NARI NextGen Trades Challenge gives Southeast Wisconsin students hands-on experience building greenhouses and trade skills

A student-built project aimed at introducing careers in construction and remodeling

High school students across Southeast Wisconsin have been gaining hands-on construction experience through the NARI Milwaukee Foundation’s NextGen Trades Challenge, a regional competition built around designing and constructing small greenhouses. The initiative brings together students, educators and working professionals in the remodeling and home improvement industry for a multi-month, project-based learning experience.

The inaugural challenge involved eight area high schools: Oak Creek, Franklin, Whitnall, St. Francis, South Milwaukee, Muskego, Mukwonago and Greendale. Student teams worked in small groups to construct a greenhouse built to a common footprint of 6 feet by 8 feet, while retaining flexibility in design details and features.

How the competition works and what students are building

The program’s format emphasizes real-world constraints similar to those found on job sites: interpreting plans, selecting materials, sequencing tasks and collaborating as a crew. Teams received baseline plans and parameters, then developed their own approach within those guidelines. Several schools added customized elements such as upgraded doors, skylights, or additional aesthetic and functional features.

In Oak Creek, students built multiple units rather than a single greenhouse, reflecting both the scale of interest and the capacity of the program at that school. Participating educators have used the build to reinforce trade fundamentals and explore multiple career pathways within construction, including framing and finish work.

• Project type: 6-by-8-foot greenhouse construction
• Participants: eight public and private high schools in Southeast Wisconsin
• Support model: student teams paired with mentors from the remodeling industry

Industry connections, materials support and mentor involvement

The challenge is structured to connect students with working professionals and potential employers, while also giving teachers a point of contact for trade-specific expertise. Industry mentors have provided guidance alongside school staff, helping students work through design choices and technical questions during the build process.

Materials support played a central role. A significant portion of building materials was provided through donations from regional suppliers, while some schools supplemented materials using school funds when available.

The initiative is designed to create a practical, trades-related project that builds links between schools and the local construction workforce.

Public display and judging at a regional home improvement event

The completed greenhouses were slated for public display as part of a regional home improvement show at Wisconsin State Fair Park’s Exposition Center in West Allis, where attendees could view the builds together in a themed exhibit. In that setting, projects were set to be evaluated by design and construction professionals, alongside public-facing recognition elements that highlight workmanship and execution.

The program’s broader goal is workforce development: offering a tangible introduction to the trades at a time when construction and remodeling employers continue to compete for skilled labor. By placing students in a build environment with mentorship and deadlines, organizers and participating schools have framed the challenge as both a learning tool and a career exploration pathway.