Saratoga Joinery

Craft a timeless, hand-made treasure! In this hands-on workshop, young woodworkers will build a beautifully crafted wooden keepsake box featuring a sweet, custom heart cut-out on the lid or side panel. Perfect for storing trinkets, jewelry, secret notes, or special memories, this box makes a thoughtful gift—or a cherished personal item to keep for years to come.

Participants will learn fundamental joinery skills as they measure, cut, assemble, and finish their box from solid wood. Along the way, students will get creative with scroll sawing to shape their heart detail, leaving with a polished, functional piece of craftwork and a sense of pride in what they've built.

What You'll Learn

This rewarding project is a great introduction to precision woodworking and fine detailing. Key skills covered in this session include:

• How to accurately measure, layout, and mark stock for clean box construction
• Using the table saw/ angle sled to make mitered corners
• Using a band scroll saw safely to cut interior and exterior curves for the heart cut-out
• Gluing, and clamping techniques for strong, square box joinery
• Sanding methods for smooth edges, flush joints, and seamless lid fittings
• Applying non-toxic wood finishes to bring out the natural beauty of the wood grain

Take these foundational woodworking skills home to create personalized gifts, decorative storage, and future wooden crafts!

Tools Used

We've got a shop full of great tools we're excited to share with you. You'll learn to safely use the following tools during our class:

• Miter saw
• Scroll saw
• Table saw
• Orbital & edge sander
• Assembly clamps

While we're excited to have you learn to use these tools, safety and comfort are our top priorities. Instructors will provide close, hands-on supervision at all times, and assistance is always available whenever requested!

Skill Level & Prerequisites

Beginner (Youth) No prior woodworking experience is required! This course is specially tailored for young makers who are curious about working with wood and power tools in a supportive environment.

Ages 8 - 11 with a parent or guardian helper.

Schedule

One, 2.5-hour session

Safety

PPE: We provide safety glasses and hearing protection. Safety glasses are required in the shop at all times.

Dress: We’re going to make some sawdust! Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes (sneakers are great). Avoid loose clothing, dangling hoodies, or jewelry. Long hair must be tied back and secured.

Accommodations: We strive to make woodworking accessible and enjoyable for every student. Please reach out ahead of time if you have any questions about our shop space or need specific accommodations.

What to Bring

A water bottle to stay hydrated.

All tools, materials, safety gear, and supplies are provided!

Instructor Bio

Karen Cavotta is a dedicated Technology Education teacher at Saratoga Springs High School with a passion for empowering the next generation of makers, engineers, and craftspeople. With extensive experience teaching hands-on engineering, architecture, and woodworking courses, Karen specializes in breaking down technical skills into fun, approachable, and confidence-building projects for students of all ages.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Karen serves as a board member at The Saratoga Joinery, where she actively helps guide educational programming and community outreach. She is also a long-time member of the Design Review Board for the City of Saratoga Springs. When she isn't teaching or working in the shop, she enjoys continuing her learning and pursuing her passion for design, architecture, summer gardening, and spending time with her family.