Upper Columbia Academy students regularly work on Habitat for Humanity building projects as part of the school’s quarterly community outreach program, called Helping Other People Everywhere (HOPE) Taskforce program. But in March, one of the student groups stayed behind in the school’s wood shop to build smaller houses—bluebird houses for the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. Under the direction of Jared Brophy, UCA technology teacher, the group of 10 students built 22 birdhouses.
The HOPE program is now in its 15th year. In addition to the recent housebuilding ventures, more than 20 teams spread out across the greater Spokane, Wash., area to serve once a quarter in a wide variety of projects, which includes anything from house cleaning for the elderly to maintaining trails in state parks.
