• Timber Framing

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    Spend five unforgettable days learning the art of traditional timber framing - while building a woodshed of small cabin alongside a group of like-minded learners. This is a hands-on, team-based experience where you'll learn the skills to take on your own timber frame project with confidence. Using the square rule method - a traditional method developed in the early 1800s - you'll be guided through each step of cutting, fitting, and assembling a timber frame structure, from mortise and tenon joinery to raising the finished frame. This is a group class, designed to create a collaborative learning environment while still giving you plenty of direct guidance from the instructor, Nick, a seasoned timber framer and builder. Expect demos, instructing, and lots of hands-on time with tools. This course focuses on traditional timber framing techniques using only hand tools and human power. Whether you're dreaming of a backyard shed, tiny cabin, or just want to understand how old-school builders worked with big timbers and simple tools - this course gives you a solid foundation. No previous timber framing experience is required. This course is beginner friendly, but also valuable for folks with some carpentry experience. A list of required tools will be sent out prior to the class.

  • Build a Wee Lassie Canoe

    The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.

  • Rigid Heddle Weaving from the Start

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    In this extended class you will learn to warp the rigid heddle loom. On the second day you will complete your scarf and the instructor will demonstrate several techniques that expand the design capacity on this basic loom. You will complete a 54" scarf with fringe. For this class you will use two skeins of knitting yarn. Sport or DK will give you a warp scarf. A fingering weight could work and will yield a softer, light weight scarf. You will need two skeins of yarn with a minimum of 220 yards on each. If you would like the instructor to provide materials, please let us know at the time of registration fand a materials fee will be added to y our registration.

  • Build a Wee Lassie Canoe

    The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.

  • Build a Wee Lassie Canoe

    The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.

  • Stained Glass for Beginners

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    In this workshop we will complete a small Tiffany style suncatcher. Students will be able to choose a pre-drawn pattern from a variety of designs and be guided as they learn to cut the glass (chosen from a variety of types and colors), smooth the glass pieces with a grinder, apply copper foil tape, solder the pieces together into the final piece using lead-free solder, apply patina (optional), and add jump rings or a stained glass stand.

  • ADK Wildlife Rehabilitation

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    During this evening program, Diane will talk a little about wildlife rehabilitation and share some interesting facts about helping our native wildlife. She will also bring along four Non-Releasable Ambassadors: three different owl species + a Red Tailed Hawk. All of which are indigenous to the Adirondacks. We will discuss their stories & you will gain some very interesting facts about these amazing birds, that we are so lucky to have in our own backyards.

  • Build a Wee Lassie Canoe

    The original Wee Lassie was a lapstrake-built open cedar canoe made in 1863 by J. Henry Rushton of Canton, NY. Rushton was one of the most famous canoe builders of his era. George Washington Sears, who wrote of his adventures under his pen name of Nessmuk as he recorded his paddling adventures throughout the Adirondacks, popularized these small, finely crafted canoes. Come spend 11 wonderful days with master instructor Larry Benjamin building your own Wee Lassie. You will be guided through every step of the building process. Leave with a beautiful, lightweight canoe that handles well in the water. Open to all level of student.

  • From Seed to Pizza

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    Follow the story of wheat from field to feast! In this immersive, seasonal program, you'll experience traditional farming and food-making skills step by step - right down to a fresh, handmade pizza created from your own flour. In April Instructor Martin Macica will introduce you to Annie, his gentle plow donkey, who will help us prepare a plot of land on the AFS campus for planting wheat seeds the old fashioned way. In May, Instructor Patricia Goldberg will teach you how to plant a pizza garden in raised beds, choosing herbs and vegetables that will later top your pizza. Return to the field in August with Martin to harvest your wheat and learn how to bundle and store it for drying. Finally, in September start your day with Martin, who will teach you how to thresh your wheat and grind it into flour. Then meet Instructor David Riihimaki, our pizza maker extraordinaire, who will guide you through mixing, kneading, and shaping your pizza dough from your freshly milled flour. Add your garden toppings, some local cheese and watch it bake in our wood-fired oven. Then enjoy your farm-to-table pizza feast together!

  • Shaker Cathead Basket

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    The Shaker Community, founded in New York, is known for their design aesthetic, combining form and function in simply elegant ways. This class introduces students to the Cathead base, a Shaker classic. In this form, a small, square base grows into a round basket at the diameter and height of the student's choosing. This particular technique of weaving corners produces four "feet" upon which the basket rests. This creates a raised base on the inside of the basket, allowing its contents to first fill the perimeter of the basket, and then the center. Disbursing the weight of the basket contents, first to the perimeter, serves to prevent produce from becoming bruised, and protects the center of the basket from wearing out. Students will weave a two-by-two twill pattern for both the base and the sides of the basket.

  • Introduction to Botanical Eco Printing

    Print the peak color of the Adirondacks onto a cozy wrap using locally abundant native and invasive plants. Ecoprinting is a natural dyeing technique that creates beautiful botanical prints on fabric from fresh or dried plants. Participants will create a unique wearable art piece and we?ll discuss preparing fabric for dye, sustainable foraging, and how to create clear, crisp images of plants on textiles.

  • Birch Bark Picture Frames and Mirrors

    Adirondack Folk School 51 Main St., Lake Luzerne, NY, United States

    Birch bark picture frames and mirrors have adorned Adirondack camps and cabins for centuries and were a favorite winter project for the guides to make. This is a great class for beginners with limited experience with woodworking and tools. You will select a frame and learn how to cut and fasten the Birch bark, twigs and other natural objects to create your own 'masterpiece'. Come see why this is one of our most popular classes. You'll be proud to hang this in your home!