Woodworking with Jon

“Working with wood is not about what the children make, but what happens within the child.”
– Otto Salomon, 1891

We’re thrilled to introduce Jon Elszasz—engineer, artisan, and violin maker—whose deep appreciation for craftsmanship and hands-on learning makes him a natural fit for The Natural Classroom. With a background in engineering and a passion for building and repairing things himself, Jon brings a unique blend of precision, creativity, and curiosity to his work with children.

Jon’s woodworking sessions will focus not just on building objects, but on building confidence, creativity, and resilience. As children learn to use real tools—hammers, saws, sanding blocks—they gain more than skills: they develop fine and gross motor control, hand-eye coordination, patience, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. Most importantly, they experience the deep satisfaction of bringing an idea to life with their own two hands.

Jon will rotate between all three sites, offering children at each location the opportunity to explore woodworking in meaningful, developmentally rich ways. His guidance will support children in discovering not only what they can make—but what they’re truly capable of.