A new club is looking for people who like to whittle away their time.
The Raintree Woodcarvers Club is starting classes to teach beginners the art of wood carving.
"We do this to try to keep the craft still viable," said Jay Kokena, an officer of the Woodcarvers and coordinator for the beginner classes.
Kokena said woodcarving is a great way for people interested in an art that has been around for centuries but is still not a common medium.
The classes will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Mt. Summit Community Building on State Road 36 in Mt. Summit. They will feature lessons ranging from knife sharpening, knife use and safety to learning to carve a little Santa Claus. All the classes will be taught by the clubs' members, who have taught classes continuously since 1978.
The classes are held every spring and fall. The club members will take their turns teaching lesson in their own expertise.
The club, which has anywhere from 45 to 50 members from all over the area, is looking to teach the basics of woodcarving to anyone who is willing to learn the art. Students will pay a $25 fee to cover the cost of the supplies, such as knives and safety equipment. The classes will be held in the same room that the weekly carving meetings are held.
The class is open to anyone 16 years of age and older, but those 16 and 17 must have a parent present to carve.
The club is also looking for more members. Anyone who attends the class can become a member. The club welcomes visitors to its Thursday-evening meetings.
"The camaraderie between the members is great," Kokena said. "Most of the meetings, we just sit around and carve together. Sometimes someone has something new that they teach us."
For more information and any questions, call Jay Kokena at (765) 354-6695.
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