Made for Trades Program Turns Dugout Rebuild Into Hands-On Career Training for Local Youth

A dugout rebuild at Lauren Young Field in Sutherlin is serving as both a facility improvement project and a hands-on training opportunity for students interested in skilled trades.

The project is being coordinated through the Made for Trades workforce program in partnership with Sutherlin Valley Recreation and local industry partners. Two dugouts are being rebuilt as part of the current phase.

Materials donation and funding

Building materials for the project were donated by Douglas County Forest Products, a contribution organizers say made the rebuild possible.

Sutherlin Valley Recreation, which operates primarily on youth baseball registration fees of about 100 dollars per player, is directing project funds into scholarships for participating students. The organization is allocating 1,000 dollars per dugout, or 2,000 dollars total for this phase, toward trade scholarships.

Additional support has come from Long’s Building Supply. A local Domino’s Pizza location has provided meals for students working on the project.

Sutherlin Valley Recreation is facilitating the build and coordinating the effort as part of the Made for Trades program. L&M Custom Builders is on site to help guide construction and ensure the work is completed safely and correctly.

“Our company is here to make sure the work is done correctly and safely,” Becca Todd of L&M Custom Builders said during the first day of demolition.

Youth from across the county

The dugout rebuild has drawn students from several Douglas County communities.

• Joe hopes to become a framer and is taking part in the build to gain experience.
• Caden, a Winston resident, joined after learning about the program at a career day event in Sutherlin.
• Thor, from Days Creek, drives in weekly to participate in the work.
• Lincoln, from Oakland, is gaining experience outside of his family’s construction background. His father is a licensed general contractor and wanted him exposed to additional job site environments.
• Eric is a recent graduate preparing to enter the electrical trade and is currently waiting to begin his apprenticeship pathway.

Participants are working together on demolition and construction while gaining exposure to job site expectations and basic construction practices under supervision.

“Sutherlin Valley Recreation operates mostly on registration fees, so the materials donation from Douglas County Forest Products made this project possible and allowed funds to go toward student scholarships,” Becca Todd said. “Participants gain hands-on experience while working toward their future in the trades.”

Scholarship model

Students accumulate scholarship funds through their participation. Funds may be used for tools, transportation, apprenticeship expenses or other approved career-related costs.

Eric is the first participant eligible to access scholarship funds he has earned and plans to use them to support his transition into an electrical apprenticeship.

Build timeline

The first work day focused on demolition. Materials were scheduled to arrive the following week. Construction is expected to take approximately four Sundays to complete.

Program background

Made for Trades supports students pursuing careers in skilled trades through mentorship, hands-on training and scholarship support.

The program is supported by the Sutherlin Throwdown event, which organizers describe as a community celebration of the students’ work throughout the year.

“Made for Trades is supported by the Sutherlin Throwdown. It’s a community event that celebrates what these students do all year long,” Todd said.

Vendors participating in the Throwdown donate a portion of their proceeds toward scholarships for youth involved in the program.

“Vendors contribute proceeds from the event to trade scholarships for local students,” Todd said. “There’s strong community support.”

Previous events have included live builds connected to the program. Plans for this year’s Throwdown build are still under consideration.

Organizers said the dugout rebuild is one example of how community construction projects can provide training opportunities while also improving local facilities.

The project is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.