CTEC students build shed to house equipment at local ice skating rink
Published at | Updated at
IDAHO FALLS – A new shed built by Career and Technical Education Center students will provide space for skate rentals and other equipment at the Downtown Idaho Falls Ice-Skating Rink.
Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation had previously used another building to rent ice skates, but when it could no longer use that space, it asked the Civitan Club of Idaho Falls if it would help fund or build a new shed.
Civitan Club of Idaho Falls is a civic organization that raises money for the community. Initially, the club wasn’t sure it could do it, but then it had the idea to contact CTEC.
“Hey listen, we have the money, but we don’t have the people to build it,” Idaho Falls Civitan Club President Danielle Steiner told CTEC. “Are your students interested in doing this?”
The school was happy to help.
Twenty-four students worked on the building over the course of six weeks. They built the foundation, framed the walls, built the roof, installed insulation, did electrical work, added a heater, lights and more.
“It was a really awesome project for the kids to do,” said construction teacher Josh Rahberger. “It incorporated everything they were supposed to learn for the school year.”
Rahberger particularly wanted to get the students involved in the community.
“Learning that when you build things, people are going to see it,” Rahberger said. “The quality and the time you put into it — people are going to notice that.”
“We all thought it was really cool how that all came about as far as being able to utilize both nonprofits and the high school,” said Bryan Chaffin, executive director of the Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation.
This was the first project the Civitan Club worked on this year, and members are happy with how it turned out.
“We’re really proud of it,” Steiner said. “We want to make sure the community knows we’re here.”
From now until Jan. 13, the Downtown Idaho Falls Ice-Skating Rink at 475 Memorial Drive has free skating sessions and rentals Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 7 p.m.