Thread: Project For Kids

Hello everyone,

Thank you for all of your contributions to this forum, I have just joined, and feel that I will learn more here than from all the books I have combined.

Here's my question: I work as a camp counsellor in the summer, and we teach kids how to canoe and kayak. For this upcoming season, I am hoping to introduce a project where the kids sand and varnish their own miniature paddles. I will be making plywood cut outs, about 24 inches long, out of 3/4 inch plywood.

My plan is to have the kids use pieces of sandpaper to expose some nice grain on the wood (smoothen it out a bit), and then to draw/paint on the surface of the paddle.

To finish off, I want to have them varnish the paddles, just like one would do for a real paddle. However - based on the concerns about the volatility of varnish, I was wondering if water-based varnish would be a viable option.

I would have the kids wear latex gloves, and breathing masks if needed. Does anyone have any ideas if the water-based stuff is any better from a respiratory point of view?

Thanks in advance.

Oliner