Five teachers from Brockton Public Schools traded their usual classroom tools for drills and saws in February during a hands-on workshop focused on helping birds and bringing nature into their school communities.

Hosted through Manomet Conservation Sciences’ TREE Brockton program and held in partnership with Wildlands Trust, the four-hour workshop guided teachers through the process of turning a simple 2×4×6 pine board into a functional nest box for local bird species. By the end of the session, each participant had built a finished nest box ready to be installed on their school grounds.

Working with tools including drills, table saws, miter saws, and drill presses, the teachers learned practical construction skills while also exploring the ecological purpose behind the boxes. Together, the group discussed the key features that make nest boxes safe and effective, how to choose the best placement on school properties, and which bird species are most likely to use them.

Once installed, the nest boxes will help support local bird populations while providing new opportunities for students to observe wildlife and learn about urban biodiversity.

The workshop was made possible through generous support from the Brockton Cultural Council and was led by Wildlands Trust stewards Rebecca Cushing and Owen Grey.