Clearview fourth and fifth grade Cougar Club members were introduced to a new hobby recently when volunteer Ken Ramler visited the school to teach them about wood carving.

Cougar Club leaders are always looking for fun crafts for their students, and when Ramler heard he answered their call.

 

He brought pine boards and carving tools for the students to work with, along with examples of wood carvings he’s created to inspire and illustrate what can be done with the art form. Before they began he showed the students how they could trace a design onto the wood with a pencil, and demonstrated the safe, correct way to use the tools.

 

“It was really fun,” said Cameron H. “We made eagles from just a normal plank of wood and they looked really cool when we were done.”

 

“It was cool how we could move the chisel so quickly to make our carving,” said John D.

 

“It was fun because we used just one little piece of wood and the tools to carve our picture,” said Payten R.

 

“I liked when he brought out his huge box of carving tools,” said Allison D. “When we pushed the carving tool [through the wood] it made a bunch of squiggly lines that were really neat.”

Most of the students were first-time woodcarvers, although some, like Oliver O., had prior experience.

 

“I’ve carved with a knife a couple times before,” he said. “I liked all the wood carvings he showed us. My favorite were the houses because they looked just like actual houses they were so good.”

 

“Ken was really good and patient with the students,” said fifth grade teacher Andrea Coulter. “The kids were so proud.”

 

Ramler, who is an RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer and retired teacher, also teaches woodcarving at Whitney Center in St. Cloud. He will be back to Clearview again next fall to continue working with the students.