Eight students from Bethany Bible Church Homeschool Co-op, as a part of their studies, chose to perform a service project for the 2023 school year that would allow them to take what they learned in the classroom and apply it to their everyday lives.
In September 2023, Clara (18), Lexi (13), Miriam (15), Everett(13), Johann (13), Savannah (16), Mattias (16), and Josh (17)chose to remodel three rooms in the basement of Bethany Bible Church in Big Lake.
They began by taking a masterclass in design. They studied interior design by reflecting on the color, texture, material, space, scent, and pattern of the tabernacle in the Old Testament. They did individual projects and drew up designs inspired by those studies. They took field trips to Ikea and the Minnesota Institute of Arts. By January 2024, they brought their ideas before the church leadership and asked them for permission and funding to transform those three areas in the basement that were unsafe and underutilized, into functional and inspiring spaces for everyone to use and gather in.
As a result of their efforts, they were given $500. By March, they multiplied that initial seed money into $2,700 through fundraising efforts and hosting a spaghetti dinner. With the funds secured, the students began work in May, donating one hour of work every Wednesday with the goal of finishing by the end of the school year. As the project progressed and grew, they soon discovered they would not meet that deadline.
A decision to make
Elizabeth Schomburg, the adult supervising the project, mentioned that she gave her students a choice. They could stop and be satisfied with what they had gotten done or they could continue and complete the project as they envisioned it. The students decided that their vision was worth completing. They doubled their efforts, working through the summer months and by September 1, they had completed the renovations. The results were a colorful, rainbow-colored playroom that gave the feeling of being outdoors, a cave inspired bathroom, and a relaxing and calm library for people to quietly read or play board games in.
Lessons Learned
In the end, all of the kids seemed glad that they had persisted with the project. After some reflection, they admitted that they had learned lessons that went beyond those that were taught in their masterclass in design.
Some had learned practical skills, like spackling, carpet installation, and wallpapering. Lexi Nelson learned about interior design, admitting that because of this project, she cannot go into a space without reimagining it.
“I’m always in the mindset of how could I make this better,” she says.
Some of the boys learned about demolishing.
But beyond the practical, all of the students learned how to work together. Many of them admitted that they did not always agree on everything. They often had to make compromises to ensure that the project moved forward. They met often, sometimes taking a vote to resolve disputes, and sometimes tabling discussion for another day. They learned how to value each other and their opinions. Clara Spurlock gave assurances that despite those differing opinions, everyone still remains friends.
“We couldn’t just throw people away because we wanted everyone’s opinion to be a part of the whole room,” said Mattias Bazant. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been a part of it.”
In the end, everyone felt that they were a part of the project and contributed in some significant way and that seemed to be the lesson that everyone agreed on.
