Students Embrace Spooky Season During Careers in Construction Month
Teams of two to four students were invited to construct a haunted house no more than 3 feet tall and use only materials that already existed in their lab.
The local fire department then demonstrated fire safety by supervising the burning and proper extinguishing of the burning haunted houses.
Students and individuals embraced the spooky season by participating in Halloween-themed activities designed to spark interest in the skilled trades and promote a positive perception of careers in construction.
Haunted House Build and Burn
Approximately 50 students from five schools in Boone County School District and the Ludlow School District in Kentucky celebrated the industry by building tiny, haunted houses with a unique spooky design
As a part of the challenge, teams of two to four students were invited to construct a haunted house no more than three feet tall and use only materials that already existed in their lab. The creative workshop exercised the students’ carpentry, design, communication and teamwork skills. Members of the BIA of Northern Kentucky served as judges. The local fire department then demonstrated fire safety by supervising the burning and proper extinguishing of the burning haunted houses.
Students loved working together on this project and demonstrating their skills and creativity.
Smashing Stereotypes by Smashing Pumpkins
NAHB Student Chapters challenged educators, students, and professionals in residential construction and skilled crafts to help change the misconceptions of the residential construction industry by smashing the stereotypes of construction careers.
Using the social media video platform TikTok, participants filmed the creative annihilation of pumpkins depicting some frightening stereotypes about construction careers that persist today. Squashed, hammered, and crushed were misconceptions that women do not work in construction, construction jobs are low paying, and construction jobs are not safe.
Thank you to all who participated in smashing construction career stereotypes and congratulations to the challenge winners:
- Meadowbrook Middle School (Best or original message)
- Lindy Denny (Most video likes)
- Samuel Davis (Most creative editing)
- Robinswood Middle School (Wild card)
- Orange County Public Schools Academic Center for Excellence (Bonus winner)
Follow @nahbstudents on TikTok to view the smashing videos. For ideas on how to attract the next generation of skilled trades professionals visit the workforce development resources page on nahb.org.
Latest from NAHBNow
Resiliency | Environmental Issues | Disaster Response
Jun 10, 2026
NAHB Urges Long-Term NFIP Reauthorization, Warns Against PrivatizationIn a joint letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, NAHB and the National Association of Realtors urged the secretaries, as co-chairs of the FEMA Review Council, to act on four key items related to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Advocacy
Jun 10, 2026
Over 1,100 Housing Advocates Call on Congress to Address AffordabilityMore than 1,100 builders, remodelers and other housing industry professionals went to Capitol Hill today to call for congressional action to improve affordability and help builders to increase the production of affordable, attainable homes.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jun 11, 2026
Residential Building Material Prices Rise at Highest Rate In Over Three YearsWholesale prices of goods used in residential construction rose in May as energy prices continued to climb.
Economics
Jun 10, 2026
Inflation Surpassed 4% in MayInflation accelerated to a new three-year high in May, driven by continued increases in energy costs from the Iran war. Energy costs drove more than 60% of the monthly increase, with national gasoline prices jumping more than a dollar since the war began.
Economics
Jun 10, 2026
Home Building Regulatory Cost Burdens Increased 40% from 2021 to 2026A new NAHB study shows that, on average, regulations imposed by government at all levels account for $131,734, or 26.4%, of the final price of a new single-family home built for sale. Of this amount, $46,795 is due to a higher price for the finished lot, attributable to regulations imposed during the lot’s development.