E
UREKA! It’s the audible exclamation for discovery. It represents the sudden, unexpected realization of the solution to a problem. The Eureka Institute in Sandpoint, Idaho, is aptly named. Committed to sponsoring life-long learning and community service opportunities, this organization is focused on helping residents of the Sandpoint area. The Eureka Institute is a nonprofit organization that began in 2011. Its purpose is to sponsor experiential and educational programming for all ages. In an effort to reach young people, including at-risk youth, the Eureka Institute has developed its Construction Basics Initiative. Through this program, the Eureka Institute helps
young people explore new skills, expand their knowledge by learning valuable trades and enjoy the benefits of accomplishing something good in and for their community. Steve Holt has been the director for the Construction Basics Initiative. He is a semiretired builder, and he has acknowledged for years that more vocational training opportunities are needed to help young people prepare for future careers. “College isn’t for everybody,” Steve explains. “We wanted to help kids start a good career in the building trades and industry. There is a real demand for highly trained construction personnel.
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Steve has always loved teaching. With the closure of high school shop classes, he realized that something had to be done to encourage interested kids and give them opportunities to learn the trades of the building industry. In addition to teaching trade skills, the Construction Basics Initiative was designed to give at-risk youth hope in a successful future. “We help the kids learn that they can work hard and then stand back and see what they’ve accomplished. Many start the program with fear and a real lack of confidence. Then, as we teach them some simple skills and knowledge, the kids just shine. We’ve changed a lot of lives in the last few years. It’s been incredibly rewarding,” says Steve.