Director's Notes

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

Fall 2011

Greetings from Berkeley California.

As the director of the Kids' Carpentry Program, I am excited to say that we are considered one of the finest enrichment programs offered throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The program was founded in 1982 by Al Mayberry. Currently, we have established over twenty-one (21) Kids' Carpentry Programs. You can find our year-round, after school, enrichment program at public and private elementary schools, recreation departments, and our home site, JCC East Bay in Berkeley.

In the early 80's it became apparent that enrichment education was lacking for kindergarten through sixth grade children. Kids' Carpentry provides one answer to that problem. We offer small classes where children learn basic woodworking techniques using applied mathematics. In this highly motivating atmosphere you can see children as young as five years old, holding a quarter-inch ruler preparing to measure a piece of wood that will soon be turned into his/her masterpiece. Accomplishment, self-esteem. cooperation, responsibility, craftsmanship, and empowerment, are some of the words we hear from parents and educators familiar with our curriculum.

I have personally trained many wonderful, caring, teachers to meet the growing demand for our programs and classes. You can find Kids' Carpentry Programs in the cities of: Albany, Berkeley, Lafayette, Danville, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Alameda, San Carlos, Los Altos, Menlo Park, Belmont, Burlingame, to name a few sites. In addition you can now find Kids' Carpentry in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Beginning last Spring I started training 2 new talented teachers, Chip McCarthy, who has 30 years of woodworking experience, and John Tust who is also a painting contractor. These two guys will be opening up 6 new program sites along the peninsula. In addition we are welcoming back Moira McNamara who had taken a year sabbatical off and is now returning to teach 4 days a week. Casey Nutt is taking a leave of absence while he and his partner, Katiana, enjoy their new baby girl Hazel.

All in all it's been crazy wonderful around here. In addition to opening up 12 new program sites this fall I am happy to announce that I will be training 2 more super talented teachers this fall.

On a sad note my wife Jeab, co-teacher for the past 12 years, broke her back while sledding this past April on one of our Kids' Carpentry Winter Retreats. She had to wear a brace, 24/7 for over three months. Happily she is recovering well doing physical therapy, hiking, and swimming.

Our motto and mission has remained the same since our inception: Building confidence and teaching with respect and humor in a safe and happy environment.

Yours Truly,

Michael Glass