In 2007, one of our students, David, successfully transitioned out of our program. From there, David went on to finish high school, attend college, and eventually join the military. Across all of these life experiences, David regularly called TKS to keep in touch with staff and maintain the relationships that sustained and supported him while he attended our school. David has completed multiple tours in his military career that sent him to far off places and it was important for us that David continued to know that he was a member of our community no matter where life or the military took him. During David’s early deployments, our community partnered with The Freedom Pens Project. The Freedom Pens Project provides handmade wooden pens to deployed service members as a symbol of gratitude for their service.
A pen made of Pinot Noir grapevine, made by a student and his father.
At Keswick School, woodworking is a tradition that goes all the way back to the time before Keswick School was a school. It was a particular passion of our founder Bob Wilson. So it only made sense for us to work with The Freedom Pens Project to turn wood pens for service members. Initially, we made sure that our pens were sent to David’s unit. But, as with many things here, interest in the activity grew dramatically over the years.
Years later, wooden pens, turned on a lathe, are still a popular project among our students. Many of them, after experiencing the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing a pen, work with their parents to purchase lathes for their homes to continue the hobby outside of TKS. They also bring their own supplies to the school to make pens from special woods, acrylic, and even antlers!
“Pen making has grown from a casual pastime in wood shop to a full blown craft,” says Stewart Stevens, our shop teacher. “Students are mastering more complex pen builds, and using more intricate and challenging woods as mediums to accomplish their work. Pens are emphasized as tokens of respect towards staff and gifts for their loved ones. Pen making has helped students build better and more significant relationships with their therapy teams, staff and peers. They are building together a tool and an experience. There is a unique satisfaction watching a rough chunk of wood “turn” into a refined instrument. Turning a piece of wood on the lathe is a very reflective way for students to see themselves as they work towards their personal and academic goals.”
Many of our students have faced difficulties in maintaining relationships and expressing thoughts and emotions within those relationships. The pens our students create are a medium through which our students learn to connect with peers and family, express their appreciation and respect for others, and share a sense of pride in their skills and accomplishments. No matter how simple or detailed each pen is, the wood and ink, shaped by the hands of our students, is a concrete representation of the desire our students have to connect with those around them in meaningful ways.
