// -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //
  // ---------------------------------- Constructor Helpers ------------------------------- //
  // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //
  private void buildActiveKits(JPanel container) {
    // initialize variable
    final int WIDTH = 150;

    // set containment panel properties
    container.setLayout(new BoxLayout(container, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
    setComponentSize(container, 150, PAGE_HEIGHT);

    JLabel header = new JLabel("Active Kits");
    header.setHorizontalAlignment(header.CENTER);
    header.setFont(new Font("Serif", Font.BOLD, 18));
    setComponentSize(header, WIDTH, 25);

    // create list model and list
    listModel = new DefaultListModel();
    kitList = new JList(listModel);
    kitList.setSelectionMode(ListSelectionModel.SINGLE_SELECTION);
    kitList.addListSelectionListener(this);
    kitList.setFixedCellHeight(25);
    JScrollPane listScrollPane = new JScrollPane(kitList);

    // add elements to containment panel
    container.add(header);
    container.add(listScrollPane);
  }