Woodworking

Come join us in the making of your very own handmade Backpacker guitar. Drawing from over 35 years of instrument making, Martin Macica will share his knowledge of the principles and practice of guitar making, leading participants through the process of making their own versatile backpacker guitar. Participants will leave the class with a working knowledge of guitar making and a handcrafted instrument ready for years of making music while traveling and adventuring.

Dates/Times

• Monday, July 6, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, July 7, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Wednesday, July 8, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Thursday, July 9, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Friday, July 10, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Instructor: Martin Macica

Member Tuition: $575.00
Non-Member Tuition: $700.00

Material Fee: $185.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

One of the most iconic items of Shaker woodworking, nesting oval boxes share elegance, simplicity and functionality equally. Using carefully prepared thin strips of wood each participant will carve the "swallowtails" or "fingers" on one end before soaking them in a hot water bath to soften for bending. Copper tacks are installed to hold the oval hoop together before top and bottom boards are fit and held by wooden pegs. Each student will construct 3 nesting oval boxes from cherry wood in this two-day workshop. This class is open to all experience levels, no woodworking experience required!

Dates/Times

• Wednesday, April 8, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Thursday, April 9, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Pat Imbimbo

Member Tuition: $230.00
Non-Member Tuition: $280.00

Material Fee: $40.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: 1476 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, Alfred Z. Solomon Lake George Annex, located on Rt. 9 in the Log Jam Outlets immediately behind the Log Jam Restaurant

Anyone can learn to make a rustic birdhouse in just a few hours. A birdhouse is a simple structure with seven basic parts: two sides, a front and back, a bottom, and two pieces for the top. Power tools are not necessary to cut the wood; it can be done with a handsaw. Using rough-cut lumber, you will construct a rustic birdhouse that can be functional and/or decorative. Choose from several birdhouse designs. There will be a short discussion about nesting birds, feeding birds and suitable houses for area birds. Participants are encouraged to bring objects (such as old drawer pulls, doorknobs, hardware, etc.) from home. Adults and teens welcome; children ages 10-14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, August 22, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Don Polunci

Member Tuition: $70.00
Non-Member Tuition: $85.00

Material Fee: $10.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Students should wear older clothing and/or bring an apron to class.

Anyone can learn to make a rustic birdhouse in just a few hours. A birdhouse is a simple structure with seven basic parts: two sides, a front and back, a bottom, and two pieces for the top. Power tools are not necessary to cut the wood; it can be done with a handsaw. Using rough-cut lumber, you will construct a rustic birdhouse that can be functional and/or decorative. Choose from several birdhouse designs. There will be a short discussion about nesting birds, feeding birds and suitable houses for area birds. Participants are encouraged to bring objects (such as old drawer pulls, doorknobs, hardware, etc.) from home. Adults and teens welcome; children ages 10-14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, June 27, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Don Polunci

Member Tuition: $70.00
Non-Member Tuition: $85.00

Material Fee: $10.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Special Notes: Students should wear older clothing and/or bring an apron to class.

Drawing from over 30 years of fine instrument making, Martin Macica will lead participants through the process of making their own Ukulele from scratch using hand tools. This class will cover every aspect of making a Ukulele and participants will leave with the knowledge of this skill as well as a handcrafted instrument ready for a lifetime of making music.

Dates/Times

• Monday, March 23, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, March 24, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Wednesday, March 25, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Thursday, March 26, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Friday, March 27, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Instructor: Martin Macica

Member Tuition: $575.00
Non-Member Tuition: $700.00

Material Fee: $160.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Students will learn how to carve a shrinkpot, a type of wooden container traditionally made using hand tools and green woodworking techniques that utilizes the natural shrinking process as the wood dries. Freshly cut green wood is hollowed out and a dry wooden base is inserted into a groove carved within the hollowed section. As green wood dries it shrinks, creating a tight seal around the base.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, April 11, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Ray Richardson

Member Tuition: $115.00
Non-Member Tuition: $140.00

Material Fee: $25.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Come create a beautiful 12"-18" hardwood cutting board during two, half-day sessions. The class will discuss the types of wood being used, such as sapele, purple heart, African cherry and hard maple. The wood will be cut to size on a table saw. Then, using a joiner, students will make sure all pieces are the same size before gluing the various pieces together and allowing them to dry overnight. On the second day, the class will use planers to ensure that all boards are level and the same thickness. Students will then use a router to create a well and handles. Finally, the boards will be sanded.

Dates/Times

• Friday, April 24, 2026 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, April 25, 2026 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Frank Lagace

Member Tuition: $115.00
Non-Member Tuition: $140.00

Material Fee: $80.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Come create a beautiful 12"-18" hardwood cutting board during two, half-day sessions. The class will discuss the types of wood being used, such as sapele, purple heart, African cherry and hard maple. The wood will be cut to size on a table saw. Then, using a joiner, students will make sure all pieces are the same size before gluing the various pieces together and allowing them to dry overnight. On the second day, the class will use planers to ensure that all boards are level and the same thickness. Students will then use a router to create a well and handles. Finally, the boards will be sanded.

Dates/Times

• Thursday, July 23, 2026 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Friday, July 24, 2026 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Frank Lagace

Member Tuition: $115.00
Non-Member Tuition: $140.00

Material Fee: $80.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

Come create a beautiful 12"-18" hardwood cutting board during two, half-day sessions. The class will discuss the types of wood being used, such as sapele, purple heart, African cherry and hard maple. The wood will be cut to size on a table saw. Then, using a joiner, students will make sure all pieces are the same size before gluing the various pieces together and allowing them to dry overnight. On the second day, the class will use planers to ensure that all boards are level and the same thickness. Students will then use a router to create a well and handles. Finally, the boards will be sanded.

Dates/Times

• Friday, November 20, 2026 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, November 21, 2026 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Frank Lagace

Member Tuition: $115.00
Non-Member Tuition: $140.00

Material Fee: $80.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

With your own hands, craft a pine serving tray suitable for many things. Starting with wood prepared and cut to finished sizes, students will work on cutting and joining the sides and dovetail joints. Students will continue by gluing, sanding and cutting out the sides for the handle. The tray will be finished with a Danish oil.

Dates/Times

• Friday, December 19, 2025 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Saturday, December 20, 2025 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Instructor: Martin Macica

Member Tuition: $220.00
Non-Member Tuition: $270.00

Material Fee: $65.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY

With your own hands, craft a pine serving tray suitable for many things. Starting with wood prepared and cut to finished sizes, students will work on cutting and joining the sides and dovetail joints. Students will continue by gluing, sanding and cutting out the sides for the handle. The tray will be finished with a Danish oil.

Dates/Times

• Monday, December 14, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, December 15, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Instructor: Martin Macica

Member Tuition: $230.00
Non-Member Tuition: $280.00

Material Fee: $55.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

Location: AFS, 51 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY