Photo byKath HernándezonUnsplash

Deep in the evergreen heart of the state of Washington, where the Cascadia mountains wink at the sky, and the apples are as big as a raccoon's head, live some of the most inventive, resourceful kids you've ever met. They are the Woodworking Whiz kids of WA, and they spend their afternoons with hammers and nails, chisels and saws, creating wooden masterpieces that would make even a beaver blush with envy. And then, there is our unforgettable character, Sergeant Sawdust, also known as Sam. Sam's sense of humor is as knotty as the pine trees surrounding his treehouse workshop. He's a funny little fella with a tousled head of hair as wild as the untamed forest, and eyes as sparkly as the sunlight bouncing off Lake Chelan. He guides the Woodworking Whiz kids with his magical talking toolbelt that's always cracking jokes that could make even a grumpy old woodpecker cackle. "Remember kids," Sergeant Sawdust will say, his voice as smooth as polished wood, "Measure twice, cut once, and never, ever, invite a termite to a picnic!" And the air would be filled with giggles, the sweet smell of sawdust, and the sound of crafty hands at work. They create everything from race cars to dollhouses, from backscratchers to bird feeders. These Woodworking Whiz kids of Washington are as diverse as the state's terrain itself. They're as vibrant as Seattle's Pike Place Market, as tenacious as the climbers tackling Mt. Rainier, and as creative as the dreamers gazing out at the Pacific. Using their hands, hearts, and a whole lot of wood, they're crafting not just projects, but also laughter, memories, and friendships as solid as oak.