A shower or two possible this morning with partly cloudy skies for the afternoon. High 73F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..
A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear skies. Low 54F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: September 11, 2025 @ 11:00 am
Robert Wells-Clark
THE DALLES — Robert Wells-Clark was dropping his child off at the Great N Small childcare center in The Dalles about a year ago and noticed the playground equipment could use an upgrade.
Wells-Clark, director of Technology & Trades, Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication at Columbia Gorge Community College, saw an opportunity for his students to apply their skills in a real-world setting.
Great N Small is the onsite childcare program of Adventist Health Columbia Gorge (formerly Mid-Columbia Medical Center). The hospital’s foundation provided funding to help Wells-Clark make his vision a reality, according to an AHCG press release.
Students from the college’s manufacturing and construction programs took on the task of designing, engineering, and constructing a new play structure, the press release stated. This included fabricating unique components and ensuring the design was modular, inclusive, and easy to modify or expand.
To enrich the educational impact, local high school students were invited every Friday to gain hands-on experience in the building trades, exploring potential career paths. Additionally, elementary school students toured the college’s facilities, learning about manufacturing and construction processes.
Further extending its reach, additional grant funding has been secured to replicate the fabrication for a new play structure at Chenowith Elementary, supporting their Head Start Program, according to the press release.
“This project has touched countless lives, from engaging local college students in this hands-on design and fabrication project to providing safe play spaces for children at two locations for generations to come,” the press release stated.
It underscores the crucial role community colleges play in equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in rural communities. It also highlights the power of community partnerships in meeting shared goals, the release stated.
Adventist Health marked the 42nd anniversary of the opening of the childcare program earlier this month by officially unveiling the new playground structure.
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