Starting with an overview on how to determine the forces and loads a traditional timber frame structure (or really any structure) will see over the course of its lifetime, the course focus will transition into sizing of beams, as well as a primer on basic joinery and connection design. In order to break up the class room portion, we will design a basic timber frame joint, calculate its allowable design strength, and then fabricate it out of timber. After the joints are fabricated, we will “bust” them by pulling them apart using a hydraulic load frame, with friendly bragging rights awarded for the best prediction of strength and best capacity.

This class is geared toward people who have beginner woodworking skills and want to learn more advanced techniques, but students new to the woodshop are also welcome to join! Students will learn the skill of hand cut dovetails while using layout tools, chisels and handsaws. At the end of the class, you will take home a step stool that is practical yet beautiful enough to leave out on display.

Dive into the world of Mid Century Modern design with our Funky Footstool Workshop. In this two-day course, you'll learn the foundational skills of woodworking and upholstery by constructing a stylish and functional footstool. This project is perfect for beginners looking to gain hands-on experience in both crafts.

This class is geared toward people who have beginner woodworking skills and want to learn more advanced techniques, but students new to the woodshop are also welcome to join! Students will learn the skill of hand cut dovetails while using layout tools, chisels and handsaws. At the end of the class, you will take home a step stool that is practical yet beautiful enough to leave out on display.

Red Pine sculpture in the general style of Mike Sasaki’s wood forms, which are smooth, abstract, freestanding and geometrically and/or organically inclined.

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the art and craft of axe work in this 6-day immersive course. The Thoreau’s Cabin Series, Part 1: The Art & Craft of Axes is designed for anyone interested in learning the history, anatomy, and practical use of one of the most essential tools in woodworking and timber processing. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced woodsman, this hands-on course will equip you with the skills to handle an axe with confidence and precision.

Step into the world of traditional craftsmanship in Thoreau’s Cabin Series, Part 2: Hand Tool Timber Framing. In this immersive 6-day course, students will build a full-scale replica of Henry David Thoreau’s famous cabin at Walden Pond, gaining firsthand experience in the fundamentals of timber framing—all using hand tools.

The final phase of building Thoreau’s Cabin is ensuring its protection from the elements, and this 6-day immersive course will teach students how to split (rive) wood using traditional hand tools to create the materials needed for roofing, siding, and interior lath work.