Our Purpose...
“Doing Good with Wood” is an educational, non-profit corporation that brings people together to learn design, woodworking and “making." Volunteers work together to understand and develop skills and knowledge, to share what they know, and sometimes even provide access to tools. "Doing good" can take many forms, including helping others acquire the "healthy hobby" of woodworking, creating woodworking products for other nonprofit organizations, helping fellow woodworkers with projects, or hosting fun woodworking activities that help people have fun and build confidence.
Our Goals:
- To develop experience-based self-esteem.
- To create a respect for both success and failure as natural steps in the creative process.
- To model creativity, design thinking, positive behaviors and attitudes, social skills, and appreciation of cultural differences, and...
- To introduce youth to the digital and analog tools used in design, woodworking, and “making.”
Who Can Participate?
- Age requirements vary from project to project. We have worked with people as young as pre-schoolers on very simple "assembly-style" projects. We make appropriate accommodations where possible to allow people of various ages and abilities to participate.
- Those under 18 must have permission from a parent or guardian.
- People of all genders are welcome to participate.
- Adult volunteers with skills are welcome to apply as mentors, but must pass a screening process.
- No prerequisite skills or knowledge are required, but all will need to be trained before using any tool that is potentially dangerous.
- Parental involvement is encouraged, but not required. (Projects developed by family members or teams of friends can be powerful!)
Since 1993
Our Philosophy
We believe that producing an object of functional utility or an object of art from raw materials can have a powerful influence on its creator. The process can promote creativity, can offer opportunities to struggle and succeed, and can build the confidence that comes from success, inspiring the creator to accept another, perhaps greater challenge.
We will assist those who have even a casual interest. We will meet them where they are, and provide the support they might need to envision, design, build, solve problems, and ultimately succeed.
Next Steps...
If you are interested in participating, as a woodworker, as a mentor, or as someone who would like to recommend young woodworkers or mentors, follow this link the our "Contact Us" page and let us know. Thanks!!