In June 2020, Society of Wood Manufacturing (SWM) members and their families journeyed up the Rim of the World Highway into the San Bernardino Mountains to the Dogwood Family Campground. Eight SWM members, their families, along with four dogs spent two nights away from the hustle and bustle of suburban southern California living. With Covid-19 prevention measures in place, the group was able to responsibly enjoy each other’s company. SWM members had adjoining campsites and were able to have separate fires and cooking areas.
On Saturday morning, the group took a twenty-minute drive to Arrowhead Enterprises Wood Products, a mountain top lumber yard with a slab wood retail store on site. They purchased a 10/4” x 12” x 16’ piece of flat cut pine and brought it back to the campground. There, the SWM members began doing what they do best: making sawdust! SWM members brought out their handsaws, chisels, and bit brace hand drills and began construction on four primitive stools. Each stool consisted of a seat with three legs connected with through tenons. Everyone at the camp was able to contribute to the construction of the stools, the elementary age children used Japanese hand saws to crosscut the seat sections. The rip-cuts for the legs took a bit more stamina and were done by the adults. Bit brace hand drills were used to drill thru holes on the seat at approximately 15° angles. Hand chisels were used to create the tenons on the stool legs. The leg tenons were placed into the seat mortises to scribe the tenon shoulders to match the angle of each leg underneath the stool. The back two legs were compound angles, making them a bit trickier to match the geometry. Four SWM members each took a stool home to further shape and finish them. The finished stools will be raffled off, with the proceeds going to SkillsUSA California woodworking competitions.
After the stools were assembled, a large fire was built and marshmallow s’mores were cooked on the hot coals. The fire was large enough to allow family units to stay warm, while maintaining the recommended distance. On Sunday morning, everyone made breakfast at their respective sites. SWM members packed up their tents and trailers and cleaned up the campsite. Each family unit said their goodbyes and made their way back down the mountain towards home.
Do you live in Southern California? Are you interested in supporting school woodworking programs? Would you like to network with other industry professionals who are also interested in workforce development? Would you be able to promote, volunteer at, sponsor, or attend events to strengthen woodworking education? If so then you can become a member of AWFS’ local chapter of SWM! Contact AWFS® Education Manager Adam Kessler at Adam@awfs.org for more information.