Blacksmithing Instructor

Forge Your Path This Summer

Blacksmithing Instructor Description

Blacksmiths will be instructing and forging at Falling Creek’s own shop on property, which has six forges and ten anvils, for ample workspace. Blacksmithing instruction is offered each weekday, and you’ll be teaching boys ages 10-16 years old with varying skill levels. Blacksmithing is offered as a daily “block” activity, where boys sign up to forge during all 3 morning activity periods, or all 3 afternoon activity periods.

You can learn more about the art and science of blacksmithing at Falling Creek in this blog.

What’s a Typical Day Like For This Position?

Male camp counselors live in a cabin with one other counselor and eight campers. In addition to their activity instruction, male counselors will have an assortment of responsibilities related to the management of their cabin. Female camp counselors also serve as activity staff, but don’t live in cabins with the campers, and are responsible instead for organizational tasks during the times that male staff are busy with their cabins.

At Falling Creek, campers are free to sign up for the activities they want on their daily schedule. Even though you might have 8 boys in your cabin who are the same age, you’ll be instructing a variety of ages and skill levels throughout the day in your 2.5 hour activity blocks. On a typical day in the blacksmithing shop, you’ll start by leading a safety clinic and begin teaching blacksmithing terminology and basic tool use. As campers return to the shop and progress, they’ll make arrowheads, iron leaves, J-hooks, candlestick holders, door handles, and more. Over time, you’ll be able to help campers create more technically challenging projects, or come up with ideas to forge something from their imagination.

Our blacksmithing program has well established progressions, and many campers set their sights on the highest rank of Blacksmith Apprentice (the Warrior level). This is the only activity at camp with an age limit, and campers must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Both campers and staff are required to wear proper clothing and safety glasses at all times in the shop. Blue jeans (or other 100% natural fiber pants), non-synthetic shirts, and closed toe shoes are required in the blacksmith shop.

Why Should You Be a Blacksmith at Summer Camp?

Each day at camp brings adventure, physical recreation, and endless opportunities for personal and professional growth. As a blacksmith and camp counselor, you’ll be a role model for the boys both in and out the shop, and will gain valuable experience in both teaching and creating art. Blacksmiths are able to teach boys a historic trade, while supporting creative expression, inventiveness, and building motor skills. If you’re majoring in art or education, being a summer camp blacksmith will give you helpful skills for your future career path. Even if your college major is unrelated to art or education, you’ll still be gaining leadership skills and networking connections that will give you a competitive edge in the job market, no matter where you’re headed next.

We don’t start you at the bottom and give you busywork; you are directly involved in running camp and helping campers succeed. If you are a male counselor, you’ll be responsible for the eight campers in your cabin, as well as the campers you instruct in your activity(s). Instructing a group of campers will challenge you, but you’ll learn how to be a more engaging and encouraging teacher, better logistics manager, and help boys learn new skills that can easily lead to new passions. At the end of the summer your coaching and leadership skills will become more defined and polished.