Courses

Without question, the Adirondack chair is a timeless classic - its high back, large armrests and contoured seat and back are unmistakable. For many, the Adirondack chair defines the ideal deck or lawn chair for a well-deserved break. This course is the perfect opportunity for you to learn and expand…

This tutorial is intended for students with some experience with bowl turning on an electric lathe, and who want to learn more advanced woodturning methods. We will explore turning asymmetrical forms from bark edged bowls to unusual end-grain pieces and burls. The tutorial will include selection of wood, cutting of…

Pick up your hammer! This course is designed for students with little or no building experience who want to build a tiny home, small cabin or workshop. The techniques for building a small frame building are not only for the skilled carpenter; nearly anyone can come away from this course…

Considering when and where to start on that big cabinet project you want to build and install? Start here. Before you jump into a big project, learn the basic techniques, tools and equipment used by both traditional and contemporary cabinet makers. As a class project, each student builds a pine…

Create beautiful and useful things for your kitchen using simple hand tools and birch wood. Participants in this course will be introduced to the Swedish traditions of ‘köksredskap,' or the process of carving functional utensils, including butterknives, small spoons or bread boards. Students will start by splitting a green log,…

Discover the secrets of the old Saami school of ski construction by crafting a custom pair of birch skis to meet your needs. In this course you'll learn about the origin of ski design, function and construction. We'll also cover topics such as wood grain, bending wood, types of bindings,…

A summer in the garden can be enhanced with some creative woodworking. In this 2 day course we will create some of the common objects that get used in flower and vegetable gardens, making them ourselves using simple tools and re-purposed sticks, branches, or inexpensive split cedar. Students will be…

Make a sweet little firewood/kindling carrier from three pieces of firewood, straight from the woodpile. We will cut, split and shape using hand tools, and refine our skills with a carving knife for the joints and smaller details. A fourth piece of wood will be split up to load the…

The axe is perhaps the most indispensable of all tools in the north woods. A sharp axe, skillfully wielded, makes tasks from splitting kindling to carving spoons and canoe paddles a pleasure. In this course, students will begin with a hand­forged axe head, then make a hardwood handle and fit…

The geometric patterns of leaves and flower, the ripples of water, or the silhouette of a bird...nature provides an abundance of enjoyment and inspiration. Borrow these forms and create original wooden jewelry. Delicate details can be captured in simple wood outlines using the proper tools and techniques. Students will first…

Stefan Norgaard, Featured Guest Instructor, offers this course on spindle turning also referred to as turning between centers. Working with dry birch, students will explore a variety of simple projects beginning with tool handles and moving on toward more elaborate candlesticks or vases. Stefan is also an accomplished carver and…

This kid’s course is meant as an introduction to the various hand tools and simple skills involved in working with wood. The course is co-taught by a father and son team, Paul Linden and Avery Carlson (age 12). We will start with an introduction to common tools, stressing safety for…

The wooden bowl is a reflection of both utility and beauty - an inspiring craft form to experience. Explore the grains of northern birch as you learn detailed lathe handling and turning techniques to turn a wooden bowl on the electric lathe. From tree to bowl, working with fresh cut…

Learn to turn on both the power and pole lathes and explore the historical continuum of bowl turning in this unique course offering. Students will move back and forth between the foot-powered pole lathe and modern electric lathe to delve deeply into a study of old world Norwegian ale bowls.…

Learn basic woodworking skills and create a beautiful useful piece at the same time in this introductory course. Using a variety of types of wood, from birch to maple to walnut and more, students will craft a project of their choice: a pizza peel, bread or serving board or a…