We offer classes in traditional woodworking using hand tools in our timber framed,
solar powered school building here on the Pemaquid Peninsula in Bristol, Maine.
We are committed to keeping our class size as small as possible (4 students + our intern)
to foster a truly connected learning environment.
above: Bill Coperthwaite 4-board 'democratic' chairs
- all 2025 craft school classes have finished for the season -
- 2026 class schedule -
April 17, 18 & 19, 2026 Bentwood Firewood Carrier/Holdall; fundamental hand-tool skills such as riving, steam bending, hand drilling & carved tenons - 3 days, exertion level easy, $ 435 tuition + $ 25 materials fee (2 spots open)
April 26 - May 3, 2026 Curtis Buchanan's democratic Windsor chair; sculptural hand-tool chair making - 8 days, exertion level high + requires prerequisite chair course, $ 1,160 tuition + $ 160 materials fee (this class is FULL - please be in touch, we have a wait list)
- MCCS MAINE BUG BREAK ! May 4th to 24th, 2025 -
May 25 - 28, 2026 make a Carving Knife + Leather Sheath; hand-tool & leather working skills, 60mm Lucian Avery slöjd knife blade provided - 4 days, exertion level easy, $ 580 tuition + $ 65 materials fee (3 spots open)
- special Kortemeier college graduation week -
June 13 & 14, 2026 Simple Shrink Pots; fundamental hand-tool skills, green woodworking, carving & hand boring - 2 days, exertion level medium +, $ 290 tuition + $10 materials fee (this class is FULL - please be in touch for the wait list)
June 17 - 20, 2026 Small Dovetailed Box with Spoon Rack; fundamental handcraft skills with milled pine, "no saw" whittled dovetail carving, chip carving - 4 days, exertion level easy, $ 580 tuition + $ 15 materials fee (2 spots open)
June 24 - 28, 2026 Build a Shaving Horse; basic hand tool skills, boring mortises, large-scale mortise & tenon joinery
- 5 days, exertion level med/high, $ 725 tuition + $ 150 materials fee (THIS CLASS IS FULL - please be in touch, we have a wait list)
July 5 - 10, 2026 Spoon Carving Intensive; comprehensive carving skills; spoon layout & design, sourcing spoon wood from trees, axe work, finishing & tool sharpening - 6 days, exertion level easy, $ 870 tuition + $ 10 materials fee (this class is FULL - please be in touch to be put on the wait list)
July 14 - 17, 2026 Tramp Art; hand tool skills & design - 4 days, exertion level easy, $ 580 tuition + $ 35 materials fee (1 spot open)
July 25 - August 1, 2026 MACFAT / Make a Chair From a Tree; Post and Rung Ladder Back Chair making, fundamental green woodworking skills - 8 days, exertion level high, $ 1,160 tuition + $ 55 materials fee (4 spots open)
August 6 & 7, 2026 Restoring Hand Tools / Sharpening; limited to chisels and block planes - 2 days, exertion level easy, $ 290 tuition + $ 10 materials fee. Un-restored block planes available for an added fee. (4 spots open)
August 15 to 21, 2026 Welsh Vernacular Windsor Chair Making; hand tool chair making with some individualized design options - 7 days, exertion level high + requires prerequisite chair course, $ 1,015 tuition + $ 125 materials fee (this class is FULL - we have a wait list - please email us)
August 29 & 30, 2026 Greenwood Projects / Carving Skills weekend ; fundamental hand-tool skills & green woodworking - 2 days, exertion level easy, $ 290 tuition + $ 10 materials fee (3 spots open)
September 3 - 6, 2026 Decorative Chip Carving w/ guest instructor Daniel Clay; precision surface carving and decoration (students can bring their own wooden items to decorate) - 4 days, exertion level easy, $ 580 tuition + $ 25 materials fee (3 spots open)
September 9 - 13, 2026 Hand Hewn Greenwood Bowls; green woodworking & fundamental hand-tool skills; axe, adze, gouges - 5 days, exertion level high, $ 725 tuition + $ 25 materials fee (this class is FULL - please be in touch, we have a wait list)
- tuition per day is $145 for all classes, plus any additional materials fees -
Please get in touch with us via email if you are planning to register for a class,
so that we can keep our numbers updated!
Please note - exertion levels are about the expected level of physical exertion -
Level easy is definitely accessible to people of average strength and endurance.
Level medium requires a bit more stamina.
Level high is our most physical class.
(These levels are not about skill or experience - our classes in general are accessible to people of all skill levels.)
Because we are teaching traditional wood working and all of our classes involve the use of hand-powered tools, there is a level of physical fitness and (hand) strength necessary to complete certain projects.
- All necessary tools and materials are provided for all classes. Students are welcome to share lunch with us.
- All classes taught by Kenneth Kortemeier unless otherwise indicated.
- Class size is generally limited to 4 students plus our intern.
- Classes start at 9am and run until 5pm.
* Internship / deep learning opportunity at the Maine Coast Craft school:
interns from over the years at MCCS
more interns working/learning at the craft school
to register for a class, please print out a registration form,
read it carefully, fill it in, sign it and mail it to us with your $200 deposit.
(and Please email us to tell us your plans too)
- we have a waiting list for full classes, please be in touch -
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tuition - $145 per day for classes taught by Kenneth Kortemeier, plus any materials fees, if applicable. 2 day class - $ 290 3 day class - $ 435 4 day class - $ 580 5 day class - $ 725 6 day class - $ 870 7 day class - $ 1,015 8 day class - $ 1,160 all classes taught by Kenneth Kortemeier unless otherwise indicated. - use of tools is included, lodging is not - PRINTABLE REGISTRATION FORM here |
