Hamilton High School students are putting their construction skills to the test by creating the ultimate doghouse as part of the NextGen Trades Challenge, hosted by the NARI Milwaukee Foundation. The completed project will be on display during the NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show, February 13-15, at State Fair Park in the Exposition Center.
The NextGen Trades Challenge is designed to provide real world trades-related projects and create connections between students, schools and NARI Milwaukee member contractors. The goal is to inspire the next generation to consider careers in the trades industry.
“The challenge allows our students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to a real-world project,” shared Hamilton High School Applied Engineering and Technology Teacher Alan Mamerow. “They took pride in their work and gained confidence in their skills, exactly what hands-on education is all about.”
Over the past several weeks, Hamilton students have been fully immersed in the construction process; planning, measuring, cutting, assembling and finishing a doghouse designed to be both functional and eye-catching. The project will be featured within an interactive “Backyard Build Off” area at the NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show, where attendees can see the students’ craftsmanship up close.
“We are incredibly proud of our Applied Engineering and Technology Program at Hamilton,” Mamerow explained. “Taking part in this challenge is an opportunity for our students to share their talents with a larger audience.”
Hamilton is one of ten local high schools taking part in the NextGen Trades Challenge. Students at each school are tackling individual elements of the backyard and were assigned different projects such as an ultimate doghouse, a play set, a ninja cave and an entire outdoor activity zone.
“The challenge is a great way for students to get hands-on experience and participate in a project from start to finish,” said NextGen Trades Challenge Advisor and Co-Owner of MKE Design Build Tom Gies. “They follow all the same steps as a professional construction project, from preparing drawings to creating a construction schedule to working together as a team to complete the project on time.”
The NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show runs February 13-15 at State Fair Park, Exposition Center, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis. Attendees are encouraged to explore the Backyard Build Off and see Hamilton High School’s doghouse alongside projects from other area schools.