Blacksmithing All Levels
Students gain a solid foundation in the art of creating useful tools by heating metal in the forge and shaping it on the anvil. Many techniques will be explored, and students will come home with beautiful and useful hand-made items.
All-Levels
With our low instructor-to-student ratio and experienced staff team, we’re able to work with students of varying skill levels. Whether they’re completely new to Blacksmithing or have joined us for several previously classes, all students will be appropriately challenged in further developing their skills.
Season Highlight Project: Knives
This season’s highlight project will have students apprenticing to the ages old craft of knife-making(amongst many other Blacksmithing skills). Knives are one of the most essential tools of any wilderness skills enthusiast, and nothing says “self-sufficiency” quite like your own handmade knife built from scratch. Using a variety of both blacksmithing and metal shop tools, students will take what was an unremarkable hunk of steel and shape it into a beautiful and functional tool that will serve them the rest of their life.
Additional projects may include:
- Hanging hooks
- Toilet paper or paper towel holder
- Twisted Fork
- Riveted Spoon
- Riveted Spatula
- Copper Finger Ring
- Fire Poker
- Chisel or Screwdriver
- Knife crafted from a railroad spike
Ages: 12-16
Location:
Haw Creek Commons
Pick-Up & Drop-Off Options:
Haw Creek Commons
Please see info below in the Logistics section.
Time: 9:30 am - 4:15 pm
Inclusive of drop-off & pick-up window
Dates: Tuesdays, Sept. 10 - Dec. 17
Breaks for Earthskills Rendezvous 10/15
Breaks for Thanksgiving 11/26
13 program days total
Price: $855
- Monthly payment plan available
- $100 non-refundable deposit due at registration
- Limited Partial Scholarships available (see below)
Registration
Registration is now open for Fall 2024.
Why Choose Forest Floor?
We help children have fun, be healthy, and achieve their fullest potential with nature connection mentoring.
- Health benefits of nature connection
- Learn wilderness skills & traditional crafts
- Meet new friends and reunite with old ones
- Unforgettable adventures every day
- Skilled and caring mentors
- Exciting wilderness experiences
- Convenient in-town drop-off & pickup
- Boost long term cognitive & social development
Logistics
Drop-off/Pick-up Locations
This program takes place at Haw Creek Commons. Parents must drop off and pickup at Haw Creek Commons.
Haw Creek Commons
315 Old Haw Creek Road, Asheville NC
Drop-off between 9:30 am - 9:45 am
Pick-up between 4:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Clothing and Gear
Our programs are all-outdoors, with rain shelters available as needed. Children must arrive each morning fully prepared with a backpack, packed lunch, and clothes appropriate for being out in the weather. Families new to Forest Floor may need to purchase additional gear to ensure their children will be fully equipped for wet and colder weather as the season progresses. For a full packing and clothing list see our FAQ.
Scholarship Information
Overview
We offer limited partial scholarships to individuals who otherwise could not afford our programs.
Donate
If you are a family with means, please consider donating to our scholarship fund. Donations of a 1/4, 1/2, or FULL scholarship can be made during the standard registration process. For more substantial donations please contact us to discuss details.
Apply
Limited partial scholarships are available. Scholarship funds are generated exclusively from generosity of donations toward the scholarship fund. Scholarships are limited to the sum of these funds and are awarded based on equitable distribution. Full scholarships will be considered for families in great need, but most scholarship applicants should expect to pay at least half of tuition.
To apply for a scholarship FIRST please register for the program/camp, choose the payment plan option, and only pay a $100 deposit at time of registration.
AFTER RESERVING A SPOT, please follow the link below to fill out the application.
If your scholarship request can't be approved or isn't the amount of discount that you need, we will provide a full refund of the deposit.