Woodworking Programs for Schools, Camps & Students

Hands-On Woodworking Education That Builds More Than Projects

Maplewoodshop provides safe, hands-on woodworking programs for schools, camps, and community organizations. Our complete woodworking education programs combine ready-to-use curriculum, teacher training, portable equipment, hand tools, and project materials to make hands-on learning easy to implement.

Students learn by doing—building real projects while developing practical skills, creativity, problem-solving, math skills, teamwork, confidence, and early career awareness.

Explore Our Programs See How It Works
Students working on the art string project
Students working on the art string project
Students with string guitar project
Students posing with the string guitar project
Middle school students posing with their keepsake box
Student hammering nail on a piece of wood.
Students collaborating in a woodshop setting.
Pre-apprenticeship Program
Pre-apprenticeship Program
Middle school students posing in a woodshop setting.

What Is Maplewoodshop?

Maplewoodshop is a hands-on woodworking education program designed for schools, camps, and organizations serving students of different ages and abilities. We provide more than just woodworking projects. Our complete programs combine curriculum, lesson plans, training, tools, portable equipment, project materials, and ongoing support so educators can bring meaningful hands-on learning into existing spaces.

See How Maplewoodshop Works

More Than Woodworking: Skills Students Can Use for Life

When students build something with their own hands, learning becomes tangible. They measure, plan, solve problems, work together, overcome mistakes, and experience the satisfaction of creating something real.

Math

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Students apply measurement, estimation, geometry, and problem-solving to real projects.

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Problem Solving

Students learn to plan, troubleshoot, adapt, and find solutions.

Creativity

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Students turn ideas into tangible projects they can see, touch, and use.

Social Skills

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Students practice communication, collaboration, teamwork, and peer mentoring.

Confidence

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Students experience the satisfaction of creating something with their own hands.

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Career exploration

Students discover connections between classroom learning, skilled trades, design, construction, engineering, and future careers.

What Kind of Programs Are You Looking For?

Schools + Districts

Elementary students working together

Bring hands-on woodworking into your classroom

Elementary

Middle School

High School

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Camps + Community Organizations

Students cutting wood with jigsaw

Give students an unforgettable hands-on experience

Summer camps

After-school

Community programs

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Explore Camp & Community Programs

CTE + Workforce Development

Student measuring wood pieces

Connect students with real-world skills and career pathways

CTE

Career exploration

Pre-apprenticeship

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Explore Workforce Programs

Alternative + Neurodiverse Learners

Students working on woodshop

Hands-on learning designed for diverse learners

Special education

Adaptive learning

Individual needs

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Explore Special Needs Programs

Choose the Right Woodworking Program Grades K-12

We know that every learning environment is different. That’s why Maplewoodshop offers flexible woodworking program options to help you start small, expand over time, or build a complete hands-on learning pathway.

Whether you need a simple pilot program, a camp woodworking rotation, a full school woodworking curriculum, or a career-connected pre-apprenticeship pathway, we can help you choose the right fit.

  • Micro Program image

    Micro Program

    A strong starting point for lower elementary, small groups, pilot programs, and beginner woodworking experiences.

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  • Mini Program image

    Mini Program

    A flexible option for elementary and middle schools, after-school programs, camps, and organizations ready for a more complete hands-on woodworking setup.

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  • Standard Program image.

    Standard Program

    A comprehensive option for project-based learning, social development, applied math, and career exploration.

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  • Pre-Apprenticeship Program image

    Pre-Apprenticeship Program

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

    Learn More

A Complete Woodworking Curriculum for Schools

Maplewoodshop provides ready-to-use woodworking curriculum and lesson plans designed to help educators confidently lead hands-on projects. Resources include project instructions, videos, safety training, tool-use guidance, program resources, and ongoing support.

Lesson Plans

Project Videos

Safety Training

Community Forum

Program Resources

Tool Use Guidance

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Explore the Maplewoodshop Curriculum

Bring a Woodworking Program to Your School

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    Choose Your Program

    Find the program that fits your students and goals.

  • Teacher training image

    Prepare Your Team

    Educators receive training and program support.

  • Student setting up his working space

    Set Up Your Learning Space

    Use portable equipment and hand tools in an existing classroom or learning environment.

  • Start Building

    Students learn through guided, hands-on projects.

Find the Right Program

What Students Can Build?

Students learn woodworking skills by building projects they can see, use, and be proud of

  • Basketball Hoop built with Maplewoodshop curriculum

    Basketball Hoop

    In this hands-on project, students will follow a diagram and step-by-step instructions to assemble their very own mini basketball hoop.

  • Image of Candy Dispenser built with Maplewoodshop curriculum

    Candy Dispenser

    The candy dispenser teaches the construction of a simple release mechanism with intermediate assembly and joinery skills. This project takes roughly 180 minutes based on age and skill level students.

  • Image of Napkin holder built with Maplewoodshop lesson plan

    Napkin holder

    Napkin holder teaches simple joining and layout skills. This project takes roughly 180 minutes depending on age and skill level of students.

  • Image of Coin-Hole

    Coin-Hole

    Beginner Coin-Hole teaches basic cutting and drilling skills.

  • Image of CITF Bookcase Project Book 1 built with Maplewoodshop lesson project

    CITF Bookcase Project Book 1

    The CITF level 1 bookcase teaches construction level layout, cutting and joinery skills. This project takes roughly 300 minutes based on age and skill level of students.

  • Image of CITF Tool Box Project Book 1 built with Maplewood shop program.

    CITF Tool Box Project Book 1

    CITF Level 1 tool box teaches preassembly and proper use of a template. This project takes roughly 420 minutes based on age and skill level of students

  • Back Pack Charm & Key Chain built with Maplewood shop program

    Back Pack Charm / Key Chain

    Design your own posable keychain buddy using pipe cleaners, beads, and felt! Students explore creativity and fine motor skills while crafting a character that bends, poses, and goes wherever they go.

Trusted by Educators

  • “Measuring, cutting, and fitting the pieces gave them a real reason to use math, and they understood it better.”

    —Teacher, Lyon County, Nevada

  • "I’ve been teaching for a long time, and I haven’t seen kids this focused and quiet in a while. They were really into it, and even kids that usually don’t participate much were engaged."

    —Teacher, The Buckley School

  • “We noticed kids were showing up more consistently on the days they had shop. Even students who normally struggled with attendance were excited to be here.”

    —Teacher, Lyon County School District

  • “I didn’t think I could build something like this. Now I feel like I can do more things I didn’t believe I could before.”

    —Student testimonial

Inside Maplewoodshop

PODCAST

Conversations that reveal the craft, care, and curiosity at the heart of our mission.

Catch Michael Schloff, Founder of Maplewoodshop, on the latest episode of @LaborLoungePodcast with Hosts @AnthonyAbrantes of @EAS and @CyndieWilliams of @CCT, where they dive into why hands-on woodworking matters more than ever in today’s school system.

Listen here:

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-11-mike-schloff-of-maplewoodshop/id1790430737?i=1000736262753

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nEoz6k51ohdWJcIdrO5rA?si=yyOWemWXS06txlQkL3LoUg

“I Wasn’t Good at Sitting Still”

A Conversation with Michael Schloff Founder of Maplewoodshop

Image for the 2025 People's Choice Podcast Awards with Jackie Tantillo.

Join us as Michael Schloff reflects on his journey from restless childhood to pioneering a mobile woodworking program that’s now empowering students across hundreds of schools. Discover how his early mechanical curiosity, the guidance of his mother, and his passion for hands-on learning sparked Maplewoodshop’s mission: to help kids build confidence, focus, and practical skills through wood-shop projects.

MEDIA COVERAGE

✨ Maplewoodshop Featured in Matters Magazine

We’re proud to share that Matters Magazine recently featured our founder, Mike Schloff, in their story “Old School Tools, New School Purpose” by Amy Lynn Cramer.

Matters Magazine

OLD-SCHOOL TOOLS,
NEW-SCHOOL


The article celebrates Maplewoodshop’s journey — from one small classroom in Maplewood to more than 200 schools, 20,000 students, and even a new pre-apprenticeship program where high schoolers can earn up to 16 college credits.

“You can be smart in more than one way. Intelligence in your hands is still intelligence.”
— At the heart of it all is Mike’s simple philosophy:
🔗 Read the Full Article →
Girls working on woodcraft projects at a workshop, with adults overseeing
Mike Schloff, demonstrating a woodworking project to four young girls in a workshop or classroom setting, with tools and wooden structures in the background.
Cover of Matters Magazine featuring Mike Schloff, celebrating 35 years since 1990.

Frequently Asked Questions About School Woodworking Programs

  • A school woodworking program gives students structured opportunities to learn woodworking through hands-on projects while developing skills such as measurement, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, and career awareness.

  • Maplewoodshop offers programs for students across elementary, middle, and high school, as well as alternative, specialized, and community learning environments.

  • Maplewoodshop programs are designed around portable equipment and hand tools, allowing schools to use existing learning spaces.

  • Yes. Qualifying programs include access to curriculum and resources such as lesson plans, project videos, safety training, tool-use guidance, and program support.

  • Maplewoodshop offers programs designed to support students with different learning styles and abilities through multisensory, hands-on learning.

  • Students can develop practical math, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, confidence, social skills, and career awareness through hands-on projects.

  • Contact Maplewoodshop to discuss your students, goals, schedule, and learning environment. The team can help identify the program that best fits your needs.