Shop to Studio: A Week of Making with Saratoga Joinery & Saratoga Arts

Ages 12–14 | July 13–17 | Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm
Saratoga Joinery, 69 Caroline Street & Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway

What happens when you put real tools in young hands and real art materials at their fingertips? Something extraordinary.

This weeklong summer program brings together two of Saratoga Springs' creative organizations for an immersive, hands-on experience that takes students through the full arc of making — from raw lumber to finished masterpiece.

Mornings at Saratoga Joinery (9am–12pm)

Each morning, students will roll up their sleeves and get to work in our community woodworking shop under the guidance of Karen Cavotta, a high school technology education teacher with a passion for making and mentorship. Over the course of the week, students will build three real, take-home projects: a potting bench, a picture frame, and a birdhouse — gaining hands-on experience with professional tools including the table saw, bandsaw, drill press, portable drill, hand saws, hammers, edge sander, orbital sander, and spindle sander.

Along the way, students will develop skills in measurement, project layout, and material preparation, as well as assembly, safe power tool operation, and the kind of teamwork and collaboration that makes a shop hum. No prior experience required — just curiosity and a willingness to build something real.

Afternoon at Saratoga Arts (1pm–4pm)

After a chaperoned walk to Saratoga Arts' beautiful space at 320 Broadway, students will enjoy a bagged lunch before diving into an afternoon of creative exploration. Each afternoon session is thoughtfully designed to build on the work students begin at the Joinery in the mornings. Using a wide range of materials — paints, stains, collage, printmaking, and mixed media — students will expand their projects through artistic expression and intentional design.

By connecting hands-on building with creative exploration, students experience the full arc of making: transforming raw materials into finished pieces they can proudly take home and share. This integrated approach ensures every project feels cohesive, meaningful, and truly one of a kind.

What Students Take Home

A potting bench. A picture frame. A birdhouse. And a whole new understanding of what they're capable of creating.

Space is limited. Register early to secure your spot.