Spring Workshops at Hudson River Maritime Museum

By   |     |  Makers

The Wooden Boat School at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston offers more than just lessons in crafting canoes and skiffs—it’s a gateway to mastering timeless skills in woodworking and traditional crafts. This spring, the school sets its sights on foundational classes that double as an introduction to DIY home repair, creative projects, and hands-on craftsmanship. For aspiring woodworkers and seasoned artisans alike, the school’s slate of workshops promises an engaging mix of practicality and artistry.

“The school was founded in 2015 to preserve the maritime craft traditions of the Hudson Valley,” says Dan Nelson, Wooden Boat School manager. The school puts on 6 to 10 classes per month whether you’re a DIYer restoring your old house, looking for a new hobby, or exploring a transition from your desk job to a career building furniture.”

One of the standout offerings is the two-day Wooden Spoon Carving workshop on March 2 and 9. Students will start with locally sourced logs, learning to split and shape the wood into a simple yet elegant utensil. Carving axes and knives become extensions of the hand as participants explore the interplay of inside and outside curves to create a spoon. The workshop promises more than just a finished product—it’s an immersion into the tactile pleasures of working with green wood. No power tools, no noisy machines—just the satisfying rhythm of chips and shavings falling to the floor.

For those drawn to the hum of machinery, the Introduction to the Lathe class on March 4 is a must. Known as the “mother of machine tools,” the lathe unlocks a world of possibilities, from bowls and candlesticks to musical instruments and table legs. This three-hour evening session provides a hands-on introduction to lathe safety, mechanics, and creative potential, guided by an expert instructor. It’s an ideal primer for anyone curious about turning wood into symmetrical works of art.

On March 7 and 8, the Make a Wooden Pen class offers a chance to combine precision and personal expression. Participants will use small lathes and hand tools to craft two custom pens, choosing from a variety of domestic and exotic woods. With guidance from instructor Leanora Kovacs, even beginners can create heirloom-quality writing instruments while honing their skills in wood preparation, turning, and assembly.

Traditional crafts get their due on March 8 with a Coil Basket Weaving workshop. Using pine needles, embroidery floss, and yarn, students will learn weaving techniques that can be adapted to other fiber arts. Instructor Katie Gibbons will also share her methods for preparing plant fibers, adding an eco-friendly dimension to the craft. This class welcomes beginners eager to explore the intersection of utility and beauty.

For those ready to tackle larger projects, the Furniture Restoration and Repair class on March 15 and 16 offers practical solutions for breathing new life into cherished pieces. Students are encouraged to bring their own small furniture items—think end tables or chairs—to learn cleaning, repair, and finishing techniques. Over two days, participants will gain confidence in restoring functional and aesthetic value to their furniture, leaving with skills applicable to future DIY endeavors.

Other spring highlights include Build an Adirondack Chair (April 12-13), a beginner-friendly introduction to constructing these fabled chairs, and Build a Birdhouse (March 22), where participants can create nesting spaces tailored to local bird species. For anyone looking to create a show-stopping piece of furniture, the Make a Live Edge Table workshop (May 10) will guide participants from start to finish. 

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