PROGRAMS
SkillSet offers year-round STEAM programming for middle and high school youth, and adult learners.
Join us for 10-week after-school sessions, one-week summer camps, and weekend workshops. Our innovative curriculum combines science, technology, engineering, art, and math lessons with a range of tools and techniques from the digital to the handmade. Welding, woodworking, computer aided design, film, photography, textiles, and computer programming classes just scratch the surface of what we have to offer.
AFTER SCHOOL
SkillSet offers after school programming in the fall and spring for students age 8+ at the UNCA STEAM Studio, as well as off-site through other partner organizations in Western North Carolina region. Partnerships have included IRL at Asheville Middle School, through the United Way at Erwin Middle School, and with Children’s First of Buncombe County.
Programs vary by season, have included: welding, woodturning, stop-motion animation, robotics, woodworking, simple machines, and 3-dimensional design.
For tuition-based programs, limited financial assistance is available on a first-come first-serve basis to families in need.
SUMMER CAMP
SkillSet offers after school programming in the fall and spring for students age 8+ at the UNCA STEAM Studio, as well as off-site through other partner organizations in Western North Carolina region.
Programs at STEAM Studio vary each year, and have included:
Junior Woodworking Design Challenge
Make Your Own Custom Electric Guitar!
Beginning Welding // Welding for Returning Students
Woodturning
Form Function Fabrication: A Design Collaboration with United Way
Illumination: Electricity, Circuits, and Light!
For tuition-based programs, limited financial assistance is available on a first-come first-serve basis to families in need.
Summer Programs with community partners have included: collaborative design-builds with PAGE, picnic table building with Children’s First of Buncombe County, beginning woodworking with the Alex Foundation, and more!
Find out more about community partnerships and how to collaborate with us.
ADULT CLASSES
Our adult programming is held at the UNC Asheville STEAM Studio, and occasionally off-site. We teach real tools and real making skills, and most workshops do not require prior experience. Beginners are encouraged to join us! We strive to create an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, learning from mistakes, and gaining confidence in tool use and safety practices. Many participants feel empowered and inspired to make their first tool purchase, or deepen their knowledge and skills in new media after taking a workshop.
Past workshops have included: welded pendant lamps, wooden benches, custom cutting boards, picture frames, bandsaw boxes, bird houses, chairs, and woodturning. During these projects, participants learn how to safely operate miter saws, bandsaws, planers, hand tools, MIG welders, lathes, drills, sanders, and many more tools.
Custom and private classes available to groups of 4 or more.
For more information, to suggest a class, or propose an off-site workshop please email skillset@unca.edu
ONE DAY WORKSHOPS AT YOUR LOCATION!
While our home base is the STEAM Studio of UNC Asheville, we are also take our curriculum on the road with the help of grants, donors, and organizational partnerships.
Through the generous support of the Dogwood Health Trust, we are currently seeking hosts for one-day workshops and events that engage youth and adults in making during out of school time.
Past workshops have included Hurricane Helene rebuilding efforts, public tabling events at science expos and block parties, tool trainings for youth and their families, as well as custom one-day STEAM workshops.