All Packed Up - Craft Your Trail Stove
Don Kevilus
Session Options:
. . . 6/20/2008
Discover the energy efficient, inexpensive, one-pot cooking
stove that's fit for the trail, canoe trip or your next winter
camping expedition. Proprietor of the famed Four Dog Stove
Company, Don Kevilus, will teach you how to build and fire this
9oz tin backpacking stove (4.25"x5.25") - a hybrid designed from
combustion stoves developed in Norway, Denmark, and Switzerlad
that use secondary combustion at the top of the stove to burn
gases for increased efficiency. No need for any liquid fuel
bottles or the additional weight and worry of gas canisters.
Just 3 ozs of handforged twigs will give you a 6 minute boil and
an additional 9 minutes of simmer time with this stove - perfect
for any backcountry meal. Don will also cover the basics of
fuel efficiency, learning how to tinder a fire out in the woods
and how to quickly dry damp material for an efficient firing of
your new trail stove.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 0.5
. . . Hours: 9am-1pm
. . . Tuition: $60
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($10-$15)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bushcraft - In The Field
Mors
Kochanski
Session
Options:
.
. . 11/23/2008 - 11/24/2008
With your 2-kilogram wilderness kit and the know-how to
spend time comfortably in the woods, it’s time to field test
that knowledge and equipment with a two-day immersion in the
northern boreal environment. Mors Kochanski, acclaimed outdoor
education and wilderness survival instructor, leads this field
course from a base camp. You'll venture into the woods each
morning with your complete kit to practice bushcraft skills.
Eat, sleep and breathe the wilderness comfortably and sensibly
in this field-based course. Let Mors be your guide to comfort
and discover the compromise between what you can carry and what
is available from the natural environment. Your next venture
into the woods will never be the same after experiencing the
bush from this perspective. Participants in this course are
required to have taken Bushcraft: Wilderness Living Skills (see
separate course description), providing you the skills to
successfully achieve the goals of this course.
Mors will also provide two 45-minute workshops on the bush knife
and bindcraft for survival during the Winterer’s Gathering &
Arctic Film Festival as part of Saturday’s Winter Skills
Workshops (see Events and Programs page on our website for more
information).
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $175
. . . Materials Fee: Included
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bushcraft - Wilderness Living Skills
Mors
Kochanski
Session
Options:
.
. . 11/20/2008 - 11/21/2008
Attention hikers, campers, hunters or anyone with a passion
for the outdoors. This is your opportunity to learn wilderness
outdoor skills first-hand from devoted outdoor educator Mors
Kochanski the author of "Bushcraft," a definitive book on
wilderness travel. Mors defines ‘bushcraft’ as the knowledge of
basic existence skills that allow you to live comfortably in the
bush on an indefinite basis with a minimal dependence on
technological materials and tools. A series of informative
hands-on topics will be covered. You will create your very own
2-kilogram wilderness skills kit…everything you’d need to
survive comfortably in the woods. Participants are encouraged to
apply their skills in Mors’ 2-day field course, Bushcraft: In
The Field (see separate course description).
Welcome Mors to the Midwest as he travels from his home in
Alberta, Canada for North House Folk School’s Winterer’s
Gathering and Arctic Film Series. Mors will also instruct a
two-day field course called Bushcraft: In The Field (see
separate course description) following this course.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $175
. . . Materials Fee: Varies (approx. $40)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Carving Inuit-Style Snow Goggles
Fred Livesay
Session
Options:
.
. . 11/22/2008 - 11/23/2008
Reduce "snowblindness"' on your next winter travel adventure
by carving your own snow goggles. You’ll be the talk of the town
and the envy of every winter enthusiast you meet in your new
goggles. Traditional goggles not only prevent snow blindness,
but evidence from the Danish Polar Research Institute has shown
that they improve vision by blocking out the wind and cutting UV
rays to a minimum and they won't fog up when you step in and out
of the winter camp. You will learn useful carving and design
skills, as well as the history of snow goggle usage by native
peoples of the Arctic. A must-have for your next snowshoe or
ski adventure!
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $130
. . . Materials Fee: $10
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Compass (& Common Sense) - Finding Your Direction
Dennis
Chilcote
Session
Options:
.
. . 5/3/2008 - 5/4/2008-
FULL, call for waiting list
Whether you are picking berries, stalking a deer or just out
for a hike, the skills to avoid getting lost give you the
freedom to wander at will. This class provides you with the
necessary skills to comfortably navigate your way through the
woods. You will learn how to read topo maps, use compasses and
navigate with GPS. After these lessons you'll spend a day in the
woods as a class hiking to various locations with the skills we
have learned. Practical aspects of both compass and GPS will be
demonstrated during the day and applications to travel by canoe
or kayak in the BWCAW and elsewhere will be discussed.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $150
. . . Materials Fee: $15
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Craft of Birch Ski Making
Mark Hansen
Session
Options:
.
. . 1/8/2009 - 1/11/2009
Discover the secrets of the old Saami school of ski
construction by crafting a custom pair of birch skis to meet
your needs. In this course you'll learn about the origin of ski
design, function and construction. We'll also cover topics such
as wood grain, bending wood, types of bindings and information
related to use and handling of these ancient tools of
transportation. Craft your own pair of skis custom-sized to your
size, weight and intended use and enjoy the wintry wonderland of
backcountry and ski trails outside your back door. Evening
sessions may include films and a variety of discussion topics on
the history and craft of ski making.
Mark learned to make skis from Marvin Salo, whose father was a
master ski maker trained in the old Saami school of ski
construction. His father's advice was "if you understand the
wood, the wood will work for you."For an additional insight into
the total traditional outfit, enroll yourself for the
Traditional Finnish Ski Poles course scheduled immediately
following this course.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3.5
. . . Hours: Day 1: 5pm-9pm; Day 2-4: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $295
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($125- $150)
. . . Intergenerational Age: n/a
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Craft Your Own Wood Stove
Don Kevilus
Session
Options:
.
. . 11/20/2008 - 11/21/2008
Not just any ordinary wood stove, this stove “will keep you
warm on a four dog-night,” as the story goes. In this course
you'll craft your own time-tested portable trail stove with Don
Kevilus, the proprietor and owner of the renowned Four Dog Stove
Company. Tested in field conditions in the USA and Canada in
temperature to -50 degrees, these stoves are suitable to heat a
10’ x 12’ wall tent. You will learn basic tin-craft skills and
stove construction techniques, including use of a hand break and
kick shear, to bend, cut and rivet together a portable stove.
The stove will have a 4" flue opening, reinforced fire box,
stove pipe, damper, double stove bottom, removable side shelf,
and choice of snow legs or folding legs. By the end of this
course, your stove will be ready to be fired and keep you warm
on a "four-dog night."
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $150
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($50-55)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Crafting a Traditional Longbow
Rick Yonker
Session
Options:
.
. . 8/1/2008 - 8/3/2008
. . . 2/14/2009 - 2/16/2009
This course takes you through the step-by-step process of
crafting a longbow. To facilitate learning about and
construction of a wooden bow, you'll start from a pre-cut stave
of hickory. Throughout the course you'll learn basics of
working wood with a drawknife, carpenter's scraper and other
traditional hand tools. Class discussion includes design
theory, different bow shapes, and the art of tillering a bow
(getting it to bend correctly). If time permits, you'll use the
finished and strung bows for shooting arrows on campus.
Materials fee includes stave, string, utilization of specialized
tools, and pre-course preparation. Demonstrations of how to
split off a stave (a pre-bow chunk of wood) from a felled tree
to fashion a bow will be done in class. Applications of finish
and grip materials will be covered in class, allowing the
students to focus on the finishing aspect at their leisure.
Previous woodworking experience helpful.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: Aug - $225; Feb - $195
. . . Materials Fee: $210
. . . Intergenerational Age: 12+
. . . Intergenerational Tuition: $310/adult-child pair
. . . Level: All Levels
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Longbow Building - Advanced Techniques
Rick Yonker
Session
Options:
.
. . 6/28/2008 - 6/30/2008
This course goes beyond the basics of a primitive longbow as
we take bow construction a step further by building a composite
bow. We will look at the history of composite bows which dates
back thousands of years. Essentially, a composite bow is a
primitive bow built from two materials fused together. The goal
of the project for this course is to make a stronger more
versatile bow by using bamboo for our backing material and
bamboo or hickory for our belly wood. We will also build the
basic forms used in the gluing up process and give you the
option of a straight or reflexed bow. The same basic
techniques of bow building will be covered (including the
tillering process) as we move on to designing and building a
composite bow. If you enjoyed Rick's first course, you will love
this one. It will be more challenging and take you further in
your journey toward becoming a bowyer!
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225
. . . Materials Fee: $210
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fly Casting Workshop
David
Asproth
Session
Options:
.
. . 6/14/2008
Landing a fly gracefully on a quiet body of water is an
experience everyone should have. In this workshop taught by
David Asproth, a fly casting instructor certified by the
Federation of Fly Fishers, you'll be introduced to the basic
techniques of dropping a fly 50-60 feet out, as well as the
fundamentals of roll-casting. The class is on the water and you
should be comfortable with the basics of fly casting by the end
of the day. Casting from a float tube, a unique on-water
experience, will also be covered. You are encouraged to bring
your own gear. Float tubes, rods and reels are available for
rent from local outfitters.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 1
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $75
. . . Materials Fee: Included
. . . Intergenerational Age: 14+
. . . Intergenerational Tuition: n/a
. . . Level: Beginner
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fly Fishing The North Shore
David
Asproth/Mike Hero
Session
Options:
.
. . 7/10/2008 - 7/13/2008
. . . 7/24/2008 - 7/27/2008
The North Shore of Lake Superior provides some highly-prized
fly fishing experiences--ranging from the rivers and streams
cascading into Lake Superior to the quiet, serene inland lakes
adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Let the
North Shore be your classroom for learning the fundamentals of
fly fishing--from tying flies to casting. This course begins
with a water-side introduction to casting and the basics of
fishing using flies. You learn how to tie wet, dry and streamer
flies using a beginner tying kit provided by the instructor.
Finally, put your newfound skills to practice in a series of
field-sessions as we visit local 'honey-holes' for brook, brown
and rainbow trout. Individualized instruction for advanced
fishermen is available.
Individualized instruction for advanced fishermen is available.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 4
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $295
. . . Materials Fee: $55 for fly tying kit
. . . Intergenerational Age: 14+
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fly Tying Workshop
David
Asproth
Session
Options:
.
. . to be scheduled
Whether you're
looking for the "Bunyan Bug" (from the novel, "A River Runs
Through It,") or that special caddis fly emerging on an inland
lake, you need to be equipped for your next fly fishing
adventure. In this early season workshop, taught by David
Asproth, certified instructor for the Federation of Fly Fishers,
will teach you to to tie wet flies, dry flies, streamers and
patterns. A fly tying kit assembled by the instructor will get
you started and the materials required to create a wide variety
of flies are provided as you advance through the vast array of
fly tying possibilities. Continuing students may provide their
own fly tying kit if desired.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2.5
. . . Hours: Day 1: 5pm-9pm; Days 2/3: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $190
. . . Materials Fee: $55 for fly tying kit
. . . Intergenerational Age: 14+
. . . Intergenerational Tuition: n/a
. . . Level: Beginner to Intermediate
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Making a Traditional Toboggan
Mark Hansen
Session
Options:
.
. . 11/21/2008 - 11/23/2008
Toboggans were used for centuries by the woodland peoples of
the north where deep snows could only be navigated by floating
on top of the snowpack. Today, they continue to be used by
winter camping enthusiasts and as recreational sleds for
downhill adventures. In this course you will build a birch
toboggan that tracks easily behind snowshoes or skis or can be
loaded with a number of people for a downhill sledding
adventure. You'll create a toboggan custom fit and sized to
suit your needs and whatever gear you need to pull. A must
have for the traditional winter adventurer or enthusiast.
The width of the toboggans ranges from 10” to 16” and the length
varies from 6 to 12 feet. The slender design is constructed
from local woods which students steam bend, shape, assemble and
fit for use. The course includes making tuglines for pulling
the toboggan behind a snowshoer, skier or dogs. The class also
covers the use of the toboggan, use of tuglines and harnesses,
hill travel techniques, loading of the toboggan, waxing, and
proper use and handling of sled dogs (dogs may be available on
site). Basic knowledge of woodworking and tool use desirable.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2.5
. . . Hours: Day 1: 5pm-9pm; Days 2/3: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $215
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ( $100-$200)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Intermediate
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pleasure Driving Fjord Horses
Philis
Anderson
Session
Options:
.
. . Most days, May 15 through Sept 30
Selectively bred for more than 20 centuries, Norwegian Fjord
Horses might best be described as short and stocky, friendly and
versatile. Whether pulling boats along Scandinavia’s fjords,
working in farm fields, or pulling a cart to market, fjord
horses were important partners for generations of farmers. In
this course you'll have a chance to experience the joy of
working with this unique breed of horses while learning the
basics of pleasure driving a horse and cart. Lessons begin in an
outdoor arena and progress to beautiful trails through the quiet
woods above Grand Marais. This course is open to all, including
those who would prefer simply to relax and take a pleasure drive
with a team of fjord horses driven by the instructor. A second
person is welcome to observe and share in the cart ride as the
lesson progresses for an additional $25. Available most days
May 15 to October 15, weather permitting.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 0.5
. . . Hours: 10am to Noon (or 1pm)
. . . Tuition: $75
. . . Materials Fee: None
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Push and Glide - Building The Kick Sled
Randy
Schnobrich
Session
Options:
.
. . 12/12/2008 - 12/14/2008
For hundreds of years the kick sled has been a popular mode
of winter transportation throughout Scandinavia and other
snow-covered countries. From country hill to city sidewalk, the
kick sled goes anywhere there is snow. You start from the
ground up handcrafting a functional sled that can be enjoyed by
all ages. Laminated wood runners, slats for the seat and
hand-finished handlebars will be individually crafted,
reflecting your aesthetic vision. Once completed, the sled is
collapsible and can be pushed by the driver or pulled by a dog
or two. Approx dimensions: 72”L x 16”W x 36”H. A great family
project that will last a lifetime. Bring a partner, friend or
family member to work with.
This course offers an intriguing mix of both basic and advanced
woodworking skills. The sleds will be made with white ash wood.
Building tasks will range from hand-shaping the handlebars to
laminating the bent runners. Both hand tools and power tools
will be used during the project.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2.5
. . . Hours: Day 1: 5pm-8pm; Day 2/3 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $420 per sled
. . . Materials Fee: Included
. . . Intergenerational Age: 8+
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Snowshoe Construction - Build Your Own
Erik Simula
Session
Options:
.
. . 11/21/2008 - 11/23/2008
Carve, bend and lace your own pair of traditional snowshoes
as this course explores the traditional Ojibwe style - efficient
for travel through both wooded areas or across frozen lakes and
open expanses. You will steam bend and shape ash frames and
mortise in crosspieces with simple hand tools. The class will
learn traditional techniques for lacing their shoes and begin to
lace using lightweight, hollowed nylon cord. Course discussions
include a variety of binding types and their application. The
end result is a satisfying reflection of craftsmanship and
skills handed down through the generations. Add two additional
days to complete the lacing of your new shoes, craft your own
set of bindings and applying wood finish to get your snowshoes
'trail ready.'
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3 (or 5 days)
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $195 ($325 for five days)
. . . Materials Fee: $55
. . . Intergenerational Age: 14+
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Traditional Finnish Ski Poles
Mark Hansen
Session
Options:
.
. . 1/12/2009 - 1/13/2009
Enhance your winter adventures with these lightweight,
durable ski poles which are based on the types used by northern
Minnesota Finnish immigrants for winter travel. The poles are
constructed with balsam shafts, copper rivets, whitetail-tanned
buckskin grips and moose rawhide and red willow baskets. You
will make your custom-sized ski poles using age-old techniques
passed from Finnish ski maker Marvin Salo (whose father was a
master ski maker trained in the old Sami school of ski
construction) to your instructor Mark Hansen. This course is a
great complement to the Traditional Birch Ski making course.
Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $130
. . . Materials Fee: $75
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced
