Twelve brand-new mud kitchens are headed to early childhood programs across San Francisco—handcrafted by the talented students in John O’Connell Technical High School’s construction class. These simple but powerful outdoor play pieces will spark creativity, imagination, and hands-on discovery for young children across the city.

Built by Students, for Students
Over the course of several weeks, summer students at O’Connell used a full range of tools and techniques to bring the mud kitchens to life. They developed and followed cut lists, worked with routers, chop saws, and drills, and practiced following plans, leveling & squaring, drilling and fastening, sanding, and staining. The project introduced real-world applications of math and teamwork through assembly-style construction.

“I’ve never done anything like this before. It’s fun!” – O’Connell Student









“The mud kitchens are a perfect example of gold-standard project-based learning. They’re hands-on, community-serving, and require students to develop a wide range of skills to bring them to life. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead this project.” – Mr. Wood, Construction Teacher
A Win-Win for Learning and Play
Mud kitchens are more than just cute outdoor features. They’re proven tools for nature play—inviting young children to mix, pour, pretend, and explore using natural materials. This kind of open-ended play supports early development, sensory exploration, and social interaction.

Through this project, high school students helped spark learning and joy for preschoolers, while building not just furniture, but confidence and practical skills they can carry into future careers. A true win-win for everyone involved.
Thank You, O’Connell Construction Class
We’re grateful to the John O’Connell HS construction students and teacher Mr. Wood for making this possible. Your craftsmanship and care will make a lasting impact for kids across San Francisco. Thank you for supporting nature play, creativity, and discovery in our city!
The finished mud kitchens will be delivered to early childhood sites currently undergoing outdoor play space renovations to support nature play. These transformations are made possible through the Low Income Investment Fund, with funding provided by the Department of Early Childhood and collaboration with San Francisco Recreation & Park, the Presidio Trust, and SF Children & Nature.
