For more than 10 years, Significant Elements has been home to Work Preserve, Historic Ithaca’s preservation education program for marginalized youth. Participants learn foundational restoration techniques, transferable job skills related to preservation practice, confidence, and independence through hands-on instruction.

Work Preserve offers personalized, one-on-one and small group training in a 6-week modular program that's focused on a supportive learning environment. During training our expert instructors go at each student's pace to safely teach core construction skills, metal and wood restoration, basic furniture repair, and more--all through the lens of preservation.

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Students meet our entire team at Historic Ithaca to witness a a preservation holistically, including making use of our on-site library of the built environment.