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Thank you to Woodcraft.com and it's customers for raising over $6,000 for the Fresh Wood student woodworking competition! This is in addition to the $4,200+ raised prior to the 2013 AWFS Fair. The funds are used to help offer more monetary prizes and to cover the cost of travel and hotel for the Fresh Wood finalists and their instructors attending the AWFS Fair. Read more here.[...]
Read moreThe Madison College Cabinetmaking and Millwork Program (Madison, Wisconsin) is an outstanding example of a successful industry-education training program that is supporting students and the local woodworking industry. They regularly invite industry professionals to the school to educate students about their machinery or products. An upcoming example of this is a laminating seminar hosted by AWI Wisconsin and featuring representatives from Black Bros and Applied Adhesives. The program also takes on special projects: last year they made four display cabinets for a Historical Society and they recently built a reception desk for the Washington DC office of the U.S. Forest[...]
Read moreFifty Schools Join the Woodwork Career Alliance The Woodwork Career Alliance (WCA), developers of the Manufacturing Skill Standards for the wood products manufacturing industry, has signed up 50 schools in their EDUcationTM membership program. Many of the schools were formerly with WoodLINKS USA which ceased operation in the summer of 2013; participating schools have made a smooth transition to the WCA membership. The skill standards system designed by WCA is applicable and usable for both industry professionals as well as students. The dedicated faculty of these member schools are showing their commitment to both scholastic and skill excellence by adopting[...]
Read moreBecoming a SkillsUSA partner means exposing your brand to woodworking students and teachers! SkillsUSA is a leading national Career and Technical Education (CTE) organization with over 300,000 student and teacher members. The organization promotes skilled trades as well as employability or “soft” skills. Students compete in their skilled trade area and advance to higher levels, ultimately competing at Nationals in Kansas City every June. AWFS staff and volunteers coordinate the SkillsUSA California state and Los Angeles/Orange County (CA) Regional Cabinetmaking and Introductory Woodworking contests and we are looking for volunteers and sponsors! How can industry partners get involved? Participate in the Technical Committee with developing the[...]
Read moreSafety Speed Manufacturing has provided a new, horizontal panel router to the woodshop program at Del Oro High School in Loomis, California. The 3 ¼ Hp unit is ideal for cross dados and full-length rabbets in jobs up to 36” in length. Safety Speed exhibited at the 2013 AWFS Fair in Las Vegas and chatted with a number of teachers who came through their booth. A record number of teachers came to the show to take advantage of the “Teacher Track” seminars and other activities offered expressly for teachers. Brian Donahue, President of Safety Speed, reached out to AWFS at[...]
Read moreRegistration is now open for the College of Woodworking Knowledge (CWWK) educational seminars at the AWFS Fair, July 24-27, 2013 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Fifty different seminars will be offered on topics varying from Business Management, Cabinet/Millwork, Small Shops, Software and Technology, Techniques and Applications, Safety & Environment, Handcrafted Furniture, and Teacher Track (for Woodworking Educators). There are three FREE seminars on industry certifications and regulations, reducing citations, and industry-education partnerships. You can review the complete seminar program and speaker bios in our comprehensive brochure. You can register for the AWFS Fair, or UPDATE your registration to add seminars here. AWFS members and[...]
Read moreIf you are preparing an entry for the Fresh Wood student woodworking contest, the entry deadline is around the corner - May 15! Please be advised that AWFS's address has changed effective immediately. All entries (and other communication) should go to: AWFS 2400 E Katella Ave Suite 340 Anaheim, CA 92806 Click here for all forms and information related to Fresh Wood.[...]
Read moreWhat: Fresh Wood student woodworking competition Who: Open to students in North American high school or post secondary woodworking or related programs and who are considering a career in the woodworking or related industry. When: Entry Deadline May 15, 2013 Where: Finalists invited to AWFS Fair in Las Vegas, Nevada (July 24-27, 2013) Have you heard about the Fresh Wood student woodworking competition? There are six entry categories: chairs, tables, production/RTA work, case goods, reproduction and "open" (anything you like!). You can read all about the criteria, rules and parameters here. All entries are judged by a panel of industry experts. The top scoring entries are[...]
Read moreNow you can search by zip code for a school or training program within your industry specialty! There are over 1,000 institutions in the WoodIndustryEd.org database; you can search by type of program (i.e. “computer/drafting”, “furniture design”, or “tech ed teacher training”), type of institution, type of achievement/degree or a combination of search criteria. You can also search by country, state, city or key word to find a program that meets your needs. Industry partners can easily search for local schools to partner with through training programs, advisory committees or other forms of input and contribution. Start searching today to[...]
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