Wood Working and Construction Classes for High School Students

Want to learn more about wood working or construction?

The wood working classes at CCHEC are not your dad or mom’s high school shop classes! Students learn how to safely use commercial level power tools before they begin working with wood. Once certified, they learn increasingly nuanced wood working techniques to build furniture that will be used in local homes and businesses. Advanced classes resemble a professional wood working studio with a division of labor and team-built products. Students who plan to use wood working skills as hobbyists will be well-prepared; students who plan to make a career in wood working will graduate with a set of skills that will make them sterling employees.

Contact your high school counselor to get started.


Wood Working Basics

This is a one semester course open to all students, offered fall and spring semesters. 

This course will provide students with a foundation to develop the student’s skills of wood working concepts. Students will become familiar with the design, process flow, tools, equipment, typical joints and joinery procedures.  Wood species identification and wood panel products are studied and learned. Students will be able to participate in the planning, designing, and construction of various shop projects contingent upon passing a basic safety test and becoming certified on the use of the shop tools and equipment.


Wood Working II

Prerequisite:  Completion and passing of Wood Working Basics. The course is a one semester class, offered both fall and spring semesters.

This course is a continuation of Woodworking Basics, focused on student projects, while working as a team. Students will design and build their own projects.


Wood Working III

Prerequisite:  Completion and passing of Wood Working II. 

This course is a two-period block class, one semester, offered both fall and spring semesters.

This is a one semester course and is a continuation from Wood Working II, emphasizing wood product design and manufacturing.


Advanced Wood Working

Prerequisite:  Completion and passing of Wood Working III. 

The course is a two-period block class, one semester, offered both fall and spring semesters.

This is a one semester course and is a continuation of Wood Working III, emphasizing wood design and manufacturing.


Construction Certification I

Pre-requisite: Completion and passing of Wood Working Basics. 

The course is a two-period block class, one semester, offered both fall and spring semesters. 

Home improvement will be emphasized in this broad-based course which will give the student a basic knowledge of the construction industry, how-to home maintenance, safety practices and hands-on training with most hand and power tools.

*This course meets the requirements of Western’s CNTK 1700 – Introduction to Construction for concurrent credit enrollment.


Construction Certification II

Pre-requisite: Completion and passing of Wood Working Basics and completion of Construction Certification I. 

Co/Prerequisite: CAD I

The course is a two-period block class, one semester, offered both fall and spring semesters.

This course will give the student a basic knowledge of carpentry. Typically, the material will relate to residential construction, but commercial and industrial applications will also be covered. Hands-on experience will be gained from lab work, projects, and occasional job-site visits.

*This course meets the requirements of Western’s CNTK 1905 – Carpentry for concurrent credit enrollment.


Projects from the 2020-2021 School Year

From a full-size shed, to tables, bookcases, and an armour, our woodworking students pride themselves in completing project after project.