Shelter in NY Times Magazine Travel Special Edition

The Maine Office of Tourism featured Shelter Institute in an ad in the recent New York Times Magazine summer travel issue. It was an great pleasure to be mentioned among great summer destinations like L.L. Bean's Outdoor Discovery School, Bay Sailing School, Summer Keys, and other fine Maine institutions.

Early in Shelter's history, the Times ran articles that described the growth of the self-build movement and the emergence of schools to teach homebuilding skills. Here's one quote from Pat in 1981:

''America is based on pilgrims coming over here and knocking together log cabins,'' said Patrice Hennin, a 35-year-old lawyer who, with his wife, Patsy, founded the Shelter Institute. ''Everyone, deepdown in his heart, knows he can build a house."

We're always excited and honored to see our name in local or nationally respected publications. Follow your heart and come join us this summer. Become a part of the fun and continuing story. And best of all, become empowered to learn how to build your own home or learn a new and valuable skill.

Shelter at the WoodenBoat Show, June 28-30, 2013

Visit Shelter June 28-30, 2013 at the WoodenBoat show in Mystic, CT. This show is produced by the esteemed WoodenBoat Magazine. More than 100 traditional and contemporary wooden boats crafted by professionals and amateurs will be there to view along with booths from a variety of marine and woodworking vendors. There will be demonstrations by experts where you can learn new skills or even build a boat with your family over the course of a weekend.

Look for Shelter under our Douglas-fir timber frame. At our booth we'll demonstrate the Tormek sharpening system, have Japanese hand saws on hand to try and purchase, lots of timber framing tools, measuring tools from Starrett, axes from Gransfors Bruks, Land Ark wood finish, and more.

Advanced tickets can be purchased online. Directions to the Mystic Seaport and more information can be found on the Seaport website. If you plan on visiting us at the show or want to see photos of us having fun in Mystic, visit us on Facebook.

One Day Hand Hewing Workshop: Saturday June 22

Instructor Mike Beaudry Hand Hewing

Join guest instructor, author, sawyer, and woodsman, Mike Beaudry for a one-day log-hewing workshop, Saturday June 22, 2013 from 9:00 to 4:00 pm at the Shelter Campus.

You will learn the process of hand hewing:

• how to size and layout the log ends for hewing
• how to score the log with axes, and
• the process of juggling to remove most of the waste.

Registration Begins at 8:30. The class will run from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Tuition is $95.00. You can register online at the Shelter Tools website.

The class will be taught generally with the double-bevel Gransfors Axe. We will provide some tools, but students should bring their own axe if they own one. Students will be introduced to a number of hewing axes, including the antique single-beveled Pennsylvania Patter Axe as well as froes. We will discuss tool selection, maintenance, and sharpening. All students must wear protective clothing – long heavy fabric paints and heavy steel-toed boots.

Each student will have their own log to hew and will receive both group and one-to-one instruction. The class will be held rain or shine in our spacious workshop or outside as the weather permits. Students will receive a 10% discount on any tools and materials purchased during the class in our hand tool shop, Shelter Tools.