Ever thought about becoming a blacksmith? Maybe a boat-builder? If you answered yes, the Adirondack Folk School might be the perfect place for you.
"Here at the Adirondack Folk School, the students walk out with their own boat. I like to think it's heirloom quality and it's going to last. Significant requirement for time, it's 10 days, and for money, it runs about $1,800 for the class, but you walk out with a boat which I think is pretty cool," said Larry Benjamin, instructor.
"A lot of our criticism is that our classes are too expensive but given what you make, you could pay retail and pay about the same amount. The tuition supports our instructors, the school and that's where the tuition goes," said Scott Hayden, executive director. "In the first year in 2010, they offered about 90 classes and it's grown to about over 200. That intense, joyful focus of creating what they're envisioning of what they want and actually making it happen."
"It's been a wonderful experience. I'm here with like-minded individuals... I'm being taught by a most amazing teacher, Larry Benjamin, who has a passion for building canoes and a passion to share that with others," said Melissa Fregonese, student.
"This is uniquely Adirondack, the Adirondacks of Upstate New York. and we're here to pass along and preserve the arts, crafts and cultural heritage of the Adirondacks. We're teaching everything from boat-building, to rustic furniture making, the Adirondack pack basket, chair-making," said Hayden.