Community Building Project: Blue Deer Center (New York)
Join us this fall in Margaretville, New York, for a Community Building Project in support of the Blue Deer Center.
The project will take place Sunday, October 3, through Sunday, October 10. We look forward to having workshops prior to the build, so stay tuned for information and registration.
Background
Our host for this Community Building Project is the Blue Deer Center, and we will be building a fire pavilion developed from the original design of Jim DeSantis (Silver Creek Timberworks).
Located in the New York Catskills, the Blue Deer Center is situated on 93 acres of sacred land long recognized as an important place of conflict resolution by the Haudenosaunee People, who used this area for summer hunting. The center is surrounded by the calming presence of the mountains and the river of peace (Saskawhihiwine).
Blue Deer is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and operates thanks to the generosity of volunteers, donors, staff, and the community. The center is made up of two houses that include a small dining room, sitting room, simple dorm-style accommodations for 33 guests, a commercial kitchen, the Huichol Art Gallery, and an outdoor porch. On the grounds, there are two gathering spaces: a Fire Tent and a Yurt.
About the Project
The structure is eight-sided, with a clear span of 34’ at the posts and an eight-sided lantern roof. The frame design has been enlarged from the original Flowing Lake pavilion to accommodate larger gatherings.
The design of the frame provides opportunities for learning in areas such as square rule layout, compound roof joinery for hips, and jack rafters. There will also be learning components on the efficient raising of a clear span structure.
For this project, we will cut the frame at the building site, with accommodations and all amenities on hand. Showers and washrooms are provided. Meals for participants will be provided by our host, and you can expect three hearty home-cooked or catered meals per day, plus snacks and endless tea, coffee, or other beverages.
There will be evening educational presentations on a range of timber framing topics, and possibly some local sightseeing and exploration.
We can not accommodate dogs or other pets on this project aside from service animals. Please leave your pets at home.
Call for Participants
The event runs for 8 days from Saturday, October 3, through Sunday, October 10.
Instructors
The Guild seeks one project manager and three instructors to lead the project. One instructor position will be the lead instructor. All positions are well compensated.
Please note that instructors must have commercial general liability insurance.
Applications for all positions will be accepted via the instructor application form HERE.
Position Requirements & Descriptions
Please submit your resume and any inquiries to Community Building Projects Program Director Steve Lawrence and Volunteer Coordinator Valkyrie Liles.
The deadline for instructor applications is Saturday, July 4.
Volunteers
We have positions for 35 volunteers for the Blue Deer Community Building Project. These positions are not compensated, but you can expect the traditional TFG XC (exuberant camaraderie) and a very rich and rewarding experience. Guild instructors are there to support you in your learning objectives.
Participants will perform hands-on timber frame layout, cutting, and raising under the direction of the instructor team. This project will be suitable for those with reasonable levels of fitness and basic hand/power tool skills. There will be limited novice positions available, and we need to ensure a balance of skills in the team.
You must be a Guild member to participate! If that presents a challenge for you, please talk to us. We can work something out and want to help you join in the fun.
Please note that volunteer applications do not guarantee acceptance. We may have more applications than positions, so please do not make travel arrangements until you've received notification of acceptance. Please message us if you have not heard and need to know for planning.
We will endeavor to confirm your acceptance as soon as possible, and hopefully well before the deadline for applications. If you have questions, please contact Community Building Projects Program Director Steve Lawrence and Outreach Coordinator Valkyrie Liles.
The deadline for volunteer applications is Friday, July 10.
Thank You To Our Visionary Partners
