For one week in July, over 70 past winners of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence gathered in San Diego for Let’s Build It. This annual convening offers teachers time to connect with and learn from one another, workshop ideas to take back to their classes, and explore local programs and sites that showcase the value of hands-on work.

This year’s event goals were to:

1. Share, learn and produce creative ideas that can boost skilled trades education locally and generate a potential ripple effect nationally.
2. Offer reflection, relationship-building and “hard-fun,” leaving participants motivated for the year ahead.
3. Model techniques, strategies and activities that teachers can utilize in their classrooms.

Here are a few highlights from the week in pursuit of these goals:

Visit to the USS Midway

Tuesday, July 8, saw prizewinning teachers exploring the USS Midway, the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20^th century. Now a museum in the North San Diego Bay, the Midway offers ten acres of exhibits and displays on its impactful moments in US history and the many trades positions involved in its operations and upkeep.

Taylor Guitars Factory Tour

On Wednesday, July 9, teachers and staff were treated to a factory tour at Taylor Guitars’ headquarters. Stages of production for the company’s signature instruments include various examples of hands-on work, from storage management to milling and precision machining designs to HVAC configuration for all workspaces. It was an inspiring time to be reminded how many creative pathways are available to skilled tradespeople.

Prizewinners Support Local Veterans

On Thursday, July 10, teachers were excited to do hands-on work to help improve the Veterans Village of San Diego campus. The campus supports veterans and their families in overcoming homelessness, addiction, unemployment, barriers to health and mental health care, and related challenges. Projects included replacing top-cap railings on residential buildings, pouring and paving a new accessibility walkway, sprucing up outdoor seating areas, and more.

Workshop Sessions: Making Connections

Throughout the week, prizewinners participated in professional development sessions together. These workshops focused on collaborations between teachers in the network and connections they’ve made with their local communities. Modeling collaborative projects and the shared responsibilities that come with them not only brings the teacher network closer together, but provides direct examples of lessons they can take back to their students.