Anvil Academy is…
- A Historic Trade School
- A Place to take Classes
- A Community of Like-Minded People
- A Non-Profit
A Historic Trade School
A classroom disguised as a wagon factory that takes at-risk youth and teaches them real skills in a physically and emotionally safe environment. These weekday afternoon classes focus on kids aged 14 – 20.
Why a Wagon Factory? Well it’s because the horse drawn vehicle industry set 
the standard for every other industry in the early 1900’s, and thus set the standard for many of the technologies we use and enjoy today.
The fact that your car runs straight down the road, in relative comfort, is in large part because of the ingenuity and engineering of the wagon builders.
Did you know that the American Stage Coach was the first export of technology from the US? The American consumer wanted to get more stuff, faster, and found the slower, more refined English carriages annoying.
We believe that having a basic understanding of design and materials will give our students a competitive advantage in innovating for the future. How material reacts to forces and how the most basic of design affects how a vehicle performs is important to know, no matter what you are designing or innovating. Besides, if you can build a stagecoach, you can build anything!
This means that as we teach blacksmithing, woodworking, 3D design, metalworking, sewing and o
ther skills, we’ll also teach math, design, relationship skills and cause and effect – everything works together. And as they work with customers and visitors they get to pass on the skills and knowledge that they have learned.
A Production Shop
Skills are taught by working with customers in producing products that are sold for commercial and private use. This generates income to keep the doors open and the teachers paid, besides teaching real life skills.
Community Classes for all ages in:
- woodworking
- blacksmithing
- leatherwork
- week-end parent/child events
See our list of classes and times under the heading Community Classes. These classes are for anyone over 14 years of age, unless it is a special class for parent/guardian and child.
When you take a class at Anvil Academy you develop your skills, and you invest in a youth that can’t afford to pay.
A Community of like-minded people
Anvil Academy is a place where you can take a class, hone your skills, help a teen, make friends and be a part of community!