Saratoga Joinery

Welcome feathered friends to your backyard with a custom-built wooden birdhouse! In this hands-on workshop, young woodworkers will build a charming, rustic A-frame birdhouse featuring layered roof shingles, a sturdy base, a precise entry hole, and a fun personalized wooden signpost.

Participants will craft their birdhouse from weather-friendly wood while learning essential building skills. From measuring and cutting angled rooflines to assembling the body, adding decorative roof details, and customizing their design with paint or finish, students will leave with a functional, beautiful home ready to hang outdoors for local birds!

What You'll Learn

This classic woodworking project covers key fundamentals of outdoor structure design and fine detailing. Key skills covered in this session include:

• How to accurately measure, mark, and cut roof angles for a tight-fitting pitched roof
• Drilling clean entry holes using a Forstner bit or hole saw
• Layering and fitting wooden roof slats to create weather-resistant shingles
• Pre-drilling pilot holes, countersinking, and fastening pieces securely with screws and outdoor wood glue
• Sanding, distressing, and applying outdoor-safe finishes or paint for weather resistance and style
• Crafting and attaching custom accent details (like mini signs or perches) to personalize the build

Take these foundational carpentry skills home to build bird feeders, garden boxes, and other fun outdoor woodworking projects!

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
• Table saw with crosscut sled
• Drill press
• Orbital & edge sander
• Cordless drill / driver
• 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.