Youth After-School Woodworking: Introduction to Carpentry

This hands-on after-school class teaches youths age 14 to 18 the fundamentals of building with wood, Thursdays and Fridays, 4:15-5:45 PM, for six weeks. The first two weeks cover safety, power tool and hand tool use, and students will get their hands dirty practicing with a wide variety of tools to measure, cut, and shape wood.

During the remaining four weeks, students will work as a team to design and build a little library for placement in the community by a local library. This project, which builds skills in project planning, layout and design, measurement, fabrication, and assembly, is the perfect vehicle for STEAM-based learning. As a miniature version of a building, it's also a great starting point in applied learning for both college degree track students and vocational students, whether they'll go on to study architecture or engineering, or to start a career as a general contractor or furniture maker. As time permits, students can also stretch their creative muscles by adding decorative elements and finishes.

Under the guidance of multitalented woodworker and boat builder Max Smith, students will work collaboratively to create a public vessel that can offer free resources like books, hygiene products and more, that serves the community.

Times: Thursdays & Fridays, 4:15 - 5:45 PM
Dates: Nov. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21; Dec. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
Instructor: Max Smith
Class size (max.): 8
Attendance (min.): 3*
Ages: 14-18
Skill level: basic/beginner

Registration:
Household Member & Above: $475**
General Public: $525
Register By: Nov. 4

*Classes that do not meet the minimum attendance number may be cancelled or rescheduled. If so, you will receive a full refund, or class credit, regardless of the cancellation date.

**We encourage you to become a member to receive discounted class tuition. You must be a current member on the date of registering to receive your discount. Please login to activate your member discount. Sign up to be a member here, or call 845-338-0071. Individual member discounts do not apply to youth classes.

Instructor: Max Smith is a multidisciplinary craftsman with ten years of experience in woodworking in various forms, stringed instrument repair and making, piano tuning and repair, boatbuilding, cabinetmaking, and as Maintenance Coordinator for the Beacon Sloop Club. He is a full time instructor at HRMM and has participated as a skills demonstrator at the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent, CT. Max frequently sails his 15' Goat Island Skiff, inviting friends and teaching them the basics of sailing.