Where are the young Carvers ?

[Big Barn]

As I've visited some of the local carving shows & have attended some of the local area (Ohio) carving clubs, I've notice a not-so positive trend. I'll admit to be 52 yrs old and I 'seem' to be one of the younger members out there. Am I just not seeing the bigger picture & our hobby/craft will not go by the way-side as we all age ? I also attend a couple of Boy / Cub Scout meetings (my American Legion post sponsors our local pack) & the parents are not too keen on having the boys perform even 'supervised' wood carving. I find this very dis-heartening. Anybody else or am I all wet ???

[Beaujangles]

Giving a boy a knife and letting them use will get you a child neglect/abuse charge now days if anything happens to them. Sad state of affairs I suppose, but nothing to be done about it. As far as younger adults... We work, have families and kids while going to college full time. I would love to join a carving group, but it'll have to wait for retirement...

[FIT BMX]

I'm 23 and started carving about 3 years ago, but I got into wood working 8 years ago.
I only have time to carve in the winter.

[Steve Reed]

Big Barn. I have a few years on you, but here's my perspective. I tried to get some "young uns" interested in carving/whittling and I've found that most want a more "instant" gratification than is possible. Few have either the patience or the attention span for it. I know that I'm generalizing here, but the real young folks have too much going on. Our club is trying to reach a "younger audience" say 40 year olds. The reasoning is that by this age their kids are older and they have more time available. I'm sure there are exceptions.

[SlowMover]

I suppose it is a host of factors, especially the ones already mentioned in this thread. I think the most important are lack of exposure to carving (not many know a carver, so no idea of the hobby), and most importantly lack of time in today's activity filled world...kids are over committed to everything in the world as it is, no time for spending hours on a project just for fun, they have to ae more of a reward than that. Just my two cents.

[Scott Hagerty]

In the past few years our club has had quite a few kids brought in to carve. We always work with them and get them through a project or two but then they don't show up after that. I agree with slow, kids are way over involved today and it is a real drain on their parents too. At 43 I'm one of the youngest in the club, I think there is a guy in his 30's but he seldom shows up to carve. I worked with 3 of my nephews on several projects when they were in high school but they have moved on. Hopefully, one day they will remember carving and start up again.

I carved some when I was in HS. I just didn't have any mentors or the internet to keep my interest up.

[johncarves]

They are here...
We have 5 or more teens who carve with us weekly. They are always busy with full lives, so it's rare if all of them show up at one time. In our recent show we had about 10 pieces entered in the youth category.

I taught a free pencil carving session at a monthly meeting. At the next Wednesday night carve-in I received a thank you card from the two teen girls. Especially nice since none of the 15 or so adults even said thanks!

[torpidhummer]

John,you have the right idea by working with kids,as for the adults not even recognizing the
kids efforts by giving carving a try,is probably one of the reasons kids stay away from carving with us old "dudes".How many of you older folks like me ever joined an elders' group of carvers when you were a kid? Sure kids are preoccupied with other interests just as we were.Having carving classes kids specific is a great idea and the best way of getting our future generations involved in any type of craft.
Oscar

[Lightningbolt]

I agree in that most families live VERY busy lives these days and it's quite the challenge to get young people involved with the joys of carving. I can say that carving is alive and well in the scouts. I taught 8 'Whittlin' Chip' classes at the October camporeees with our local council and several hundred boys had a great time.

At summer camp, yes there were woodcarving merit badge classes, but all the kids near our campsite learned of my love for carving and every spare minute outside classes were spent on the makeshift back patio of my creek-side tent where I led the kids in some great carving sessions. (see attached pictures) To further spark interest I did several stump carvings in our campsite that drew even more attention to woodcarving. (See the picture below of the Indian carved in a stump at the entrance of our campsite)

Yes, today's kids are busier than ever and we have to compete with school activities, church events, and a million other things. Inbetween all of these 'other' distractions we just have to find ways to 'seize the moment' whenever we can to grab a kids interest in carving. Being an active leader in scouts is what works for me.

[Old Scout]

I agree with Lightning Bolt, I got my woodcarving Merit Badge in 1940, only had time to carve on vacations etc. retired 25 years ago, helped out at Scout Camp last 25 years taught approx. 6000 boys& Scouters basic carving during that time & have a small club meeting each month. Kids have too much going on with electronics, tv ,girls, cars,& sports, but some get hooked on carving !! Keep teaching youth!!