Last week my boys had a fabulous week at a very special camp called Construction Kids here in Brooklyn. The boys had celebrated their 8th birthday there and I fell in love with the place then--so did the kids. The space is very inspiring, with beautifully organized tools and materials (above), as well as many examples of work done by the children. Deb Winsor runs the classes in a way that allows the children endless creative freedom but with very strict supervision to ensure their safety.
The camp has different themes each week and ours was "vehicle week". The boys were prolific and I really loved seeing all the things they made and the pride they took in their work. The enormous bin of vehicles they made is an obvious reminder of just how much they enjoyed it. I will admit that the idea of them using power tools, or even simple hammer and nails, was a little nervous making, but I am definitely in the parenting camp that believes with proper instruction and supervision that kids can do things that may be perceived as dangerous, and that in a lot of cases learning the skills at an early age teaches a respect for being careful...that maybe it even makes children feel more responsible and therefore behave more responsibly.
If you are interested in other places like Construction Kids this article from the New York Times included other building programs for children around the country.