Courses

Get started on a lifelong hobby by learning the basics of knitting. Expert knitters and very patient teachers Allen Holzheuter and Kate Hartman will help kids learn how to maneuver those needles and have them knitting by noon. Kids can be accompanied by an adult (even old dogs can learn…

This is a course for kids only, and is meant as an introduction to the various hand tools and simple skills involved in working with wood in the shop. The course is co-taught by a father and son team, Paul Linden and Avery Carlson (age 16). Avery has been working…

We can find paper everywhere in our daily lives!  In this class, we will use a simple material to make something beautiful and functional.  Students will also learn about the history of origami and about how different cultures use and reuse paper. They will take inspiration from the natural environment…

Making great tasting ice cream at home can be really fun and easy! In this class we will make several kinds of ice cream to take home, plus learn how to make edible bowls for a delicious presentation! Everything we do in class can be done easily at home, so…

Have you ever made a blanket fort?  What about a tree house?  In this class we will learn about natural building, and how we can design & build using the materials in the environment around us.  How can we use our creativity in combination with natural material to build what…

Perfect for the budding chef or botanist, in this class kids will explore the medicinal properties and culinary flavors of wild harvested and homegrown herbs. We will use fresh, local plant materials with culinary bases like water, butter, vinegar, oil, and honey. Participants will leave with stimulated minds and taste…

The hex weave basket is commonly called a "cheese basket" because it can be used for processing cheese. However, this holey design is perfect for holding produce or other display needs. This project will be made from pre-pounded Black Ash splints, which the students will help cut and prepare. The…

Learn how to knit and embroider a mitten in the Swedish Lovikka style. Lovikka is a town located near the Arctic Circle with a renowned tradition of Sami-inspired embroidered embellishments, including a braided tassel. This mitten is knit in the round on double-pointed needles using a single ply yarn. The…

Build your own boat and timber frame your own home - so why not knit your own socks? After all, "you can't go barefoot," as your mom used to say. In this day-long introduction to knitting socks, you’ll be on your way to making your own socks for the rest…

The shrink box is a wooden container that relies on a simple trick: Freshly cut (green) wood and dry wood behave differently. The body of the vessel is made from green wood that changes in size as it dries (putting the “shrink” in shrink box). The bottom of the vessel…

The kuksa is an old-style wooden cup made to travel far and wide and be at the ready, whether the beverage of choice is water from a Boundary Waters lake, coffee of any quality, or even a splash of something stronger (so we’ve been told). Over three days, students will…

Whether wild and windswept, placid and smoke-filled, piled with icy shards or reflecting pastel hues, Lake Superior in the winter is a spectacular thing. But capturing this beauty in a photo takes some special preparation of both the photographer and the equipment. Learn how to keep your camera functioning in…

The wooden bowl is a reflection of both utility and beauty - an inspiring craft form to experience. Explore the grains of northern birch as you learn safe lathe operation and turning techniques to turn a wooden bowl on the electric lathe. From tree to bowl, working with fresh cut…

Where did you get that bag? You can make it! Leather handbags are both durable and fashionable and need not have a fancy name brand to reflect your personal taste and preferences. Design and sew your very own handbags in this hands on course with Molly Grant, who has been…

Learn the foundational skills of hand sewn saddle stitched leatherwork as you make a small pocket wallet and a beautiful case for a journal. We will discuss construction, surface decoration, basic wet molding, and leather care, and you will leave with a case that will develop a deep, rich color…