Dear Woodworking Friends,
I am a career educator and school leader in Boulder, Colorado. I work at an independent school with a small Woodshop budget. I believe strongly that having young students learn and use hand tools is vital, especially as we move further and further away from hands on learning, and all of the essential value that comes with it. My focus for the fall will be on small projects built with hand tools, but unfortunately, we don’t have much funding left to outfit our shop. I am seeking advice on grant funding, etc. to be able to create 10 bench stations for my middle school class. If you could share any resources, it would me much appreciated!
With Gratitude,
Taylor
Replies
I would approach the manufacturers of the items you are needing. But first you need to define a written vision of what you want to accomplish. Number of students trained, marketing of your program to potential students, what can the trained students do and how will they enter into employment, etc. I think it is best that the student purchase their own tools. For strictly hand tool use I would start with basic wood chisels, dovetail saw(s), measuring devices, hand plane(s), square(s), pencils, waterstones for sharpening, etc.
The work benches could possibly funded through grants. Try your local Economic Development District for the workbenches. Again this is where a
written plan / vision helps get their attention. Good Luck
Maybe you can say it differently. Instead of saying you want to create a wood working shop for hand toolsyou could call it an " Atelier for project based learning" and spin that out for funding. If a potential customer asks me about my " studio" I know I can raise my price!
Funny, I kept a commercial photo studio in Manhattan for 30 years, until just before the pandemic. (I am lucky my landlord turned into a real pig on my last renewal!) I always invited clients to visit the "shop"... where the work gets done. When they saw that the shop was 3500 sqft with 16' ceilings many deals were closed. Perception is best when crafted.
As a student, I want to learn woodworking processes directly in production. Because when you are in the classroom and there are students, it is nice, but not so interesting when you are at work. Where qualified employees can show you right away. Well, that's my opinion.
Being a product of and teacher at an elementary school/middle school woodshed program, I think a lot of these comments don't have the right idea of what is being done. Unless I misunderstand you are not running a trade school shop. I would talk to local suppliers who might be wiling to help and then go to the school's development office. They should be able to assist with local and regional potential granting possibilities. I suspect you will have better luck with local providers. And the development office should be able to help with that process which is often one that needs some finesse and experience at that type of thing.
I'm not sure what you are looking for in terms of grants, but since you're in Boulder, have you checked with Resource Central on Arapahoe to see if they have any tools or materials that would fit the remaining budget you have? I remember getting my first chisels from a big crate for a buck a chisel at one of their tool sales! As a plus they already run a tool library and may be a good place to start.
https://resourcecentral.org/
I was going to say the same thing! Resource had a power tool library before other places and buckets are free with brown and white crusted paint but free…there’s a hazardous waste type place over off 55th too and they have like chemical cleaning products and paint all free…
Doors are plentiful there and I think having the kids make workbenches in groups would make it easy to grade or weed out… I can’t think of a better way to say what I’m trying to and just have freaking James Earl Jones’ field of dreams line circling…
I’m trying to do more these days but mostly I spray paint ugly gold frames…outdoor junk or jars and fix things…rescue etc…anyway…I like upcycling I don’t throw a thing away and free is my absolute favorite math…even though I haven’t seen a 49th in funding bumper sticker in a long time I assume you might like that subject…let me know how it goes and if you want to be a freegan! Ha
Though opposite ends of spectrum, the Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation gives out grants to schools. Woodworking may not be in their scope but you never know. Possibly you horse trade with your school management in that if you can get a tech grant, they toss the offset in regular budget to your woodworking program. Just a thought.
If I read your post correctly your woodworking effort is both new and also only a small part of a wider curriculum, and not the best funded part at that. You also do not say what age group you are targeting, but I seem to sense you are targeting high-school age students.
If it were my gig, I would try to stress the creativity and artistic aspects of the process to outside supporters while working to instill craftsmanship and safety in the students. The suggestion to build a clear program guide is a good one as is the one to approach companies for donations of tools, both for power and hand work. For materials (wood, screws, etc) I would try to build relationships with local woodworking shops who might have cut-0ffs or extras to donate, even big box stores might be willing to donate items with damaged packaging to your cause. Building supporters in the local community can also result in successful transitions from the classroom to jobs on graduation or even part-time (a win-win).
Finally, there are a few teachers that post on Fine Woodworking, people like Yoav Lieberman ([email protected]), or Mike Schloff of the Maplewood Shop (https://www.maplewoodshop.com/) who could offer huge advice to someone just starting a program. I suggest you read their articles and search for similar teachers on Fine Woodworking and try to engage with them.
Good luck!
Hi Taylor,
You mentioned you're in Boulder. I'm in Fort Collins, but work with the Colorado Woodworkers Guild in Denver. I'm interested in grants, too. Could you and I speak via DM?
Jonathan
I have no idea how to give advice.
I just wanted to say thank you for doing what you're doing.
I agree that it is vital and something that is rapidly being lost.
You're going to help so many people in ways they won't understand for a long time, and it restores just a little bit of my faith in humanity.
You deserve to get it all for free and i hope you find a way.