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Wooden Boat Building is the thin red line that runs through the core of Hands On Deck. We started building boats with youth in the central library on the third floor in 2016, and since then have constructed and restored over 300 feet of boats with students and volunteers.
This fall, we will continue that tradition with two 16’ skin-on-frame canoes. This class introduces students to the fundamentals of green woodworking along with Native American traditions through the lens of boat building. Each class focuses on key skills like measuring, cutting, joining, and shaping, while exploring how boats are built, how they function, and their connection to history, design, and life on the water.
Elementary Mechanical Skills introduces young builders (ages 5-8) to essential tools, materials, and hands-on techniques for constructing practical projects for everyday use. Through guided projects and open ended exploration, students develop critical thinking skills and learn how to approach and solve problems creatively.
Semester Macro Projects: Mortise and Tenon Box, Paper Making and Pen and Ink Set w/ Box, Laser Engraved Cheese Board, Laminated Name Stool, Double Signature Journal, Puzzle Board, and Labyrinth Marble Maze
Semester Micro Projects: Knots, Tool Making, Model Construction, & Build and Bolt
Industrial Arts meets older students where they are at with a goal to build individual and group projects in community utilizing techniques and projects to foster success with challenge in every class. Projects range from a simple scroll saw puzzle to full size furniture including lamps, tables, and chairs.
Outcomes: • Enhanced Technical Skills - Students will develop stronger mechanical and technical abilities, particularly in woodworking and boat building. • Fostering Craftsmanship and Creativity - The program emphasizes craftsmanship, encouraging students to take pride in their work and think creatively. • Improved Problem-Solving and Teamwork - Students will learn to tackle challenges collaboratively, enhancing their problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively in teams.
Wings, Wheels, and Keels is a high-energy mechanical design class for older students to build and race objects that move through air, land, and water.
Blending traditional hand tools with modern technology like vacuum bagging and resins, laser cutters and 3D printers, each student has the opportunity to find their personal building style. Each project ends in a friendly competition, where precision, creativity, and speed all count.
Sloyd is a traditional Scandinavian handcraft education that emphasizes skill, precision, and respect for natural materials.
In this class, students work primarily with white birch and use the long-beveled Sloyd knife to carve and shape each project by hand. They’ll explore green woodworking through a series of progressive builds, including butter spreaders, spoons, shrink pots, staked furniture, and even a handmade broom and dustpan. With a focus on knife work, fine motor control, and purposeful design, students develop patience, confidence, and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship in a calm, skill-centered environment.
Bows and Boomerangs explore ancient engineering and cultural history as we carve and construct tools designed for speed, accuracy, and functionality.
In this hands-on class, students will build a laminated and solid wood boomerang, a laminated and solid ash longbow with arrows, and a carved bo staff. Using hand tools and traditional techniques, students will learn the principles of motion, tension, and balance while developing practical skills in shaping, laminating, and finishing. The focus is on craftsmanship, tool safety, and understanding the purpose behind each form through guided, skill building projects.