Group and Private Classes
We have various classes organized on a rolling basis throughout the year. Scroll down to see the list of upcoming and past classes. These classes are organized in small and engaging groups. If you would like to inquire about a past class you wish was scheduled again feel free to contact us here.
Upcoming Classes
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Carve your own canoe paddle while camping on the bank of the beautiful Saint Croix river! Combine the pleasure of being in nature, learning, and shearing wooden fibers with a sharp plane. This two-day class will provide everything you need to carve your paddle. Bring camping gear and food, and be prepared to enjoy good company.
October 4-5
9:30am-4:30pm
$300 Instruction fee
$60 Materials fee
Build your own: Grow Shelf
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Build your own 16"x16" cabinet to grow herbs or keep your favorite house plans alive in winter. A beginner-friendly one-day class.
Saturday, November 1st
9:30 am-4:30 pm
$130 Instruction fee
$150 Douglas Fir kit or $200 Cedar Kit
Build your own: Shaker Style Oval Boxes
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
If you are looking to make unique gifts for your family and friends this holiday season - this class is for you! You will be making your own set of steam-bend Shaker Oval boxes. We will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for instruction and have an open-shop day on Saturday when you can come to finish your projects at your own pace. Class size 4-6 people.
December 9th and 11th. Optional open shop on December 13th.
6pm-9pm
$220 Instruction fee
$40 Materials fee
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
In this class, you will use a variety of planes, a spokeshave, a chisel, and cabinet scraper to reveal the beautiful, functional paddle that exists within a cherry board. Class size 4-6 people.
This is a 2-day intensive version of the class.
January 10-11th 9:30am-4:30pm
$250 Instruction fee
$60 Materials fee
Mortise and Tenon: a Hand Tool Intensive
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Ultralight Skin-on-Frame Canoe: Group Class
Mortise and tenon joint is a foundation of quality woodwork. Learn to layout and cut various types of mortise and tenon joints with hand tools. Hone these skills while building a beautiful entryway bench collaboratively. We will meet for 3 Saturdays in February. Small class size of 4 people.
Saturdays, February 7-21 9:30am-4:30pm
$375 Instruction fee
The bench will be raffled to students for the price of materials ($130)
Ultralight Skin-on-Frame Canoe: Group Class
Paddle Carving: An introduction to hand tools
Ultralight Skin-on-Frame Canoe: Group Class
In this class, you will be building a 15-foot ultralight skin-on frame canoe with a group of 4-6 people. The class will meet twice a week: Wednesdays 6:30pm to 9:30 pm and Sundays 9:30 am to 4:30 pm for 7 total sessions.
March 4th - 25th
$500 Instruction fee
The canoe will be raffled to students for the price of materials ($900)
Lapstrake build: hands-on learning to keep old traditions alive
Lapstrake build: hands-on learning to keep old traditions alive
Lapstrake build: hands-on learning to keep old traditions alive
We will start building a lapstrake boat in 2025. Sign up for a three day class to learn the skills of the trade and touch a particularly beautiful part of history.
Details, dates and instruction cost TBD
Build your own: Grow Shelf
Lapstrake build: hands-on learning to keep old traditions alive
Lapstrake build: hands-on learning to keep old traditions alive
Build your own 16"x16" cabinet to grow herbs or keep your favorite house plans alive in winter. A beginner-friendly one-day class.
Saturday, April 18th
9:30 am-4:30 pm
$130 Instruction fee
$150 Douglas Fir kit or $200 Cedar Kit
Build your own: Shaker Style Oval Boxes
Lapstrake build: hands-on learning to keep old traditions alive
Mortise and Tenon: a Hand Tool Intensive
If you are looking to make unique gifts for your family and friends this holiday season - this class is for you! You will be making your own set of steam-bend Shaker Oval boxes. We will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for instruction and have an open-shop day on Saturday when you can come to finish your projects at your own pace. Class size 4-6 people.
May 5th and 7th 6pm-9pm
Optional open shop on May 9th.
$220 Instruction fee
$40 Materials fee
Mortise and Tenon: a Hand Tool Intensive
Ultralight Skin-on-Frame Canoe: Private Class
Mortise and Tenon: a Hand Tool Intensive
Mortise and tenon joint is a foundation of quality woodwork. Learn to layout and cut various types of mortise and tenon joints with hand tools. Hone these skills while building a beautiful entryway bench collaboratively. This is a 3-day intensive course. Small class size of 4 people.
June 26th - 28th 9:30am-4:30pm
$375 Instruction fee
The bench will be raffled to students for the price of materials ($130)
Ultralight Skin-on-Frame Canoe: Private Class
Ultralight Skin-on-Frame Canoe: Private Class
Ultralight Skin-on-Frame Canoe: Private Class
In this class, you will be building your own 15-foot ultralight skin-on frame canoe. We will meet a couple of times a week and complete the canoe in 7-8 sessions. At least two participants are required, up to 6 total participants.
Custom schedule
$2500
Other Instruction
Schedule A Private Boat Build
Activities for Businesses and Events
Activities for Businesses and Events
Have you been dreaming of building your own boat, kayak, or canoe but didn't know where to start? Hire one of our instructors to help navigate the process. We tailor our instruction to what you need, bringing over 20 years of boatbuilding experience to your project.
Activities for Businesses and Events
Activities for Businesses and Events
Activities for Businesses and Events
Are you an Airbnb looking to host an activity? A summer camp or school looking for fresh engaging courses? Or a brewery looking for unique entertainment for your guests? We know how to make our classes an unforgettable experience and we can bring that experience right to your space!
Past classes
Beer and Boats at Summit Brewing
Beer and Boats at Summit Brewing
Beer and Boats at Summit Brewing
August 2025
Instructors: Phil Winger and Maria Petrova
The only thing more exciting than building a boat is building it amongst friends at a brewery! This summer we partnered up with Summit Brewery to build our classic 15-foot canoe in their Ratskeller.
Build Your Own Grow Shelf
Beer and Boats at Summit Brewing
Beer and Boats at Summit Brewing
March 19, 2023
Instructor: Maria Petrova
Northern winters need not frustrate your green thumb anymore! In this one-day workshop each student built their own attractive cedar grow shelf. It integrates full-spectrum LED lights and a hinged front for easy access to your botanical babies. The shelf lends itself to hydroponics or soil-based planting. This beginner-friendly class incorporated some basic principles of woodworking and hand tools.
Lapstrake Skiff (Private Class)
Beer and Boats at Summit Brewing
Paddle Making on Saint Croix River
September 2022 - Jan 1st 2023
Blaine, MN
Instructor: Phil Winger
Our customer, a skilled woodworker in his own right, partnered with us to build a 13-foot lapstrake skiff from cedar, oak, and mahogany.
This traditional boat takes over 300 hours to build and trains advanced woodworking skills like cutting laps, rabbets, and rolling bevels.
Friends and family are a welcome addition to the effort!
Paddle Making on Saint Croix River
West Greenland Kayak at North House Folk School
Paddle Making on Saint Croix River
September 10 - 11, 2022
Near Marine on Saint Croix
Instructor: Phil Winger
Carve your own canoe paddle while camping on the bank of the beautiful Saint Croix river! Combine the pleasure of being in nature, learning, and shearing wooden fibers with a sharp plane. This two-day class will provide everything you need to carve your paddle. Bring camping gear and food, and be prepared to enjoy good company.
Shaker Boxes at Ogichi Daa Kwe Girls camp
West Greenland Kayak at North House Folk School
West Greenland Kayak at North House Folk School
June 5 - August 5 2022
International Falls, MN
Instructor: Maria Petrova
Making a shaker box is a very satisfying way to learn basic principles of working with wood and steam bending. Each camper will walk away from this class with her own oval box constructed from carefully selected materials.
West Greenland Kayak at North House Folk School
West Greenland Kayak at North House Folk School
West Greenland Kayak at North House Folk School
June 20 - 26, 2022
North House Folk School
Instructors: Phil Winger, Brian Thorkildson
This course is for individuals with a strong interest in creating a seaworthy craft with their own hands. The Inuit kayak from Greenland is a fast and responsive craft designed for hunting but just as suitable for today’s more common recreational purposes.