The Timber Frame Apprenticeship Program
This program is all about Learning While Doing.
Apprentices stay for 12 weeks at a time, (three months), and learn timber framing, natural building, carpentry and even some wilderness survival skills in their stay at Hawk Circle.
Each week is filled with lessons, and opportunities for making pegs, cutting mortises and tenons, moving beams, drilling holes, sharpening chisels, sawing, designing, layout and much more.
Apprentices learn and practice timber framing from Monday through Thursday, with Fri-Sat-Sun offered as time spent on personal projects or practicing wilderness skills or just enjoying the Hawk Circle Campus.
The benefits of spending a season at Hawk Circle learning timber framing lies in the opportunity to work on many projects, see your skills grow each week through repetition, and in the experience of living in a community of wonderful, motivated, excited people.
We take a maximum of three apprentices at a time, and the cost for this program is $150 per week, for a total of $1,800. Food is not provided during the apprenticeship, except when there are youth programs or adult workshops that provide food. Housing is in tents or camp cabins or in the Hawk Circle Farmhouse., depending on availability.
More than just a timber framing program, we also have ample time to observe your work ethics, support your independent learning, and provide strong references for future job positions.
Program Details:
Timber Framing Tool Use and Care
Beam Sawing Techniques
Mortise Cutting
Tenon Cutting
Rafter Cutting
Floor Joist Cutting
Sill Beam Cutting
Knee Brace Cutting
Plate Beam Cutting
Post Beam Cutting
Girt Beam Cutting
Tie Beam Cutting
Dovetail Mortises
Thru Mortises
Chisel Sharpening Methods
Hard Wood Peg Carving
Drilling and Assembling Frames
Safe Beam Moving and Transport
Tool Repair and Re-Handling
Beam Layout & Measuring
Frame Design and Support Structure
Tree Identification
Timber Framing History
Work Safety & Gear
Carpentry Skills
Natural Clay Building & Insulation
Community Work Projects
All wood, tools and materials are provided during the program.
(Note: Students who want to work on special projects may be asked to pay for the direct costs of the materials for that project if they wish to take it home.)
Time Off: Participants may arrange for time off with advance notice if projects allow.
Requirements:
Apprentices must be 18 or over, and in good physical condition.
(Timber Framing is physically rigorous at times!)
Must have proof of medical insurance.
Work Clothes/Boots/Gloves/Ear Protection/Eye Protection/Hat/Sunscreen
Must have food money sufficient for the duration of the program
Must keep their work station and shop clean
Must adhere to community standards for behavior and cleanliness
Must stay for the full twelve weeks of the program
Our Apprenticeship Program starts in March and goes through December. Our Shop is mostly closed between the end of December and the beginning of March.
Click Here for the 2017 Spring Apprenticeship Program Details.
Potential apprentices should contact us at to arrange an interview or a visit, to see if you are a good fit for this program.
