onto the next task. There was no time to waste; they were on the job, after all.
Part of a community-wide project, the tiny home build is a collaborative effort between Educational Pathways to Innovative Careers (EPIC), Youthentity’s Career Academy and participating Roaring Fork Valley high schoolers. EPIC, part of Colorado River Board of Cooperative Education Services, provides the blueprints and materials and Youthentity enrolls students through its Career Academy. Together, the nonprofits prepare students to meet the demands of a 21st century workforce through real-world experience.
“The focus of the Career Academy is to give the students a taste of what a career in the industry looks like,” said Greg Beachy, Youthentity’s Career Academy program director. “They can see a bunch of different career paths, how it works and if that’s what they really want to do.”
According to EPIC, about 50% of local students do not attend college and some leave high school without meaningful skills or career opportunities. Additionally, many emerging careers in technology and renewable energy require customized training outside of traditional college. Through their partnership, EPIC and Youthentity help students explore potential career paths before graduation so they can be competitive applicants and obtain livable wages.
To be accepted to Youthentity’s Career Academy, students embark on a rigorous and competitive application process for one of four career paths: animal care, culinary arts and hospitality management, health occupations and construction technology. Over a semester or two, students gain hands-on experience, school credit, industry specific certifications and the chance to work alongside seasoned professionals who donate their time and expertise.
“We work with a lot of industry partners,” said Beachy. “The students meet some of the movers and shakers in the Valley [within an] industry. When they graduate, they have a leg up on getting a great job, or [a] recommendation to college or wherever they want to go after high school.”
The tiny home project is part of the construction technology pathway. Work began in September 2023, and the project is estimated to be completed by Spring 2025. Following a successful inspection, EPIC will facilitate the home’s sale. However, deadlines are not concrete for this project considering education comes first.
“Learning is part of the process,” said Roaring Fork High School senior Balti. “We make the mistakes here so we can be prepared for the real world.”
While some students are familiar with the materials and job site etiquette, Kite said many are new to the trade, which is why each class starts with an extensive three-week safety course. Then, throughout the year, students learn trade-specific protocols and methods that exceed industry expectations. Passing students can earn three industry certifications through the Occupational Safety Health Administration, National Center for Construction Education and Research and Procore Construction Management Software.
“These are very important industry standard certifications,” said Kite. “Most employers won’t take students right out of school without them. At the very least, the students are going to get a couple of extra bucks from having these certifications.”
The construction of the tiny home will be completed entirely by students, who learn every aspect of the job — from building walls and rafters, to roofing and siding, electrical and plumbing work and even landscape architecture. Throughout the build, students frequently refer to the paper blueprints, learn from master tradespeople and adapt to emerging technology like they would in the field. At the end of the year, passing students earn general elective and math credits from their school, as well as construction and business credits through Colorado Mountain College.
Both Beachy and Kite emphasized that teamwork, leadership and mental fortitude are vital for student success. The students hold each other accountable, learn effective communication, lead each other through various tasks and learn how to push through when challenges arise.
“They start building a lot of character development,” said Kite. “Even the kids who are not going into construction … are going to remember this for the rest of their life. They built up their perseverance and grit through this class.”
Donations and professional expertise for tiny home builds are always welcome. Visit www.youthentity.org/career-academy to learn more about the Career Academy. Those interested in purchasing a future tiny home, can visit www.pathwaycenter.org