Woodworking

Behind every timber frame stands a set of drawings – plans that turn an idea into a buildable structure. This 2.5-day weekend course gives you the skills to draft your own timber frame plans by hand, using traditional methods that connect design directly to building. You'll start with the basics of drafting: tools, techniques, and conventions for creating clear, accurate plans. Then, you'll take your drawings off the page and practice the basic mortise and tenon joinery. This is an immersive class that blends drawing and some joinery practice. Expect guided lessons, demonstrations, and plenty of time both at the drafting board and using hand tools to cut the joinery. No prior experience is necessary for this course.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, April 25, 2026 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Sunday, April 26, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, April 27, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: Nicholas Russell

Member Tuition: $300.00
Non-Member Tuition: $355.00

Material Fee: $15.00 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

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

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 23, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Don Polunci

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

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

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

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, June 28, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Don Polunci

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

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

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

Kick off your holiday season by learning a new craft. You will select from a variety of holiday and winter inspired images to create one or two pieces that can be used for coasters, decorating or gifting. This abbreviated introduction to wood burning, also known as pyrography, will introduce you to wood burning tools, tips, transferring images, shading and adding color.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, December 5, 2026 – 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Instructor: Lorraine Mara

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

Material Fee: $8.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

Marquetry is the art of creating imagery using wood veneers. We will explore the creation of a simple mountain motif, which allows for enormous variations in color, shape and texture. It is easily applied to any substrate to create boxes, wall hangings and jewelry, such as the brooch pictured or the thwart of your canoe. We will learn technique in this class and discuss many applications as well as creating a few simple brooches to take home.

Dates/Times

• Sunday, June 14, 2026 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Instructor: T. Breeze Verdant

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

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student who is interested in pursuing the hobby of working with the scroll saw to produce scroll work art for themselves. Their family, and their friends. The student will be introduced to the mechanics and the safe operation of the scroll saw. Students will be introduced to the many different saw blade types and cutting characteristics of each blade type to help in their selection of a blade for a particular piece of work. Additionally, students will receive instruction in three different methods of transferring a pattern to a piece of wood. Following this instruction, students will practice preparing the saw for safe operation followed by practicing the different movements required to successfully follow pattern lines while cutting a piece of wood. At the completion of the class, students will have completed a simple cat puzzle and a snowflake trivet using both exterior and interior cuts to remove material from the puzzle and the snowflake.

Dates/Times

• Sunday, July 12, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Walt Ulrich

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

Material Fee: $15.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student who is interested in pursuing the hobby of working with the scroll saw to produce scroll work art for themselves. Their family, and their friends. The student will be introduced to the mechanics and the safe operation of the scroll saw. Students will be introduced to the many different saw blade types and cutting characteristics of each blade type to help in their selection of a blade for a particular piece of work. Additionally, students will receive instruction in three different methods of transferring a pattern to a piece of wood. Following this instruction, students will practice preparing the saw for safe operation followed by practicing the different movements required to successfully follow pattern lines while cutting a piece of wood. At the completion of the class, students will have completed a simple cat puzzle and a snowflake trivet using both exterior and interior cuts to remove material from the puzzle and the snowflake.

Dates/Times

• Saturday, March 7, 2026 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Instructor: Walt Ulrich

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

Material Fee: $15.00 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

• Saturday, June 6, 2026 – 9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Instructor: Lorraine Mara

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

Material Fee: $18.00 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

• Saturday, November 7, 2026 – 9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Instructor: Lorraine Mara

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

Material Fee: $18.00 Included in fee shown on checkout page

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