Atlantic Challenge finds expertise at Woodturning School

A typical Friday for apprentices from the Apprenticeshop of Atlantic Challenge usually involves shop cleanup, field trips to museums, watching demonstrations at a craftsman’s shop, or sailing in the warmer months. This February however, the last day of the work week looks much different. Each Friday, two groups of Apprenticeshop, or ’Shop, students make the 40 minute trip from Rockland to the Woodturning School in Damariscotta, where they have the chance to hone and learn a skill not formally taught at their school – woodturning.

Thanks to a generous donation from Rick Palm, an enthusiastic Woodturning School alumnus and an Atlantic Challenge supporter, these young men and women from the ’Shop now have the chance to learn how to turn wood safely and easily by following a clear plan of experiential learning. The course is a modified Introductory class, in which they are introduced to spindle work, bowl making and end-grain hollowing techniques. Since these apprentices are learning boat building, the Woodturning School plans to focus more heavily on spindle turning techniques, which especially pertain to their maritime careers and needs.

 “This collaboration is a natural fit. Woodturning is a useful skill to have in wooden boat building says Ken Keoughan, director of the 4-year old Woodturning School. “These apprentices are developing boat building boat maintenance knowledge and experience at the Atlantic Challenge Apprenticeshop. The woodturning skills and techniques learned here at the Woodturning School dovetails with boat building and they will own them the rest of their lives. I think we have a lot to offer the ’Shop.”

Eric Stockinger, Apprenticeshop Director, agrees. “This is a great opportunity for us. It benefits boat builders to be proficient in woodturning for 2 reasons. The first is that it is valuable for them to be able to fashion, produce and fix their own tools. The other is to learn the turned elements of the interior work of wooden boats, such as seat supports or belaying pins.

Founded in 1972 by Lance Lee, The Apprenticeshop is considered to be one of the oldest and finest traditional boat building schools in the country. Located in Rockland, the ’Shop receives individual commissions from customers, so their boat projects are rarely the same. Apprentices sign on for a two year program in which they are guided by instructors to learn the art and skill of traditional wooden boatbuilding, focusing predominately on carvel or lapstrake construction. “If you can build a boat you can build anything” is a motto at the ’Shop, and it emphasizes the conviction that apprentices learn through boat building as much as they learn the actual technology of construction. Apprentices committed to the program come away with a multitude of skills, a great work ethic and a broader sense their place in their community.

At the Woodturning School, students “learn-by-doing”  Emphasizing the enjoyment of woodturning, instructors explain and demonstrate each step after which each student does “hands-on” exercises. This teaching style coincides nicely with the ’Shop’s philosophy that learning to do anything is best accomplished through direct experience. Lee was inspired by the idea that “education should encourage both thought and action, not one or the other, but both at once.”

According to Stockinger this experience between the 2 schools also “pairs well with us because not only does the teaching style of the Woodturning School mesh well with our philosophy of ‘doing’ rather than just sitting down and listening, but it incorporates a more formal form of instruction that we don’t generally offer. We encourage apprentices to go looking for the answer, sometimes trying, failing, and trying again. It is nice for the Apprentices to be exposed to this formal aspect of instruction at the Woodturning School.

Tom Martinelli, a second year apprentice who grew up in Manchester, Maine had informal woodturning experience in his high school shop classroom. It was one of his most favorite things to do. The Woodturning School has opened his eyes to something entirely different. “Here, I am learning to use the tools absolutely properly” he said smiling. “I have been using a gouge wrong my entire life. We are all thankful to the person who made this possible. It was a really kind thing to do. A lot of us would never have had the opportunity to use lathes this nice. The equipment and tools are beautiful”. Tom will finish up his two years at the shop this summer with the launching of a 22-foot sailboat, Blue Moon.

 Tom Raymond, a long time Woodturning School instructor, enthusiastically stated, “I really enjoy working with this group. They are engaged and truly interested in learning. It is a pleasure teaching this class.” Raymond has been with the Woodturning School since its origin in September of 2004. Intro 1 and 2 are among his favorite classes to instruct. He always enjoys teaching specialty classes such as “Turn a 4-Legged Stool”.

 “We are all really excited to learn about this place and to be here. The great thing about woodturning is that there is a quick sense of satisfaction,” says Stockinger, “so much of what the apprentices are doing at the ’Shop is oriented toward longer term goals. “Yes” adds Keoughan. “Turning is great for the instant gratification. You get results-often exciting ones-fast.”

 For more information on the numerous opportunities offered at Atlantic Challenge in Rockland, please visit their web site at www.atlanticchallenge.com or call 207-594-1800. Visitors are also encouraged.

“The fine machinery was great and I really liked that
all the apparatus was right at each machine.”
Dylan, Atlantic Challenge Apprentice, Intro 1 February 08.