COLUMBIA FALLS — On a Friday before Christmas, while many in the Flathead Valley were enjoying early departures or rushing for last-minute shopping, a dedicated group of students remained focused in the Columbia Falls High School woodshop. Despite the looming holiday break, these students diligently worked as if it was a typical day. This dedication is part of a remarkable program where students contribute to building essential structures for Glacier National Park.
Since 2019, Columbia Falls High School students have constructed cabins for employee housing and other key structures in Glacier National Park. This academic year, they’re completing their sixth two-bedroom cabin and their 13th structure overall. The students also build entrance kiosks and tool sheds, addressing the park’s housing shortage, particularly on its east side.
Jim Foster, Glacier’s chief of facilities management, highlighted the impact, saying, “Providing housing like these cabins for seasonal employees can help entice those interested to apply for and then accept a position to work in Glacier.” This initiative, known as the School-to-Park Program, was inspired by a similar endeavor in Denali National Park, Alaska, and offers practical experience in carpentry and other trades.
Credit: Justin Franz / MTFP
Led by wood instructor Manolo Victor and Glacier Park carpenter Bob Jellison, the class benefits from Jellison’s years of Park Service experience. Jellison, who has coordinated the program since its inception, commends the students’ work ethic. “They’re getting to work on a project from start to finish,” he said. “Every day these kids get to see the progress that they’re making on the cabin and what they’re able to do with their own hands.”
Senior Janna Gorelkin, working alongside junior Noah Baker Kelley, appreciates the practical learning experience, especially as her family remodels their home. The cabins, measuring 468 square feet, include a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms, which Jellison describes as “tight but comfortable.” With funding support from the National Park Foundation and Glacier National Park Conservancy, students also receive tools at the year’s end, enhancing their educational experience.
Upon completion, the cabins are transported to their permanent locations. Two cabins have been installed in Many Glacier, two at Rising Sun, and one in Polebridge, with this year’s cabin destined for Many Glacier. Additionally, welding students contribute by building bear-proof boxes for park campgrounds, a project offering valuable skills and community contribution.
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