Local Students Construct Wildlife Habitats

Inside Make717, the volunteer-operated makerspace located within the city of Lancaster, the sounds of power tools and conversation filled the space as the students from throughout Pennsylvania measured lumber, secured brackets, and tested the wildlife habitats for foxes, raccoons, birds of prey, and other injured wildlife species. 

This room brought together 16 students and mentors throughout the state of Pennsylvania, including Manheim Township High School, Downingtown STEM Academy, Warwick High School, Conestoga High School, and more, as they were alumni from the Constellation Youth Energy summit. 

This service day, sponsored by Constellation and the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, along with Make717, brought the alumni of the Constellation Youth Energy Summit together to design and construct wildlife enrichment devices for injured wildlife species throughout the region. Within the two hours, the students constructed wildlife ramps, shelves, swinging devices, shelter boxes, and perches for the wildlife to enjoy once the devices are installed within the wildlife enclosures at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center. 

“We work with a lot of interns and students who want to be biologists or want to be veterinarians,” said Tracy Young, founder and director of the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center. “You’re not going to get this experience working with wildlife and a rehabilitator until you work at a center. It gives them that hands-on feel for their goals, and on a resume, the sky is the limit because there are so many other education opportunities.”

Raven Ridge Wildlife Center is in its 11th year of operation. It helps injured, orphaned, and abandoned wildlife in the region. Though the state and federal agencies license the organization, it relies heavily on donations. According to Young, caring for a single animal, such as a bald eagle with lead poisoning, can cost upwards of $1,000 a month. 

Students did not build the typical enclosures for the animals. Instead, the group created “cat jungle gym” style platforms that promote the natural behaviors of the animals. In all, participants created multiple ramps and platforms for foxes and raccoons, tubes for small mammals, and platforms for birds of prey. 

The event opened the eyes of the students and showed them the connection between engineering and the environment. 

“It’s really interesting to talk to people because everyone has so many different experiences, especially just comparing schools and classes,” Sarah Wolhforth, an 11th-grader who has attended the Youth Energy Summit, said. “The fact that we get to work with people from local districts is probably the highlight of the event for me so far.”

The event was held at the Make717 makerspace, a fully equipped makerspace that is run entirely by volunteers. Mike Ireland is the volunteer director at the organization. The makerspace thrives on collaboration and problem-solving. 

“We have a lot of knowledgeable people who like to share what they know how to do with other people,” Ireland said. “The makerspace is about creating a deliverable thing... it’s about making a thing. This whole event capitalizes on our strength because we had people who knew how to use the materials so that Raven Ridge got something out of it.” 

The Youth Energy Summit alumni program, sponsored by Constellation, allows students to be paired with mentors who are employees of Constellation throughout the school year, providing them with STEM-related activities as well as professional development opportunities. The in-person service events, according to Luke Hancock, a community engagement manager with Constellation, help to bring these relationships to life. 

“Something that we really wanted to do is create an in-person activity for the mentors and mentees to get together,” Hancock said. “Giving back to the community is part of Constellation’s DNA.”

For Manheim Township students with an interest in STEM, environmental, and community service-related activities, the Youth Energy Summit provides a way forward into opportunities like this one. Every year, Constellation accepts applications from first-year high school students across Pennsylvania. 

As the tools are packed away and the platforms stacked and ready to be delivered, the lesson here is that small-scale work, with collaboration and purpose, has the ability to bring positive change from Lancaster County and beyond.