Columbia Gorge CASA Unveils Playhouse for Raffle Built by Students at South Wasco County High School

Columbia Gorge CASA proudly unveiled its newest playhouse for raffle at Maupin Daze. This year’s playhouse was handcrafted by students in the Career & Technical Education (CTE) program at South Wasco County High School. Proceeds from the raffle will support Columbia Gorge CASA’s mission of advocating for abused and neglected children throughout the Columbia Gorge.

The project was made possible through a partnership with South Wasco County High School and its Career & Technical Education program. Jorma Henson, Career and Technology Educator at the school, wanted to participate because of his personal connection to CASA’s work. Henson had a CASA volunteer as a child and has known many children who have also benefited from the advocacy and support CASA provides.

“Projects like these, when they come along, are great learning opportunities for students on multiple levels. The most obvious level is the actual design and construction. We built the playhouse as if it was a small house. Students learned framing, roofing, siding, painting, and finish carpentry,” explained Henson. “The students who worked on this project were able to develop a sense of pride while they were building, and especially after the final construction was complete. Building students’ self-worth is a vital part of being an educator.”

The playhouse was created through a collaborative effort across multiple student programs. The project began with the school’s CAD class, where students designed several prototypes and created 3D-printed models of possible playhouse concepts. Construction students then completed the build, while maker space students added finishing details and painted the structure. In total, 14 students contributed to the creation of the playhouse.

“The students exceeded our expectations,” stated Columbia Gorge CASA Executive Director Christopher Janetzko. “Their talent, craftsmanship, and dedication are evident in every detail of this playhouse. We are incredibly grateful for the time and effort they invested in this project.”

Tickets start at $25! The raffle will end on September 21, and the winner will be announced on October 3 at Columbia Gorge CASA’s annual run/walk.

This year’s raffle is presented by Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Foundation and One-Line Professional Services. Additional sponsorship support was provided by A Kidz Dental Zone, Copper West Real Estate, Meadow Outdoor Advertising, Waste Connections, Tum-A-Lum Lumber, Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty, Hanlon Development, Lab Man Distributing, and One Community Health.

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