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 4:00 pm
• Tuesday, July 7, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Wednesday, July 8, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Thursday, July 9, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Friday, July 10, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 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

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.

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

• 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

In this class, students will hand craft a beautiful pine wood box reminiscent of the Shaker craftwork. Students will begin with wood already prepared and cut to finished sizes for the project. They will work on the following skills: cutting and joining the sides/dovetail joints, gluing/planing and sanding the sides, shaping the lid and base, attaching the hardware (hinges), and finishing techniques.

Dates/Times

• Monday, May 4, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Instructor: Martin Macica

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

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

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

Using only hand tools, students will learn to carve their own bowl or cup. Using the natural shapes, colors and curves of the wood, students will create a unique piece that reflects the beauty of the natural world.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, October 3, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, October 4, 2026 – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Instructor: Ray Richardson

Member Tuition: $185.00
Non-Member Tuition: $225.00

Material Fee: $25.00 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 8, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, August 9, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Larry Benjamin

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

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