Connecting young woodworkers to old boats
“Connections and opportunities such as these are so important for students to learn about different opportunities in their communities”
The S.S. Klondike spent decades moving freight and passengers. Over the years, it has captured the imaginations of thousands of people. Caring for the massive vessel in 2025 and beyond requires specialized wooden boat building skills and knowledge.
As traditional wooden boats have steadily been phased out for those made with other materials like steel, who will have the knowledge needed to maintain vessels like this one into the future?
This question has been on the mind of Parks Canada carpenter Kyle Carlson. Carlson is part of the team working on the stabilization of the S.S Klondike in Whitehorse. He saw the restoration work as a perfect opportunity to catch the attention of aspiring woodworkers and connect them with the art and science of boat building.
Last fall, Carlson reached out to carpentry classes from F.H. Collins Secondary School and Yukon University and invited them to the site to get an in-depth look at the heritage conservation taking place on the Atlin barge and the S.S. Klondike.
Carlson proudly showed off the complicated joinery, steam boxes, and the eclectic mix of traditional and modern tools, some of which the students had only seen on worksheets.
Andrew Craigen, the woodworking instructor at F.H. Collins, said that Carlson’s “passion for and knowledge of woodworking was apparent and inspirational. The wood shop set up on the main deck of the paddle wheeler was a very interesting scene with a modern woodshop set up in a historical setting. My students enjoyed the tour from Kyle and the Parks Canada team, and we were fortunate for the learning opportunity.”
Carlson was equally eager to engage with the students and give them a first-hand experience that he never got in school, especially in a worksite context. “I remember how sad I was to learn [about] hand tools, but not really be involved with them.”
During this visit, the students were able to learn about tools and materials that may not have occurred to them if they hadn’t been able to use the tools themselves. Carlson showed the students how to use the equipment safely and they were able to ask him about things like sharpening techniques, blade angles, and his favourite brands.
There are myriad different paths in the skilled trades. From business owners and labourers to artisans and consultants, studying a trade can open new horizons for students and show them unique ways their skills can be used.
“Connections and opportunities such as these are so important for students to learn about different opportunities in their communities,” Craigen remarked.
Interactive learning experiences introduce students to all sorts of different career paths. Carlson wants to show young people that they don’t need to be intimidated like he was when he first entered the job market; lots of organizations have programs to hire and train young workers.
“There are a lot of people coming out of high school who could tap into something like that,” Carlson says. Carlson hopes to welcome more classes to the S.S. Klondike, and was invited to be a guest judge for student projects in Craigen’s classroom. Whatever the future holds, Carlson is grateful for this chance to inspire young woodworkers and strengthen their connection to national historic sites, for the benefit of both the students and heritage assets like the S.S. Klondike.
