We Love the Smell of Sawdust in the Morning!

An eager, young group of campers burst through the shop doors excited to learn a new trade. Safety glasses perched upon their noses and ear plugs buried in their ears, the tools came to life, chipping away at the new projects. Each project is unique, a different shape, a different grain, just like the camper shaping the project. It’s a challenge. It can be tedious. But with this group—challenge accepted.

If you have never been in a wood shop, it could seem chaotic. Everyone is doing something different. One person is cutting, one is using the planer, one is routing, someone else is carving with the CNC machine. In the end, the outcome is the same. A charcuterie board. Yet, each charcuterie board is unique. A different name, a different look. It truly is a one-of-a-kind piece and a one-of-a-kind experience.

Thanks to the partnership with Iron Timbers, ten more students participated in the second session of DIY (Do It Yourself) Woodworking Camp as part of A Summer of STREAM. These students worked hard as they learned valuable skills of the trade and produced a charcuterie board as well as a custom sign. Combining techniques of sawing, shaping, sanding, and finishing, these students produced items that they can proudly use and display as a declaration of their hard work.

It truly does take a lot to make something like what the students are doing and most people don’t realize the amount of time and energy that goes into a project like this. Of course picking the right piece of wood is essential. A live edge Maple was used for the charcuterie board and had to be planed and then sanded extensively. From there, students got to carve their names into the board using the CNC router. After another round of sanding, students mixed clear epoxy and poured the liquid into the carving, leaving it to sit overnight to harden. The next day another round of sanding began in order to remove the excess epoxy. Next, the edges of the board need to be routed to remove the sharp edge. Water-popping and then more sanding increasing the grit each time was the longest part of the process for these students. An oil was used as a finish to bring out the grain and color of the Maple wood. Handles were added to finish off this amazing charcuterie board.

“These projects take a lot of love, sweat, and sometimes tears to make but they are worth it,” said Ruby Imel, an incoming 8th grader at Batesville Intermediate School. “This camp was a lot of fun. I learned different things that I had never learned before and I understand the value of items like this because I made it with my own two hands.”

And that was just the first project. These students also completed a custom sign that incorporated metal work. A lot of hard work, elbow grease, and time went into making these projects. To these students, these pieces aren’t just wood. They hold a significant story that they can display and share with family and friends. Iron Timbers co-owner Gary Payne said, “You can really see a kid undergo a metamorphosis when you let them work with their own two hands. Creating something like this can give them a sense of pride and accomplishment.”

Thanks to Iron Timbers for partnering with Genesis: Pathways to Success to host another phenomenal session of DIY Woodworking Camp as a part of A Summer of STREAM. An experience like this is priceless.