"Tobugetabon" or Tubular Toboggan
Last week we welcomed three classes of local 4th and 5th grade students to campus for a hands-on winter exploration three-day course. Founder Mark Hansen and Former intern Ian Andrus headed the program with heaps of fascinating facts and information about living on the ice, and the immense usefulness of the Toboggan. The Toboggan is basically an antiquated sled, a traditional form of transportation used by the Innu and Cree of Canada. Mark filled ears with a plethora of information about winter camping, the legend of John Beargrease and informed us that a crystal of ice (a mineral!) has six faces! So, ice picks and chopping tools are often three-sided in order to more easily penetrate. Neato!
Each student had the chance to make his/her own foot-long toboggan, using wood steaming techniques and lashing to complete it. Together, the classes made one full-size toboggan, which was ogled over for its practicality.
Three cheers for toboggan miniatures!!!
