Students from the SHINE Afterschool Program’s Carbon Career Academy recently designed and constructed supplies for donation to the Carbon County Friends of Animals. Among the items donated were cat houses, scratching posts, fleece blankets and toys stuffed with catnip.

The students designed and built the items using new and reclaimed materials as part of a lesson in architecture. The project, which students worked on for eight weeks, incorporated elements of mathematics, engineering, design and construction.

To create the scratching posts, students drew up blueprints, measured and cut the materials, assembled the pieces and finally covered each post with outdoor lawn carpet. Students also painted and decorated houses that students from elementary Schools & Homes in Education programs had previously assembled.

The SHINE Career Academy is available to students attending fifth through 12th grade in Carbon County. The program, which runs Monday through Thursday at the Carbon Career and Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe. SHINE is a comprehensive afterschool program that builds a strong social and academic foundation that prepares students for success in the classroom and in their future careers.

SHINE uses hands-on projects to develop multidisciplinary skills for high-demand occupations. Projects are focused around a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum and are broken up into distinct career rotations.

Students may attend the SHINE Career Academy without referral from a teacher or guidance counselor. Busing is provided to and from the SHINE Center as necessary. Students also receive dinner in accordance with the federal nutrition guidelines. There is never any fee to attend SHINE.

The SHINE Afterschool Program is funded in full or in part with a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and is administered by Lehigh Carbon Community College.

For more information on SHINE or on the SHINE Career Academy, contact Taryn Stewart at 570-225-7243 or email at shinecarbonschuylkill@gmail.com.