Two Guilford High School (GHS) seniors have taken their interest in woodworking to a new height, literally. As part of GHS Capstone Project's pilot year, Megan Bracken and Ryan Carlson have built a substantial, 18-foot tall osprey nesting platform. The wooden construct will be placed in a Guilford marsh to be adopted by a pair of osprey, which is a member of the hawk family.The towering contraption was built by the fourth-year woodworking students in classes and during study hall time spanning June 2009 to October 2009. Incredibly, the two followed the precisely engineered design without using plans. Instead, they took measurements and cues from a full-size model of the platform supplied by Menunkatuck Audubon Society. The society also supplied materials for the new platform and will mount the platform in protected Guilford wetlands (with help from the GHS students).

The towering contraption was built by the fourth-year woodworking students in classes and during study hall time spanning June 2009 to October 2009. Incredibly, the two followed the precisely engineered design without using plans. Instead, they took measurements and cues from a full-size model of the platform supplied by Menunkatuck Audubon Society. The society also supplied materials for the new platform and will mount the platform in protected Guilford wetlands (with help from the GHS students). Work on the project began shortly after the society received a grant for the new platform and sought a place and volunteers to build it. The group was put in touch with GHS technology teacher David Hackett, who recommended Bracken and Carlson for the job.

Work on the project began shortly after the society received a grant for the new platform and sought a place and volunteers to build it. The group was put in touch with GHS technology teacher David Hackett, who recommended Bracken and Carlson for the job. "This is a project requiring advanced woodworking skills. Accuracy is a big thing; all the pieces are interlocking; there's joining and half-laps, angle cuts…It wouldn't be something for a first-year student," said Hackett.

"This is a project requiring advanced woodworking skills. Accuracy is a big thing; all the pieces are interlocking; there's joining and half-laps, angle cuts…It wouldn't be something for a first-year student," said Hackett.Bracken and Carlson used woodshop time and study hall periods to build the heavy duty platform, averaging three hours a day during school days. They worked outside of the classroom, too.

Bracken and Carlson used woodshop time and study hall periods to build the heavy duty platform, averaging three hours a day during school days. They worked outside of the classroom, too. "At the beginning of the summer, we helped put up an osprey platform in Hammonasset," said Bracken.

"At the beginning of the summer, we helped put up an osprey platform in Hammonasset," said Bracken. Without the assistance of vehicles, Bracken, Carlson, and a small army of volunteers carried the platform into a Madison marsh. The single, 18-foot cedar beam is topped with a wide nesting box with screen floor built of several wooden pieces fit together like a puzzle. Large wooden braces secure the post on the bottom and a metal critter-blocking collar is fixed mid-way up the post.

Without the assistance of vehicles, Bracken, Carlson, and a small army of volunteers carried the platform into a Madison marsh. The single, 18-foot cedar beam is topped with a wide nesting box with screen floor built of several wooden pieces fit together like a puzzle. Large wooden braces secure the post on the bottom and a metal critter-blocking collar is fixed mid-way up the post."It's made of cedar, so it's pretty light wood," said Carlson. "We carried it out there and used ropes to haul it up, then we balanced it and got it level."

"It's made of cedar, so it's pretty light wood," said Carlson. "We carried it out there and used ropes to haul it up, then we balanced it and got it level."The cedar construction is fastened with stainless steel screws and bolts to help ensure it lasts many years in the outdoors. That's important, as Bracken and Carlson learned.

The cedar construction is fastened with stainless steel screws and bolts to help ensure it lasts many years in the outdoors. That's important, as Bracken and Carlson learned. "We found out each pair of osprey goes back to the same nest every year, so it has to be well-built," said Bracken.

"We found out each pair of osprey goes back to the same nest every year, so it has to be well-built," said Bracken.Learning how osprey will use their platform will come in handy when Bracken and Carlson begin the next phase of their Capstone Project, creating a written and visual presentation. Capstone Projects are new for seniors this year, said Hackett. Together with GHS Guidance Counselor Tracy Lenza, Hackett is co-advising Bracken and Carlson on their Capstone Project. Seniors receive school credit for their work.

Learning how osprey will use their platform will come in handy when Bracken and Carlson begin the next phase of their Capstone Project, creating a written and visual presentation. Capstone Projects are new for seniors this year, said Hackett. Together with GHS Guidance Counselor Tracy Lenza, Hackett is co-advising Bracken and Carlson on their Capstone Project. Seniors receive school credit for their work. "Seniors who are participating will present to a panel at the end of the school year. Megan and Ryan will talk about making this platform, what they did working with Audubon Society, and what they learned from interviewing members," said Hackett.

"Seniors who are participating will present to a panel at the end of the school year. Megan and Ryan will talk about making this platform, what they did working with Audubon Society, and what they learned from interviewing members," said Hackett. After they graduate, Bracken plans to continue with woodworking, studying at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, Rhode Island, while Carlson plans to study law enforcement at the University of New Haven.

After they graduate, Bracken plans to continue with woodworking, studying at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, Rhode Island, while Carlson plans to study law enforcement at the University of New Haven.Before they end their hands-on work with Hackett and begin working on the presentation with Lenza, the two GHS seniors have a bit more legwork ahead. On an upcoming Saturday in November, they'll help society members hoist the new osprey platform in a Guilford marsh.

Before they end their hands-on work with Hackett and begin working on the presentation with Lenza, the two GHS seniors have a bit more legwork ahead. On an upcoming Saturday in November, they'll help society members hoist the new osprey platform in a Guilford marsh. Both Carlson and Bracken credit Hackett with helping them to properly build the difficult design.

Both Carlson and Bracken credit Hackett with helping them to properly build the difficult design."It was hard in some places. We only messed up on one piece up top, but then we were able to fix it. We had to be pretty careful about what we were doing," said Carlson. "Mr. Hackett is a woodshop god."

"It was hard in some places. We only messed up on one piece up top, but then we were able to fix it. We had to be pretty careful about what we were doing," said Carlson. "Mr. Hackett is a woodshop god."