Students enrolled in Kalama High School’s Career Technical Education (CTE) program are in the process of designing and engineering an educational garden space for Kalama Elementary School, thanks to a $10,000 project grant from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.
Awarded earlier this month, the Better Together Community Impact Grant will directly support the district’s vision of transforming an outdoor space into a hands-on learning environment where K-12 students can engage with topics ranging from food production and sustainability to math and science.
“We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools,” said Cory Torppa, Kalama School District’s CTE Director. “With these funds, and the contributions of so many community members and local organizations, we can build a garden that blends academic instruction and real-world experiences, benefiting students at all grade levels for years to come.”
An illustration of district-wide collaboration, the garden project combines the efforts of school and district staff, the Kalama Elementary PTO (which has already contributed numerous volunteer hours and more than $5,000 in garden-related donations), members of Washington State University’s Master Gardeners program, and, of course, Kalama students.
“We’re thrilled about the opportunities this garden will bring to our students,” said Kalama Elementary School Principal Billina Dolezal. “This project will not only enhance our campus, but also inspire hands-on learning, responsibility, and a deeper connection to the environment. We can’t wait to see our students dig in and grow.”
In addition to collaborating on the design of the garden, CTE students from Kalama High School will construct a pair of sheds and greenhouses on the elementary school site in the coming months, with planting scheduled for April. By next school year, the garden will be incorporated into K-12 curriculum activities, providing a dynamic learning resource in STEM education.
The district also plans to integrate the garden into its food service program, supplying fresh produce to school meals.