Discussion forum: Dad's area

I was thinking that I would like to have my boys learn some general woodworking skills. Sort of like shop classes in public school. We don’t have room for a woodworking shop in our current location.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on classes or other ways to learn these skills in the Columbus area.

I have a friend in the construction business who has volunteered to help teach the boys once we get a schedule worked out.

In the meantime I found a book from the library that looks like it will be a great curriculum for woodworking skills. They don’t build any useful projects, but they do learn the necessary skills. It’s called “Woodshop for Kids” by Jack McKee.

I got the idea from there to build the kids their one workbench. We are putting the finishing touches on it now. I put wheels on 2 of the legs so we can move it out of the way in the garage when not in use. They already learned quite a bit just with that project.

Tad,

I am the Director of the Building Trades Institute in Lewis Center recently retired from career technical education in public schools. In my experience with career centers there were always several home school students enrolled in programs. Those students were 11/12 grade and were hands on learners. I applaude your interest in offering training to skills. Frankly, I have been planning curriculum to home school groups involving construction skills. Here at BTI we use the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum. The curriculum is in module form and nationally certified as it is used industry wide for apprenticeship training. That is our mission at BTI. We instruct apprentices from the area in electrical, carpentry, plumbing, HVAC through 4 levels or 8,000 hours. Those apprentices become journeymen after completing the 8.000 hours.

We feel we sre the premier construction instructional source in Central Ohio. I would invite you and members of the home school community to visit our facility. Our hands on modular curriculum is easily adaptable to a variety of forms.

Please contact me at 740 548 8091

Sincerely,
Gayle Parlin