In this advanced shaker oval boxes class, experienced students may choose a project to work on. Having previously made boxes # 0-4 in the introductory course, you may choose to make boxes # 5-8, a #8 tall, or a #8 fixed handle carrier. You will receive guidance and assistance to ensure that you leave the class with an advanced project you can be proud of! 

In this course, we will explore the life cycle of plants through the model of the Native American Medicine Wheel. Discover how the four directions and seasons can be used as a guide map for living a sustainable life. The class will include a walk on the "wild side" with a meet and greet of medicinal plants growing in the area, so students can observe and tune into the plant life cycle. NOTE: Children 5 years of age and older are…

This unusual gourd project, both elegant and useful, makes a great centerpiece for your table filled with apples, or an extra special hand-made gift. The instructor provides top-quality gourds in a variety of sizes and shapes, tools to cut and clean them, and a wide array of art supplies for you to finish the exterior. To complete the bowl you will lace on a continuous bundle of long-leaf pine needles. Perfect!

 One of the most crucial skills for any blacksmith is the ability to forge weld. This two-day class will cover a variety of different forge welds from welding chain to more complicated techniques. NOTE: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student safety.

Understanding photography basics is the key to taking control of your camera, and knowing you got the shot when you were taking it. If you would like to take your skill level from shooting in Auto to having full control over your camera, this intensive class is for you! A step by step PowerPoint presentation helps teach the basic principles of photography including: camera options and set-up, peripheral equipment, image exposure and histograms, and will touch on shooting for HDR,…

 One of the most crucial skills for any blacksmith is the ability to forge weld. This two-day class will cover a variety of different forge welds from welding chain to more complicated techniques. NOTE: Hard shoes and long pants are required for student safety.

Join us for a morning of inkle loom weaving! Students will have a variety of patterns and colors to choose from. They will use the pattern to warp an inkle loom to create a colorful band that can be used for trim, a strap or a belt. The finished band can be up to seven feet long, or multiple shorter bands can be created. No prior experience is necessary. Students as young as 10 years old are welcome to join…

 Students can expect to forge and finish one 4-6" blade antler handled hunting knife. Topics covered will be working with high carbon steels, knife design, forging a blade to shape, grinding, finishing, heat treating, fitting a guard and attaching a handle. This class is intended as an introductory bladesmithing class but some forging experience is helpful. Also covered will be the design, construction and finishing of a leather belt sheath. Students will learn how to make a pattern for the…

Saturday July 29  This large tote basket is one of Beverly's own designs, inspired by the Saratoga Springs racetrack season. The basket itself is woven with a solid bottom and uses a simple over under weave. The sturdy straps and rim are made of top quality bridle leather that is lashed with waxed linen and smooth quality horse hardware. Students will learn the basics of basket weaving and will also get a lesson in riveting leather to assemble the beautiful…

 Students can expect to forge and finish one 4-6" blade antler handled hunting knife. Topics covered will be working with high carbon steels, knife design, forging a blade to shape, grinding, finishing, heat treating, fitting a guard and attaching a handle. This class is intended as an introductory bladesmithing class but some forging experience is helpful. Also covered will be the design, construction and finishing of a leather belt sheath. Students will learn how to make a pattern for the…

 Learn the ancient craft of creating a sapling bow and arrow with sinew, feathers and flaked stone points. Saplings, dogwood arrow shafts, imitation sinew and feathers will be provided. Children can come enjoy a few hours on a summer day learning about our Native American ancestors. This is also a perfect class for your family to experience together, or for a scout troop. NOTE: Students will need to bring a strong whittling knife.

 Students can expect to forge and finish one 4-6" blade antler handled hunting knife. Topics covered will be working with high carbon steels, knife design, forging a blade to shape, grinding, finishing, heat treating, fitting a guard and attaching a handle. This class is intended as an introductory bladesmithing class but some forging experience is helpful. Also covered will be the design, construction and finishing of a leather belt sheath. Students will learn how to make a pattern for the…

The Bowie knife is America's most famous knife, steeped in history and legend. In this five day intensive class, students will learn the ins and outs of forging, grinding and heat treating this iconic blade. Once the blades are complete, students will create a guard and handle using steel and wood. Attention will be made to the feel and balance of these knives, as well as the edge geometry and performance. NOTE: Hard shoes and long pants are required for…

Cotton dish towels are a great first project for learning the floor loom. Cotton is a simple to weave fiber and dish towels can be a wonderful playground for color and texture in simple twills. We will focus on basic skills in design and warping on Saturday. Sunday afternoon will find us weaving off the finished and functional towel. Students will have a choice of colors for their design.

The Adirondack Style is unique. It combines traditional furniture making with the materials found in this region – Birch bark, twigs, logs, and more. Found in the earliest “Great Camps” of our region, the skilled craftsmen who made this unique furniture were inspired by the world around them. In this class you will be guided from start to finish: from the selection of the materials and their preparation, to the joinery required, as well as the aesthetics that will help…

Cotton dish towels are a great first project for learning the floor loom. Cotton is a simple to weave fiber and dish towels can be a wonderful playground for color and texture in simple twills. We will focus on basic skills in design and warping on Saturday. Sunday afternoon will find us weaving off the finished and functional towel. Students will have a choice of colors for their design.

The Adirondack Pack Basket is one of the most recognized objects associated with the Adirondacks. These versatile baskets were used to carry just about everything the guides, hunters, and trappers took with them into the woods. Create your own pack basket patterned from the traditional Adirondack Pack Baskets. The medium pack is a great size for teen or adult men and women. The first day students will weave a plain weave base with the pre-cut spokes and then weave the…

Thursday nights during the summer months offer fun opportunities to photograph fireworks exploding above beautiful Lake George, plus sunset colors, star filled skies, and photographing lights around the village or in nearby towns. In addition, the August 10th tour is just after full moon, offering additional opportunities during this particular tour to photograph the moon rising over the lake, and night scenes under the moonlight. The class will start at 5:00 pm with a very brief introduction and discussion, with…

Tired of Round beads? Beads come in many shapes and sizes. In this class you will learn how to use tools and marvering techniques to shape glass into square, triangle, bi-cone, tube and tab shaped beads. Previous lampwork experience required.

Turning a hollow form is one of the signature skills of a woodturner, usually achieved after a great deal of time and experience. Lucky for our students, the school has made this easy to learn, using the hollow turning equipment we have in-house. Students will create a thin walled bowl or small vase, depending on how they progress, unique to them. Come try it out, have a blast, and be amazed! NOTE: For your safety: no loose-fitting clothes, hair tied…

Forge some flair into your smith work! In this two-part class we will explore several different kinds of twists and finials with which to embellish our iron. Starting with the most basic smith's twist and fishtail scroll, students will move through ever more difficult and artful ornamentation, capping off their work with the rubik's twist and leaf finial. The business aspect of incorporating these motifs into "sale-able" items will also be explored. In the end, everyone will go home with…

So what are trestle ponies? They are fancy sawhorses used to support massive timbers when building large timber frame structures. Build yourself a set and have solid sawhorses for projects around the house, or use them to create the base for a trestle dining room table. Whatever you use them for, you will be learning the basics of timber framing. Whether building trestle ponies or an entire building, the knowledge and skills needed for cutting these beautiful mortise and tenon…

This "Paint Out" is a chance for kids, moms, dads, grandparents, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors to join in experiencing the Adirondack tradition of landscape painting. Learn to paint outdoors like Adirondack artist Georgia O'Keefe. The session is designed to nurture expression in young people, help you find your own creativity and have a fun time making art outdoors together. Anyone can learn to draw. You will spend a few glorious hours sketching what you see around you alongside…

Fabric remnants will be used to make a 24"x30" rug. Students will have a choice of making a "Sock Rug", using loopers from a sock factory, or making a "Rag Rug" using strips of fabric remnants or clothing. No weaving experience is necessary. The looms are dressed and ready to go, all you need to bring is your creative spirit and leave with a finished one-of-a-kind rag rug.

For millennia blacksmiths have forged iron into many useful items. Integral to their shape is the transition from one cross section to another; often in a way that is both graceful and structural. This class will explore traditional 18th century forging with an emphasis on the transitions necessary in order to have structurally sound work. In addition, we will explore the various ways a shape can be forged out and the "set-up" necessary to forge shapes. Students can choose from…

Open Forge Nights Are Back By Popular Demand! Get an introduction to the art of blacksmithing by visiting Adirondack Folk School on any of our OPEN FORGE nights for an amazing demonstration by Expert smith Steve Gurzler. Observing the demonstration is free and open to the public. For those who want to try their hand at blacksmithing and forge an item at open forge, there is a $20 fee to cover the cost of materials, and safety precautions must be…

Spend a few days learning how to cane your own chair. You will learn how to weave the traditional 7-step caning pattern. Bring along a chair in need of a new caned seat. Preferably, the chair will be rectangular in shape, have less than 85 holes drilled into the seat frame and be in good condition. Any refinishing should be completed before the class. NOTE: Bring a water bucket, scissors and your chair.

This basket is a variation on an Adirondack Pack Basket, one of the oldest surviving traditions inside the Adirondack Park. You will use a continuous weave technique and hand shaping to create this wonderfully useful basket. Shaker tape will be used to create a sturdy strap that will leave your hands free for blueberry picking or any other type of gathering. It also makes a great container to keep your yarn when knitting socks. This basket will be woven using reed and Shaker tape.…

Come spend a fun and informative day learning basic layering, swirl technique and pencil lines in cold process soap making. This class will use a traditional soap recipe using rendered tallow as an ingredient. The process of rendering tallow will also be addressed. Some basic understanding of cold process soap making is helpful. NOTE: Students will need to bring 2 cardboard milk cartons.  

This class is aimed at the beginner or novice smith. Following the ABANA curriculum, we will start at the beginning and progress in difficulty during the week. Aside from the first morning, the class will be project driven, including the rose and the wizard bottle opener, among others. An emphasis will be placed on the forging and heat-treatment of the tools that you will need to carry out the next project. Blisters and a healthy appetite are all but guaranteed.…

Join us for a morning of inkle loom weaving! Students will have a variety of patterns and colors to choose from. They will use the pattern to warp an inkle loom to create a colorful band that can be used for trim, a strap or a belt. The finished band can be up to seven feet long, or multiple shorter bands can be created. No prior experience is necessary. Students as young as 10 years old are welcome to join…

Over 100 years ago, the famous Sagamore Hotel was built as an exclusive resort on Lake George in the Adirondacks. Its luxurious and spacious accommodations attracted the millionaires of the day and the hotel continues to bring people from around the world to its spectacular spot on the lake. Come create a bit of history as you build a Sagamore chair using patterns struck from one of the original chairs; all the forms and patterns necessary are provided. Learn how to steam…

In this class you will run through all the steps involved in making a 2.5 lb forging/rounding hammer. Starting with a chunk of 1045, you will punch and drift the hole, forge the cheeks, and fuller around the face and peen. Most of the work will be done with strikers and sledge hammers. We will focus on proper striking technique. After the hammer is forged, all heat treating steps will be covered: hardening and tempering, then finishing (sanding and polishing),…

In this class you will run through all the steps involved in making a 2.5 lb forging/rounding hammer. Starting with a chunk of 1045, you will punch and drift the hole, forge the cheeks, and fuller around the face and peen. Most of the work will be done with strikers and sledge hammers. We will focus on proper striking technique. After the hammer is forged, all heat treating steps will be covered: hardening and tempering, then finishing (sanding and polishing),…

In this course, we will explore the life cycle of plants through the model of the Native American Medicine Wheel. Discover how the four directions and seasons can be used as a guide map for living a sustainable life. The class will include a walk on the "wild side" with a meet and greet of medicinal plants growing in the area, so students can observe and tune into the plant life cycle. NOTE: Children 5 years of age and older…

In this class you will run through all the steps involved in making a 2.5 lb forging/rounding hammer. Starting with a chunk of 1045, you will punch and drift the hole, forge the cheeks, and fuller around the face and peen. Most of the work will be done with strikers and sledge hammers. We will focus on proper striking technique. After the hammer is forged, all heat treating steps will be covered: hardening and tempering, then finishing (sanding and polishing),…

The kitchen knife is the most used knife in almost any home. These iconic knives help to create meals for family and loved ones. Well-made kitchen knives can last a lifetime and this class will give you the opportunity to create one of your very own. In this two-day class students will make their own chefs knives from high carbon steel. All aspects of bladesmithing will be covered, from forging the blade to shaping, then heat treating, grinding and polishing,…

Get an early start on holiday gift giving! In this class we will make pine cone flowers and using natural mosses and twigs, we will decorate two frames and a moss votive holder. Just add your own art or photographs for a special gift or family keepsake.

This basket is woven on a round oak base, and employs a continuous chase weave to build the sides. Students will learn the process for determining the number of spokes needed for continuous weave, and be challenged and excited to watch their creations grow with two weavers. A hand-carved oak swing handle with inside-out ears incorporated into the rim finishes this rustically graceful and functional basket. It is woven on a 6" oak base which grows into a 12" diameter…

Fabric remnants will be used to make a 24"x30" rug. Students will have a choice of making a "Sock Rug", using loopers from a sock factory, or making a "Rag Rug" using strips of fabric remnants or clothing. No weaving experience is necessary. The looms are dressed and ready to go, all you need to bring is your creative spirit and leave with a finished one-of-a-kind rag rug.

This class is for all those who like help, need help, want help. We will incorporate a wide range of processes to make something every shop needs - a Smith's helper. As a bonus, the project uses many skills; organized and combined to make a stable, solid mechanism that will last your lifetime. Starting with a full size drawing we will work mostly at the anvil with basic forging methods and hand tools to translate the drawing into the helper.…

This versatile Market Basket has Native American origins. You will find it a sturdy choice for trips to the Farmer's Market as well as your go to for an overnight bag or a beach tote. Students will be provided with the guidance to design their own shape, choose their own color combinations, and learn some simple weaving techniques to create a basket that is truly their own. Approximate finished size - 12" long x 12" high x 9" wide. NOTE: Student…

In this class students will construct a beautiful Adirondack wall hanging that combines multiple species of local trees and other items found in nature. Using pine wood, birch twigs and oak and maple leaves you will complete a multi-dimensional hanging that will look like the view through your window during autumn.

Come enjoy activities based on Native American culture and traditions. The life of our Native Americans included a great deal of communal time. Much of this time was spent playing games and dancing. In this class students will have a chance to learn and play several of these games. Some are familiar like Lacrosse and others such as Double Ball are less known. Dancing was enjoyed by all members of the family from toddlers to elders. Some dances were just…

Glass bead making is an ancient art form that has experienced a great resurgence in the past several years. There are countless varieties of style, color, and shape that combine to make beautiful and unique glass beads. In this class you will be introduced to the equipment, tools, materials, and techniques used to safely melt and form glass into glass beads. You will learn how to lay dots and lines on the surface of the bead as a basis of…

Come create a simple turned bowl that still looks and feels rustic due to its live edge. This course is targeted to those who have an interest in learning how to turn. The emphasis will be on learning how to use a lathe and tools safely and correctly. In this class, you will learn the basics of creating spindle-based objects and then work at turning your bowl. Leave the class with a lovely treasure that captures the "wild" feel of…

Open Forge Nights Are Back By Popular Demand! Get an introduction to the art of blacksmithing by visiting Adirondack Folk School on any of our OPEN FORGE nights for an amazing demonstration by Expert smith Steve Gurzler. Observing the demonstration is free and open to the public. For those who want to try their hand at blacksmithing and forge an item at open forge, there is a $20 fee to cover the cost of materials, and safety precautions must be…

Join us for a morning of inkle loom weaving! Students will have a variety of patterns and colors to choose from. They will use the pattern to warp an inkle loom to create a colorful band that can be used for trim, a strap or a belt. The finished band can be up to seven feet long, or multiple shorter bands can be created. No prior experience is necessary. Students as young as 10 years old are welcome to join…

This course is a continuation of Basic Blacksmithing - Level One. We will expand on what has been learned and proceed to more advanced tool making and welding, job layout procedures, proper hinge eye forging, simple mortise and tenon construction along with other techniques as time allows. Finished projects (other than tools) will not be the point of this class. Rather, small parts and pieces of what could be elements of completed works will be yours to study, reference and…

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…

Needle felting is the process of using a barbed needle to interlock wool fibers to form a dense material. Students will make an Adirondack elf under a mushroom. Basic and intermediate needle felting techniques will be covered as well as advanced techniques such as constructing a frame and armature, and joining multiple needle felted pieces. Advanced level. Basic needle felting experience is required. NOTE: If students bring their own felting pad, the materials fee will be $11.

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…

We all ponder which came first...the chicken or the egg. But have you ever wondered which came first...the Adirondack chair or the Westport chair? Learn the answer to this and the history of friendship and perhaps betrayal, all while building your own Westport chair. Your chair will be a family heirloom. It will last for many, many years and in building it you will learn many valuable skills, like how to cut angles and edges and using hand tools from…

Explore the many ways that you can use silver in a metal clay formulation to create jewelry designs of your own. The newest way of working with silver is metal clay which can be shaped like clay to produce uniquely textured surfaces, resulting in durable beautiful silver jewelry. Students will learn metal clay working techniques and make pendants, earrings, charms, and rings. Fresh leaves will also be used to create a silver piece of nature. The class will also cover…

This project is open to people of all ages and we will tailor each step to the ability level of the participant. Students interested in local manufacturing of the 1800's will get to use tinsmithing machine tools from the era. Students interested in self-reliance can try out producing the same techniques with a hammer and some wood for more rustic results. Soldering (for water-tight joints) will be optional where time allows. Put this on your bucket list!  NOTE: Appropriate for…