paddle making workshops
Learn how to make your own hand carved
Black Cherry canoe paddle under Bruce’s guidance in a one-day workshop. Bruce's years
of teaching and canoeing experience, combined with a simple step-by-step process, make this a relaxed, rewarding endeavour for everyone. We have had a variety of participants: teens and seniors, families and friends, experienced and inexperienced. Everyone has enjoyed the day.
Black Cherry canoe paddle under Bruce’s guidance in a one-day workshop. Bruce's years
of teaching and canoeing experience, combined with a simple step-by-step process, make this a relaxed, rewarding endeavour for everyone. We have had a variety of participants: teens and seniors, families and friends, experienced and inexperienced. Everyone has enjoyed the day.
Participants choose the size and style of paddle a few weeks prior to the course. Bruce then prepares the blanks by planing down the blades, reducing the major bulk of the wood. The workshop consists of layout, rough carving, fine carving and sanding. All tools are provided. Some final sanding may have to be done at home. Instructions are given for applying finish over 10-14 days following workshop.
(Music: "Old Pine" by Ben Howard)
fall 2018
Thanks to all who attended. We had a great time!
winter 2019
saturday january 5 (completed)
saturday january 19 (completed)
*no february workshops due to shop renovations
saturday march 2 (completed)
saturday march 16 (completed)
saturday march 30 (full)
spring 2019
*sorry - a few less than usual due to continuing shop renovations during april/may - we've added july to help!
saturday april 20 (8 spots available)
sunday may 26 (4 spots available)
sunday june 9 (3 spots available)
saturday june 22 (7 spots available)
saturday july 6 (6 spots available)
fall 2019
september-december will be posted by mid july
saturday january 5 (completed)
saturday january 19 (completed)
*no february workshops due to shop renovations
saturday march 2 (completed)
saturday march 16 (completed)
saturday march 30 (full)
spring 2019
*sorry - a few less than usual due to continuing shop renovations during april/may - we've added july to help!
saturday april 20 (8 spots available)
sunday may 26 (4 spots available)
sunday june 9 (3 spots available)
saturday june 22 (7 spots available)
saturday july 6 (6 spots available)
fall 2019
september-december will be posted by mid july
Time: 9am-5pm (can vary slightly)
Cost: $160 + tax
Total is $180.80
Located between Elora and Guelph, ON
How to Register
- Go to Contact Us and send an email
- Let us know the Date and Number of People
- We will confirm availability in an email back to you
- Deposit of $50 per spot required to remove availability from website
Notes
- Balance of $130.80 is payable day of workshop.
- Black Cherry is the only wood offered as it has the best inherent properties for canoe paddles and is the easiest to carve at all levels of experience.
- Laminations cannot be accommodated in these workshops as they involve too many other processes.
- Workshops are not designed for children or young teens due to upper body strength required. But please inquire if you have an interested mid to older teen.
- Class size is small so please register early.
- Workshops are always subject to sufficient registration. In the rare instance we don't have enough people to offer the one you've registered for, every effort will be made to schedule you into another one.
- A registered participant who cancels agrees to loss of deposit if their spot cannot be filled.
waiting list
If the only date you can attend is full, contact us anyway. We'll put you on a waiting list. It doesn't happen often, but once in a while people have to cancel and space becomes available.
arrange your own group workshop
We run workshops of 8-9 people. If you already have 8-9 friends or family members who would like to do this together, contact Bruce to see about arranging a workshop just for your group. We have also sometimes offered our workshops at other locations. Again, contact us about this option.
If the only date you can attend is full, contact us anyway. We'll put you on a waiting list. It doesn't happen often, but once in a while people have to cancel and space becomes available.
arrange your own group workshop
We run workshops of 8-9 people. If you already have 8-9 friends or family members who would like to do this together, contact Bruce to see about arranging a workshop just for your group. We have also sometimes offered our workshops at other locations. Again, contact us about this option.