SHOP TALK: HEARTLAND FOREST PROGRAM TEACHES TRADES SKILLS

KIDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN INTRICACIES OF CABINET MAKING

Nolan Lounsbury is no stranger when it comes to creating something from wood.

Looking for something that could help him keep busy during the COVID-19 pandemic, he crafted a bench out of scrap wood at his family' Niagara Falls home with the help of his grandfather.

"I was just bored, and I wanted to do something with my grandpa, who was there for a little while," Lounsbury said. "I found some scrap pieces of wood, made a bench, and I made a table, which looks quite sturdy."

Lounsbury was among a small group of youth who were taking part in Heartland Forest's March Break Wood Shop program. It is the second straight year that he has taken part in the program.

Program supervisor Eli Sibley said the program is a great way to expose kids to possible careers in the trades.

"They don't have access to this because they're not in high school yet," Sibley said. "Once they get into high school, hopefully this has excited them enough to join a shop club or take shop in school."

But it's not just about taking classes in school, Sibley said. The program can introduce them to a possible career in the trades.

"You need to encourage people to get into the

trades. It's not all construction, it's not all plumbing or electrical."

Sibley has been running

the program since its introduction last March. He came to Heartland Forest two years ago after graduating

from Algonquin College's cabinet-making and furniture technician program.

As a part of the threeday program, the kids work

with "rough lumber" purchased for the program and set about learning what they need to do to turn that wood into something they can use.

"They plane it, they milled it up, they cut it. They've had plenty of experience," Sibley said.

Heartland Forest Executive Director Elisabeth Graham said the program was made possible through funding from the McCall MacBain Foundation.

"It's a new thing for them," Graham said, adding the foundation is more known for its work with universities.

"They were intrigued about the idea and were interested in exploring it."

Lounsbury, meanwhile, said he wasn't sure what the future held in store, but he will continue to enjoy making things.

"I like doing it as a hobby," he said. "I have a small

workshop in our basement."