The first Marion Habitat for Humanity house is taking shape with some help from local teens.

On Wednesday, plumbing and carpentry students from Bourne’s Upper Cape Regional Technical School and drafting students from Rochester’s Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School visited the building site to get the lay of the land and to lend a hand.

Students from both schools were eager to get the practical experience.

Upper Cape students outfitted in hard hats reviewed the plans for the house and discussed modifications with their teachers as well as inspecting the site to identify where plumbing elements, such as the water closets, would fit into the existing frame.

Wednesday was an introduction to work that is to come for the Upper Cape students, who are scheduled to work on the site every week until the project is completed.

Plumbing permits are not yet ready for work to begin, but junior Connor Abele of Wareham said he is looking forward to turning the plans into reality.

“I just like the plumbing shop because without plumbing a lot of things aren’t able to happen,” Abele said. “There’s just so many things you need plumbing for. I like being able to be someone who supplies a major necessity for people.”

Abigail Clauson, a junior from Falmouth in the carpentry program, was fascinated by how the plans are adjusted on site.

“It’s cool to see how they modify it to get it to code so that it becomes a functioning house,” she said. “I learn very well hands on, and carpentry is really fun to be able to build.”

She added, “To be able to do stuff like this real house for people who may not be able to afford houses – it’s a great opportunity.”

Upper Cape Technical Supervisor Nolan Leroy said the collaboration with Habitat will be a benefit for students.

“It’s a great live working experience for them, real world stuff, and it’s great to give back to the community.”

He also praised the collaboration with Old Colony, which has been involved in the project for a while.

Two years ago, Old Colony drafting students drew out the plans for the one-story home following Saltonstall Architects’ design. Now, with the frame erected, students put on hard hats, picked up hammers and nails, and began installing exterior walls.

A former president of the Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity and the drafting teacher at Old Colony, Al Amaral said he has been part of a number of builds and his students get to participate in a number of projects for local nonprofits and municipalities in the area. But, he said, getting out of the classroom is important.

“Our students are typically dealing with computer and software and sitting at a desk," Amaral said. "For them to have hands-on [experience] and actually see what it is in real life, it kind of helps them connect the two."

Maic Melo, an Old Colony senior from Acushnet, is one of the few who is familiar and even at home on a construction site.

“My dad’s a carpenter. I figured if I was going to help out with the family business, this would be a good way to do it,” Melo said of his major.

He agreed with Amaral that working on a site makes for a better drafter.

“There’s a real difference between drafters who just use a computer and drafters who have been on a job site," Melo said.

Habitat Building Committee Chair Jack Beck and Project Manager Chris Lyonnais were on site to provide guidance and agreed that working with the students is a benefit to everyone.

Said Lyonnais, “There’s nothing like hands-on experience – it’s the best teacher.”