Is there a way to "electroplate" wood with copper?
The most common way to apply metals by electrodeposition to nonconductive materials is to apply a "strike" of underlying metal, usually nickel or copper, via a method like electroless plating. In electroless, the electrons for the reduction of the metal ions to the zero-valent state are supplied by a reducing agent in solution:

$$
\begin{align}
\ce{Red &amp;-&gt; Ox + 2 e^-} \\ \\
\ce{Ni^{2+} + 2 e^- &amp;-&gt; Ni^0}
\end{align}
$$

This "strike" coating is then used to provide the electrical connection necessary to apply the metal of interest—here, copper—by typical galvanic electrodeposition methods.