Building Confidence Through Woodworking Boot Camp

Written by David Steffy

A completed toolbox from Nova Labs’ Woodworking Boot Camp.

Have you gotten your woodshop tool sign-offs, but but still wonder how to actually build

something? Turns out a lot of new Nova Labs woodworkers feel that way, so I created a class

to help get them a jump-start.

I joined Nova Labs in early 2025, after moving cross-country and selling off all of my stationary shop tools. It was a gift to find a place with more and better tools than I might ever own again, and to be around others who practice and enjoy the craft. Bonus: I get to learn even more skills on more tools.

I spent much of my first year at Nova Labs learning the Nova Lab s culture through spending

time in the wood shop and chatting on Slack. Over time, I saw a common theme: members

had their certifications, but weren't sure how to turn that knowledge into an actual project. So

over winter break, I drafted a course to help aspiring woodworkers build real skills, gain

confidence, and get comfortable using the tools independently.

The result: an intense multi-day course mixing classroom time with hands-on shop work.

The course centers on a simple but useful project that walks students through a full start-to-

finish workflow, practicing skills, using tools, and seeing how it all connects. As a bonus:

students can customize the project to fit their own taste, which makes the experience personal and gives them a real foothold into the craft.

One part of the course felt like a bit of a risk: homework. Between classes, students head into

the shop on their own to tackle the next steps. Why homework? To gain independence, and to have time to work at their own pace, and even to make (safe) mistakes. If students need a

hand, Open Office Hours (OOH) are available for some coaching or another perspective, and

the course notes include links to YouTube videos for even more depth and reinforcement.

This course didn't come together in a vacuum. Two volunteer woodworking newbies helped

dry-run the class in early spring, and their feedback helped tighten things up and make it more approachable for true beginners. The first beta class launched in late April with three students, and, while there was plenty of learning on both sides, the core idea held up, and the feedback was generally positive.

As of now, I plan to offer the class about five times a year, a least as long as there’s a demand

for it, and folks are ready put in the work. I really enjoy sharing some of the keys to the craft,

and giving new woodworkers a solid starting off point for their own journey.

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