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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Explore historic blacksmithing methods and hammer out cookware, hardware, lighting, tools, and more. Gain inspiration from archaeology finds of Europe, the Near East, and the Viking world. Make period-appropriate gear, from fire steels and belt buckles to trivets, shears, and chest hinges. SCA-ers, historic food fanatics, and other nerds welcome–come flesh out your kit! No […]
Restoring Historic Wood Windows (Including Sash Mechanics) (3 days) – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm daily Old windows continue to be important to the mechanics of historic buildings as well as admirable architectural and woodworking achievements. As one of the few parts of a façade serving as both an interior and exterior feature, windows and […]
In this one-day class, youth (12-15 yrs) will experience what its like to safely forge, grind, heat treat and finish their very own knife just like they do on the hit television show Forged In Fire! This class is hard work but well worth it and will teach a little of all we offer here […]
April 6 – 16, 2026: Monday - Thursday 6PM to 9PM Cost: $400 Topic: Advanced Masonry Conservation (Designed for Students with Experience in Masonry or Who have Completed the Basic Masonry in Historic Structures Seminar) Goal: Equip participants with skills to conserve and restore complex historic masonry systems, from decorative façades and carved stone to ancient mortar […]
April 6 – 16, 2026: Monday - Thursday 6PM to 9PM Cost: $400 Topic: Advanced Masonry Conservation (Designed for Students with Experience in Masonry or Who have Completed the Basic Masonry in Historic Structures Seminar) Goal: Equip participants with skills to conserve and restore complex historic masonry systems, from decorative façades and carved stone to ancient mortar […]
Wednesdays ~ April 8, 15, 22, 29 6:00pm-9:00pm Join us as the weather warms, but before summer blazes in the blacksmith shop for our Spring Evenings Beginners Course. This class is designed to appeal to students who are interested in blacksmithing but the time commitments and scheduling of our weekend and weeklong classes may pose […]
Wednesdays ~ April 8, 15, 22, 29 6:00pm-9:00pm Woodturning is a truly satisfying craft, and the raw materials to produce useful, gorgeous and unique objects are all around us. This four-session class will introduce you to the lathe and the tools used to shape a basic piece of wood into a unique, attractive and useful […]
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 […]
Faux (Fake) Painting & Restoration of Painted Stone & Wood Grain will be a unique class. Before the 1870’s it was not very classy to have much real, natural wood. You could really show your affluence if you could afford an artist to grain your plain pine or poplar to look like exotic woods such […]
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 […]
The challenging process of a blacksmithing project creates an environment and guidance that, through challenge, enables learners to leave with a renewed sense of empowerment and self-confidence. This two-hour experience will take the students through a demonstration and introduction to the forge. They will practice some basic blacksmithing skills while creating their first forged hook! […]
The challenging process of a blacksmithing project creates an environment and guidance that, through challenge, enables learners to leave with a renewed sense of empowerment and self-confidence. This four-hour experience will take students through the process of forging a basic knife with a paracord-wrapped handle. No experience is required! $300 per student 1 pm - […]
Historic Plaster-Making & Restoring Decorative Plaster is a fun and intense, three-day, hands-on, learn by doing, total immersion experience in historic plaster molding creation and repair. Students will learn state-of-the-art techniques in mold making, casting & mixing plaster. You will also learn to create straight runs of plaster moldings. How these decorative plaster elements are installed […]
If you’ve never heated metal in a forge and swung a hammer to shape it on an anvil, this is the class for you! Learn the absolute basics of blacksmithing on our half-day course. Get an introduction to the safety, tools and techniques of this ancient art. Leave the shop confident in your abilities, and […]
A basic introduction to carpentry and power tools. This two-day course is an introduction to the vast world of carpentry. You'll learn key vocabulary, become comfortable using basic hand tools, and gain confidence and fundamental knowledge to pursue future carpentry projects by completing a small project. Read Syllabus Class Schedule: April 18-19, Saturday - Sunday, […]
If you’ve never heated metal in a forge and swung a hammer to shape it on an anvil, this is the class for you! Learn the absolute basics of blacksmithing on our half-day course. Get an introduction to the safety, tools and techniques of this ancient art. Leave the shop confident in your abilities, and […]
Learn the basics of furniture making and shop tools. This entry-level course is intended for the beginning woodworker. You'll be introduced to the how’s and why’s of woodworking, the use of hand tools, and the safe operation of shop equipment. Demonstrations and discussions will supplement hands-on learning as you each build your own one-drawer end […]
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 […]