Santa’s Workshop in June? 

It may look like Santa's Workshop but it is actually a Building Futures class. Building Futures, a design build class for middle and high school youth, had the third class of its 8 week pilot program Saturday, June 23. The students are building pieces of furniture that they are making from wood for their bedroom.

This week's class featured the use of the good old hammer and nails. Each student had the opportunity to learn first hand the challenge of using a hammer to drive a nail through a piece of wood, that is without bending the nail or hitting their thumb. They also used a pneumatic nail gun to drive a nail. Home Depot has generously donated all the supplies, some tools and materials for the class. 

The class also had the good fortune to have, Tom Peterson, AIA, an architect, speak to them about the renovation of his home, a convereted Southwestern Bell exchange in South City (click for blog on the project). Each week a member of the community volunteers to speak to the class about a relevant topic.

Building Futures has added a Computerized Drawing Class to its summer program at Construction Careers Center. The design build class is on Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 and 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm. The computerized drawing class is on Monday, 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm. Bus passes are available. The Saturday design build class has had over 55 applications; the current enrollment is 43 students form 25 different schools and 24 different zip codes.

For more information about the free Building Futures weekly programs call 314.241.7222 or email . Donations to support this free program are needed and greatly appreciated the program's staff said.

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