One of the most unique construction schools in the US can be found in Vermont. Its students are also unique in that you will find students who cover all age ranges, economic levels, and construction skills.
When I visited it a couple of years ago, the group I was with included Architects, builders, a member of management for an offsite factory, a semi-retired couple, and one guy that looked like he could survive any place on Earth just using the knife he carried with him “everywhere”.
Now some of Yestermorrow School’s students have started their first project in an airport hangar they rented as a space to build in cold months. In their first-ever winter session of Certificate in Residential Design and Construction students are avidly designing their homes in the studio for part of the week, with the rest of the week spent learning hands-on skills as they build cabins that will go to Camp Dream in Fairfield, VT.
The hangar was busy with the sound of hammers, saws, and drills as the students frame the walls this week, followed quickly by the roof.
And check out what the students in the wood shop are doing to earn their Woodworking Certificate students embarked on their twelve-week intensive course by felling an ash tree from our woods and producing eight unique ladder-back chairs, made only with hand tools.
The wood shop turned noisier this week as the students moved on to learning power tools for box making. The tools they learn now will prepare them for design challenges when they need to think outside the box (pun intended).
p.s. Are you a woodworker looking to take your skills to the next level? Applications are open now for their Advanced Woodworking Certificate!
They’re approaching their Annual Appeal goal of $84,000, and there’s still time to give! We have raised $34,000, which will benefit their students as they grow their capacity and increase the accessibility of their programs. Life-changing moments are happening at Yestermorrow, and you can help them allow more students to invest in themselves and their communities.
At Yestermorrow, they believe in the possibility of hands-on education to bring about a better, more sustainable world. By allowing more people to learn with them, they are planting seeds for a built environment that is intentional, sustainable, and made for everyone. You can be a part of it by making a gift today.
CHECK OUT their extensive list of in-person classes at their school in Vermont. If you’ve never been to Vermont, this is your chance, so register today for one of their classes.
Gary Fleisher, Contributing Editor
