I learned all I know about carpentry at my daddy's knee. It's enough to let me do whatever I need to do (horse jumps, dog house, agility obstacles) but I'm what's called a "rough carpenter -- good on rough work, and rough on good work." I can cover most of my mistakes up with putty and paint . . . < g >
Dad is a real genius - he can do furniture and stuff like that. I'll never forget the beautiful REAL walnut birdhouse he "helped" me build for a first grade birdhouse contest. All dovetailed joints - it was a bird duplex, one house at each end, with rings on the top and a pipe socket so you could hang it or mount it on a pole. I sanded all the pieces, held the end of the wood furthest from the saw blade, and rubbed on every one of the 2 coats of stain and 3 of varnish. (Parents were allowed to help . . . that may have changed after they saw that gorgeous thing.)
Sigh. It appears that liability insurers frown on kids hanging around carpentry. Maybe during the summer, I can get Bill some work with the "facilities manager" at our church (I call him that, he calls himself the "handyman"). Not much carpentry, but he'd pick up some plumbing and painting and heavy-duty maintenance skills.
At 16, they can go to whatever Vo-Tech calls itself these days.