Courses

Discover the designs, color, styles, and technique of traditional bead embroidery as you work with Ojibwe cultural specialist and Grand Portage band member Marcie McIntire, sewing and decorating a pair of moccasins in this course. You will design a pair of moccasins to make to fit your own feet! Using…

Looking for a great at-home hobby? Dive into cheesemaking! In this online introduction to the craft you will learn the basics of cheese making through videos, demonstrations, and live Q and A. We’ll cover milks, starters, bacteria, molds, and common household equipment for cheese making that you probably already have…

Carry around your studies, tools, or groceries in this beautiful and functional large birch bark tote basket. Students will learn about sustainable techniques for legal harvest and then use hand tools to prepare their 1 inch wide bark strips, and weave them into a tote base. The bag will be…

Discover the sturdiness and the beauty of birch bark by weaving a medium table top basket; perfect for organizing or displaying with its large base, shallow walls, and sturdy rim structure. This rim design will elevate your weaving skills by adding a three-dimensional pattern that mimics the zigzags of the…

Create yourself a comfortable living space: a spare bedroom, office, studio, sauna, or whatever else you can dream up. The 18-foot yurt is an excellent shelter option that provides comfortable living arrangements for all four seasons. Working with skilled yurt builders, you’ll construct a simple yurt, complete with a door…

“That’s crochet?” your friends will ask when you show off your new project. Yup! With this Zoom class, you’ll learn how to transform stitches you already know into intricate, embossed patterning that looks like Aran knit and Celtic knotwork. We’ll start by launching a short scarf project, so students can…

Join long-time North House instructor Judi Barsness from the comfort of your own kitchen to learn new cooking skills and prepare a delicious meal as she brings her popular Cooking with the Seasons courses to the online format. Each session will feature the step-by-step preparation of an entree and accompaniment,…

Discover the secrets of the old Sámi 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,…

Spend a day aboard the Hjørdis and learn the basics of sailing a 50’ gaff-rigged schooner on Lake Superior. This course offers a mix of in-class preparation and on-the-water experience: topics include points of sail, seamanship, rope-work, sailing terminology, and boat handling technique. Wind, weather, and waves vary greatly on…

Up north, there's a saying that there's no bad weather, just the wrong clothes. In this course, you'll outfit your hands to protect them from the elements by designing a comfortable and warm pair of deerskin mittens to wear during the winter months. The mittens are ideal for daily wear,…

Remember the last time your feet were too cold to enjoy wonderful wintry weather? Do away with rigid, non-breathing footwear and discover the traditional footwear of the North: mukluks, the perfect footwear for your snowshoeing adventure. The flexibility of the natural materials used in construction allows the foot to generate…

Warm up winter by making your own woolen slippers or short boot liners. Using the ancient no-knitting wet felting technique, you will make a cozy, warm pair of slippers or boot liners. The craft hasn’t changed in centuries except we now use soap instead of ash or urine. It’s a…

A great class for beginners and fun for experienced felters. This class is composed of two session, three hours each. In week one, students will learn about the tools, tricks and techniques of needle felting sculptural items while making a 3-dimensional snowman (or abominable bumble, your choice!). Students will also…

Fall is an exciting time on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The leaves are gorgeous and the steelhead and salmon are just starting their spawning run. This class is for those who want to experience an intensive study of this amazing event and maximize their chances of catching mighty…

The Grand Marais and Beyond course is designed for the enthusiastic photographer, amateur or professional, with an emphasis on storytelling with your photography. Led by editorial photographer Layne Kennedy, you will explore and photograph the scenic shores of Lake Superior, create portraits of local folks, photograph history of the region…