MAYVILLE — As winter settles across Chautauqua Lake, a familiar and highly anticipated landmark is rising once again — thanks largely to the hands-on work of Career & Technical Education students.
Nearly 80 juniors and seniors enrolled in the Conservation/Natural Resource Management program at the Hewes Educational Center are once again playing a leading role in constructing the ice castle, the centerpiece attraction of the annual Mayville Winterfest.
The students, representing 12 component school districts through Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, spend weeks braving cold temperatures to transform massive blocks of ice from the lake into a structure that draws families and visitors from across the region. This year’s event takes place Feb. 13-15 at Lakeside Park in the village.
Under the guidance of Conservation instructors Jeff Angeletti and Christian Hy, students are not only building an iconic festival attraction, but also gaining valuable real-world experience in teamwork, planning, and outdoor resource management.
While visitors often admire the finished castle, its builders know firsthand the significant effort required long before the first block of ice is placed. Planning for the project begins months in advance.
“The entire ice castle crew works together on this project,” Hy said. “We’re coordinating about 80 juniors and seniors from a dozen different districts. I don’t think people realize how much work goes on behind the scenes to make this happen.”
Once construction begins, the work is steady and demanding. Students dedicate nearly three weeks to assembling the castle. This year, favorable winter temperatures have created ideal building conditions, allowing ice blocks — each measuring roughly 22 inches wide by 44 inches long — to reach a sturdy thickness of nearly 15 inches.
Each year also brings new design features that challenge students to apply problem-solving and construction skills. This year’s castle will feature multiple arches, including a carved photo-op space at the back of the structure, along with a more square design intended to improve construction efficiency.
Among the students helping bring this year’s vision to life are Southwestern High School seniors Dylan Coffin, Brayden Potter, and Leo Kavic. The trio said working on the ice castle offers a unique opportunity to apply the skills they are developing in the Conservation program while contributing to a project that has become a treasured community tradition.
For Coffin, one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience comes after the work is complete.
“It’s awesome coming back after it’s all done and seeing families and kids enjoying it,” he said. “It’s also a great example of what we do in Conservation. When younger students ask about the program, this is a fun project we get to talk about.”
The students are especially connected to the project because many have attended the festival themselves with family and friends, giving them a deeper appreciation for the castle’s role as a community gathering place. They say the opportunity to work outdoors while gaining hands-on, career-focused experience makes the project both memorable and rewarding.
The ice castle project also demonstrates the power of collaboration between students, educators, local businesses, and community organizations. Equipment donations, operational support, and assistance from industry professionals help provide students with authentic career experiences while ensuring the success of the large-scale construction project.
Hy noted that the combination of teamwork and community support continues to drive the project forward each year.
“This will likely be one of the biggest ice castles we’ve built,” Hy said. “It really shows what can be accomplished when students, schools, and community partners all work together.”
