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 of years of making music while traveling and adventuring.

Dates/Times

• Monday, August 18, 2025 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, August 19, 2025 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Wednesday, August 20, 2025 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Thursday, August 21, 2025 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Friday, August 22, 2025 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Instructor: Martin Macica

Member Tuition: $550.00
Non-Member Tuition: $675.00

Material Fee: $180.00 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" of "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 five 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

• Friday, October 24, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, October 25, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Eric Pintar

Member Tuition: $225.00
Non-Member Tuition: $275.00

Material Fee: $60.00 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

Open a new chapter in your wood working journey by making your own hand tool. Students will be able to make a block plane, shoulder plane or molding plane. Shape the wood body, harden and temper steel for the blade and make your first shavings all in one day!

Dates/Times

• Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Instructor: Eric Pintar

Member Tuition: $125.00
Non-Member Tuition: $145.00

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 16, 2025 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Don Polunci

Member Tuition: $65.00
Non-Member Tuition: $80.00

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.

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

In this class, students will create a beautiful cutting board using various woods and epoxy inlay. The wood will be cut to size on a table saw, and students will use a planer after gluing the pieces together. An epoxy accent will be poured to add a striking colored detail to the cutting board. Truly a piece to be proud of!

Dates/Times

• Saturday, December 13, 2025 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Sunday, December 14, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, December 15, 2025 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Frank Lagace

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

Material Fee: $145.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

Come build a Paraguayan harp. This harp is characterized by a large soundbox with a rounded base, very light weight, closely-spaced light tension strings (usually nylon), a relatively flat harmonic curve, and with the strings running up through the center of the neck, which are tuned with gear-style tuners (like a guitar). Almost all harps of this style are played with the fingernails, in very rhythmically intricate music. This is the national instrument of Paraguay, and is commonly found throughout South America, Central America and in parts of Mexico. Students will be using tools from the past and today, to fashion an instrument that will last a lifetime. After this class you may even want to learn to play your beautiful new harp!

Dates/Times

• Saturday, August 9, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, August 10, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Larry Benjamin

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

Material Fee: $350.00 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

Learn how to make your very own personal hiking stick. Begin by selecting the perfect stick collected by the instructor. Then you will learn how to shave and carve your hiking stick. Once you are happy with your creation, the sticks will be completed by drilling a hole in them and adding a lanyard. Once finished, put your stick to good use on the trail running right by our school!

Dates/Times

• Sunday, August 17, 2025 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Don Polunci

Member Tuition: $65.00
Non-Member Tuition: $80.00

Material Fee: $5.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

Come learn the ancient technique of creating art with heat. You will learn simple pyrography (woodburning) techniques and use various wood burning tips and colored pencils to create Zentangle inspired art. Zentangle (or Zendoodling) is creating intricate images with simple repetitive patterns. You will leave with one or two Zentangle-Pyro holiday images that can be used as coasters or for decorating.

Dates/Times

• Friday, December 5, 2025 – 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Lorraine Mara

Member Tuition: $65.00
Non-Member Tuition: $80.00

Material Fee: $12.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

You don't have to be an artist to create wood burned art. This introduction to wood burning, also known as pyrography, will teach you how to create your own unique artwork. We will cover all the basics: safety, burners, tips, transferring images, wood species, adding color and protective finishes. Resources will also be shared for continued learning after class completion. In class, students will try out various tips to see what each is capable of. Students will then have the opportunity to work on up to three projects of nature or Adirondack inspired images.

Dates/Times

• Friday, November 7, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Lorraine Mara

Member Tuition: $110.00
Non-Member Tuition: $135.00

Material Fee: $12.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

Students will build a keepsake box using a walnut frame and specimen wood, creating a gorgeous and distinctive piece great for gifting. Woodworking techniques such as cutting, sanding, and creating finger joints will be covered.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, August 2, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, August 3, 2025 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Larry Benjamin

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

Material Fee: $60.00 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