February 2 – 12, 2026: Monday - Thursday 6PM to 9PM Goal: Introduce participants to the fundamentals of restoring historic windows and doors, with a focus on wooden sash windows, paneled doors, and their associated hardware. Students will gain practical, hands-on skills in assessment, repair, and finishing. Course Overview: This beginner-level seminar provides an entry point into […]
February 2 – 12, 2026: Monday - Thursday 6PM to 9PM Cost $400 Goal: Introduce participants to the fundamentals of restoring historic windows and doors, with a focus on wooden sash windows, paneled doors, and their associated hardware. Students will gain practical, hands-on skills in assessment, repair, and finishing. Course Overview: This beginner-level seminar provides an entry […]
Learn the unique values and considerations that have shaped Vermont vernacular architecture. Rooted in place-based analysis, this course explores Vermont’s architectural history—from Indigenous dwellings to contemporary sustainable design. You'll examine how the built environment reflects the state's landscape, values, and evolving social and economic conditions, gaining a deeper understanding of Vermont’s design legacy. Read Syllabus […]
Wood Window Repair-Advanced is a fun and intense, three-day, hands-on learning experience. Students will learn the woodworking necessary to rebuild wood sashes and jambs. This is a tuition-based class with a limit of 8 students. You will be working side-by-side all three days with instructor Bob Yapp. Bob is nationally recognized as one of the top […]
Interested in learning the basics of blacksmithing? Then attend one of our beginner’s courses! This 3-hour course will teach you all about the fundamentals of moving and forging hot metal: working with an anvil, tongs, & hammers, practicing key techniques such as scrolling, drawing out, and twisting, & making projects such as an S hook, […]
Want to learn how knives are forged? Then attend one of our bladesmithing courses. This is an all day, 8-hour course. In this class you will forge your own knife out of steel. You will learn key techniques of knife-making including spreading & shaping a blade, hardening & tempering, & grinding a cutting edge. You […]
This fast-paced two-day introduction moves students through the fundamentals of blacksmithing: basic hammering and forging techniques, heat treating, forge welding, and identification of “found” steels will be explored. Safety, tools, techniques, materials, terminology, and shop set-up will all be discussed. Students will make a cold chisel, drift punch, bottle opener, and wall hook in this […]
Rather than cutting out and replacing damaged or decaying brick and stone, impressive repairs can be achieved by using modern lime-based mortars. Saint-Astier® Lithomex® is a state-of-the-art brick and stone resurfacing and repair material specifically designed to restore the profile, surface finish, texture, and color of the original masonry unit. This workshop introduces participants to Lithomex® and the […]
Essential framing and power tool skills for structures. Learn the essential tools, terms, and techniques of carpentry while building a small structure such as a shed or playhouse. In this supportive, hands-on course, you’ll safely use a range of hand and power tools and explore the basics of house framing, layout, and the “anatomy” of […]
Heartwood on the Road: Timber Framing in South Carolina February 16-22, 2026 $1,630 We're taking our core curriculum on the Road! Join us in South Carolina to learn the basics of timber framing. Timber framing is a traditional framing technique that is incorporated into all building projects at the Heartwood School. In this class, we […]
Join North Bennet Street School’s Teen Craft & Trade Intensives during the February and April 2026 school breaks! Designed for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (ages 15-18), these week-long programs offer an exciting introduction to hands-on trades and crafts in a supportive, small-class setting. Instructor: Kolin Schmidt CF ’21 Teaching Assistant: TBD Class Description: In this week-long […]
Essential framing and power tool skills for structures. Learn the essential tools, terms, and techniques of carpentry while building a small structure such as a shed or playhouse. In this supportive, hands-on course, you’ll safely use a range of hand and power tools and explore the basics of house framing, layout, and the “anatomy” of […]
Historic Preservation Boot Camp 3 Days – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (daily) Although generally considered permanent, masonry is subject to deterioration too. Our preservation practices attempt to keep masonry structures from deteriorating further; respect the significance of original materials and details; and stabilize, repair, and retain features wherever possible to ensure their safekeeping for […]
“Woodworking 101 with Traditional Hand Tools” is a new class offering a fun and interesting, three-day, hands-on learning experience in the Belvedere School’s woodworking studio. This is a basic class learning how to make a small wall cabinet out of old growth, hardwood. Each student will make a cabinet and take it home with them. […]
This two-day class builds on skills learned in Blacksmithing I and introduces new skills, such as punching and riveting. Students will make a center punch, a pot trivet, and a set of tongs. Students will also be able to work on personal projects with the experienced instructors and ample supplies here at Tillers. Intermediate class […]
Essential framing and power tool skills for structures. Learn the essential tools, terms, and techniques of carpentry while building a small structure such as a shed or playhouse. In this supportive, hands-on course, you’ll safely use a range of hand and power tools and explore the basics of house framing, layout, and the “anatomy” of […]
March 2 – 12, 2026: Monday - Thursday 6PM to 9PM Cost $400 Goal: Provide participants with foundational knowledge and hands-on practice in traditional masonry repair and restoration methods, focusing on both structural and aesthetic elements of historic brick and stone buildings. Course Overview: This seminar introduces students to the fundamental principles of masonry restoration, emphasizing how […]
March 2 – 12, 2026: Monday - Thursday 6PM to 9PM Cost $400 Topic: Basic Masonry in Historic Structures (Designed for Beginners) Goal: Provide participants with foundational knowledge and hands-on practice in traditional masonry repair and restoration methods, focusing on both structural and aesthetic elements of historic brick and stone buildings. Course Overview: This seminar introduces students to […]
Dates: March 6-7, 2026 Cost: $470 Overview: We will answer your business questions through small groups and informal discussions. Topics will include: starting up a business (legal structure, insurance), marketing, sales, operations (employees, management), contracts and contract types, leadership, and estimating the cost and sale price of producing a timber frame. We will share resources […]
This program is focused on analyzing, diagnosing, and treating common plaster failures. If you own or manage a historic property, or simply wish you knew more about caring for plaster walls, this is the perfect program for you! Learn from Rory Brennan of Plaster Magic. He’s spent decades stabilizing and reattaching historic plaster instead of tearing it […]
Making Wooden Storm Windows is a fun and intense, three-day, hands-on learning experience. Students will how to make traditional, wooden storm windows. You will be part of a team building exterior storms for a house in one of the buildings in a Hannibal Historic District. This is a tuition-based class with a limit of eight […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
In this four-month carpenter training, you’ll learn essential carpentry and building skills through immersive mentorship—including framing and finishing a tiny house and working on your own small design-and-build carpentry project. Spring Session: March 10 – July 1, 2026 (tiny house intensive dates: March 24 – April 1, 2026) Fall Session: July 21 – November […]
Basic Plaster Wall Repair 1 Day – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm A traditional and versatile building material, plaster was historically used as a protective and decorative coating for walls and ceilings. Plaster can result in finishes much harder than drywall which creates a more durable wall surface, and is more adaptable for specialty design […]
The dovetail joint is one of the strongest and most beautiful techniques in woodworking. Join SBWI alumni Jaime Marvin as she demystifies how to make dovetails completely by hand. Students will learn how to properly use layout tools, chisels and handsaws. The first day will be spent cutting dovetails and pins and the second day […]
Students meet twice a week for 2.5 hours per session on this 6-week course that introduces the fundamentals of bladesmithing. Begin with shop safety and an overview of tools, and move on to basic forging techniques to create your own knife. Students learn the techniques needed to forge, grind, heat treat, polish and sharpen knives. […]
This course combines the core of our previous timber framing, homebuilding, and apprenticeship curriculums into one package for those seeking a career in timber framing or a deeper understanding of the skills needed to build their own timber frame. It's ideal for those who seek more opportunities for development than are provided in our one-week […]
You will be part of a team restoring tongue and grooved wood flooring in a historic house in the Central Park National Historic District in Hannibal, Missouri. This is a tuition-based class with a limit of 8 students. You will be working side-by-side all three days with instructor Bob Yapp. Bob is nationally recognized as […]
Repointing Special Joint Profiles Using Lime Mortar 1 Day – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm As the number of historic buildings continues to increase, so does the demand for masons who have the necessary skill and knowledge critical to the preservation of vintage structures. A skilled and exacting mason can match rebuilt sections of masonry […]
The decision to repoint a masonry structure is most often related to some obvious signs of deterioration, such as disintegrating mortar, cracks in mortar joints, loose bricks or stones, or damp walls. On the surface, restoration projects may appear straightforward and intuitive, but there’s no substitute for skill and experience. Good repointing practices guarantee the […]