Timber Framing Pre-Apprenticeship Crew Member

Timber Framing Pre-Apprenticeship: Crew Member

Location: Richmond, VT June 2 – October 3, 2025

Weekly Compensation: $750

Age Requirement: 18

Who We Are

With a 40-year history in the state, VYCC crews have completed thousands of projects.

Crew Members work and learn together in a collaborative crew environment where

they gain skills, build community and work alongside experienced professionals.

Projects range from trail building to infrastructure improvement at State Parks,

sustainable forestry to invasive plant management and more. In every case, Crew

Members receive paid training and support from VYCC staff. The experience is

immersive and physically demanding. With that challenge also comes tremendous

personal reward.

VYCC’s Timber Framing Pre-Apprenticeship program is focused on providing

participants the opportunity to build skill and gain experience with professional timber

frame construction and restoration. For young people passionate about the building

trades, joining the Timber Framing Crew is a great opportunity to develop new skills in

an immersive, project-based learning environment.

Who We’re Looking For

A successful Timber Frame Crew Member is someone who rises to new challenges with

a positive attitude and will work toward professional development. We look for hard-

working individuals who will demonstrate their passion for building trades through a

commitment to VYCC’s mission. Strong candidates will bring excitement for hands-on

projects and learning new skills.

What You Can Expect

In its pilot year, this 17-week program will be led through a partnership with VYCC
and Building Heritage, a VT-based historic preservation and timber framing company.
The Timber Framing Pre-Apprenticeship program is a crew experience dedicated to
skill development and work-based learning opportunities in historical preservation and
new timber frame construction. Timber Frame Crew Members will be mentored by
VYCC staff as well as timber frame journeymen from Building Heritage.

Focused on projects located on the VYCC campus in Richmond, VT, Timber Frame Crew

Members will work on the following this upcoming year (subject to change):

• An outdoor large-scale compost structure for VYCC’s organic farm program
• Historic preservation work on the old Horse Barn
• Cutting a new frame for a cabin or outdoor kitchen
• Off-site projects with Building Heritage to gain additional work site experience
  

Throughout the program, Crew Members will learn technical knowledge and skills that
align with the National Timber Framers Guild apprenticeship curriculum. Each
participant will track their skill development and project completion in a portfolio that
can be used for job placement and may provide advanced-standing in an apprenticeship-
tracked position.

Timber Frame Crew Members can expect to learn aspects of the following:

• Worksite safety and management
• Timber conversion (i.e. hewing and milling)
• Tool usage and care
• Framing techniques
• Raising and rigging techniques
• Conservation and preservation techniques
  

A central goal of the pre-apprenticeship is to place all Crew Members into high-quality
jobs in timber framing, carpentry, or construction at the end of the program.

What We’ll Expect from You
The work will take place on VYCC Campus in Richmond, VT. Crew Members should
arrive ready to start the workday at 8AM and wrap up projects by 5PM. Depending on
project schedule, weather, and other factors, daily schedules may be adjusted. This is a
non-residential program and requires participants to have their own housing and
transportation to the worksite.

Project Accomplishments

• Complete high-quality projects with efficiency and high level of craft
• Serve approximately 40 hours/week on projects
• Work safely to all weather conditions, including bringing all safety gear to the

complete projects

Crew Community Building

• Follow all principles, practices and policies of VYCC, including maintaining a

• Help create a supportive and inclusive crew community
  

• Set professional and personal goals and engage with supervisor to assess

• Be flexible and adaptable as schedules and projects have potential to shift

Education and Training
• Participate in a variety of trainings, including VYCC orientations and additional

Required Qualifications

• High School graduate

• Prior experience in carpentry or construction is not required, but it is a plus.

What’s most important is a positive attitude, an interest in learning, and an

ability to work well on a team project.

• Ability to perform strenuous physical work safely in all weather conditions

• Ability to walk in uneven terrain, lift and carry heavy tools, gear or materials

• Ability to promptly arrive at our Richmond campus each day for work

• Offsite housing required; no housing provided

• Excellent time management, organizational, and communication skills

• Commitment to the health and safety of themselves and others through learning

and practicing safe use of tools and equipment

• Experience in providing and receiving feedback, and creating a culture of

learning and growth

• Willingness to undergo a criminal background check

Equal Opportunity at VYCC

VYCC is committed to being an organization that is inclusive and welcoming for all

employees. VYCC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.