In 2013, while pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management; Craig Shaw trailed into the Ecotone Apprenticeship Program. Immediately, the saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, became a tangible reality for him. He became somewhat of a “rubbish artificer”, nurturing throw-away wood back to life and ingraining it with a new purpose. Through this work, his design-eye intensified and his confidence strengthened.
Craig Shaw is a Landscape Designer at Weintraub Diaz and is diligently trekking towards becoming a licensed Landscape Architect. In 2013, while pursuing his bachelors in hospitality management; with an eye toward a masters in landscape architecture, Shaw trailed into the Ecotone Carpentry Apprenticeship Program. Immediately, the saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, became a tangible reality for him. He became somewhat of a “rubbish artificer”, nurturing throw-away wood back to life and ingraining it with a new purpose. Through this work, his design-eye intensified and his confidence/physical skills became ox-like,  strengthened and dependable. He now assists the program’s founder in teaching other apprentice hopefuls how to implement sustainable carpentry and woodworking skills into their personal life-upkeep toolbox. . 
Looking ahead, he sees himself continuing to work with his hands but, this time, on his own land. Overseeing a multidisciplinary firm that wedges itself between city and country: restoring timber, monitoring his drone, foraging for berries, shooting short films. The simple life. And, as always, he will continue to wander down the unconventional “path of trash” – seeking to dust hopelessness off barren landscapes and, through built-design, continue to build-up and construct new life. 
After completing the Ecotone Apprenticeship Program, Shaw went on to gain his Master’s Degree in landscape architecture. Today, not only is he a Landscape Designer at Weintraub Diaz, but he is also diligently trekking towards becoming a licensed Landscape Architect. Craig also continues on with Ecotone to assist with training and mentoring new recruits.

Apprentice Case Study

Craig Shaw

In 2013, while pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management; Craig Shaw trailed into the Ecotone Apprenticeship Program. Immediately, the saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, became a tangible reality for him. He became somewhat of a “rubbish artificer”, nurturing throw-away wood back to life and ingraining it with a new purpose. Through this work, his design-eye intensified and his confidence strengthened.
After completing the Ecotone Apprenticeship Program, Shaw went on to gain his Master’s Degree in landscape architecture. Today, not only is he a Landscape Designer at Weintraub Diaz, but he is also diligently trekking towards becoming a licensed Landscape Architect. Craig also continues on with Ecotone to assist with training and mentoring new recruits.
From Craig Shaw :
“I am interested in many different things, woodworking being one of the unifying constants. It’s not just about making things out of wood, but the physical interaction and impact made in tandem with the mental process of problem solving, patience, being precise, while remaining flexible. I came to discover this during my apprenticeship at Ecotone. We started on the literal ground, being humbled by how difficult breaking down a pallet was, to building a timber frame structure for communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. This apprenticeship is valuable because your empowered with the knowledge and skills to build things for yourself and most importantly for others.

Taking what I continue to learn at Ecotone, into the design profession has been a great help. Having practical knowledge of how things are built, acts like a check and balance system for design. It reinforces what is possible, as well as how you can be innovative to realize these designs. In the field I am able to connect with the contractors easily because I speak their language and act as a bridge to get things moving in the right direction. I have a long way to go on my journey to master my passions, but I am glad to have the lifelong skills and support system from Ecotone to do it with confidence. “