Eighth-graders at Scripps Middle School of Lake Orion did more than learn at a May 14 field trip to Moon Valley Rustic Furniture in Springfield Township.
They received specifications for a new product, to be designed by the students for sale to the public.
They presented their ideas on June 11 to Marc Spindler, corporate sales for Moon Valley (and former Detroit Lion).
‘It’s really cool to be doing something fun and learning how to invent something you can use in the real world,? said student Robert Russell.
‘I thought it was really fun,? said Amanda McDonald. ‘I learned how to use CAD to sketch it out (a candle holder). You can look at the front, top, side views, change things, reorganize things, make the shape different.?
Students designed dozens of products, from furniture to lamps.
‘They came up with all kinds of ideas ? fantastic ideas,? Spindler said. ‘It’s good to bring fresh eyes to our products. It helps us and it helps the environment.?
Items selected by Moon Valley for production include a wine bottle holder, birdhouse and feeder, candleholder, and rack for coats and hats.
‘I thought they had a lot of good ideas,? said owner Rick Detkowski Sr. ‘The bottle holder is a unique item. A bird feeder, centerpiece and candleholder ? I like that a lot.?
The items will be set up for sale in a display at Cedar Works, 5438 Sashabaw Road, early next month, Detkowski said.
Some proceeds will go to the school’s Modern Technology program.
‘We need some big ticket items,? said teacher Amy Redman.
Her wish list includes a computer-controlled, CNC mill machine and a stress analyzer, Redman said.
‘It’s good to help the school,? said Jake Helmstetter, who designed the coat rack with Shawn Hughes. ‘We thought of all the things you can make with wood, like coasters and lamps.?
‘Things that seemed to be useful to people, things that are pretty basic,? Hughes said.
‘It’s a thrill to think one of their designs will be manufactured, marketed and sold to the public,? Redman said. ‘We are especially thankful to Moon Valley for supporting our Modern Technology program and our Scripps PTO for sponsoring the field trip’s transportation.?
The idea for the project came at a dinner party. Amy and her husband, James Redman, Independence Township residents, were talking to the Detkowskis, Rick and Lisa.
‘He asked, how’s your class going,? Amy Redman said. ‘I said our band saw is broken. We started talking about wood.?
‘I said, why don’t you come out to Moon Valley,? Rick Detkowski said.
The exchange helped students by providing them an opportunity to learn real-world design and production, Redman said.
It helped Moon Valley by creating a product to sell, and another use for wood scraps, Detkowski said.
Wood arrives at the Springfield Township factory in 8-foot lengths. As they are cut for furniture pieces, lengths of 8-16 inches are left over ? too short to use for furniture.
‘Now, we burn them for heat in our wood stove,? Detkowski said.
The products designed by Redman’s students use the leftover pieces with minimal reworking, he said.
The class also toured General Motors facilities in Lake Orion, as they explored modern manufacturing techniques in different industries.
‘It was a great experience,? Redman said.
Detkowski plans to do the same thing next year, probably with a Clarkston school.
‘I’d like to do something here in Clarkston,? he said. ‘I’d like to open it up statewide, but start local.?
Moon Valley, founded in 1928, manufactures outdoor and indoor log furniture from wood grown in America.
For more information, call 866.332.1616 or check www.moonvalleyrusticfurniture.com.