Courses

Try your hand at a simple bead weaving project in this one day introductory course. This project is based on a traditional amulet-style bag design Marcie learned from her grandmother, intended to be worn as a necklace. Students will complete and embellish a 2”x2” lined deerskin bag in a lacy-netted…

Brightly colored seed beads have been used to embellish and brighten clothing and homegoods for centuries. Learn to make a beaded doily in this short class and experiment with color and pattern repetition to create a unique piece. Beadwork artist Marcie McIntire will provide instruction and materials for creating these…

If you're curious about weaving on a floor loom but not quite ready to make the investment or if you have a floor loom but haven't quite mastered it, this course provides an oppoortunity to experience a variety of equipment and techniques. Students will learn about weaving including a brief…

Minnesota's history is interwoven with the history of hat-making. Europe's hunger for beaver felt top hats drove the voyageurs into the heart of fur country. Most of the fur traded at Grand Portage eventually became felt hats. There is no softer, warmer or more pliant fiber as fur-felt. We will…

Go behind the scenes of North House’s Birch Bark Bash fundraising dinner with Chef Scott Graden of New Scenic Cafe. Scott will take you step by step through the process of preparing (and eating) the delicious meal. The class will include a pecan tartlet topped with onion soubise, fig jam,…

Fully experience the craft of making a traditional birch bark basket for the gathering and storage of berries or anything you please. This course includes time focused both on basket making and on material preparation. Day one includes an extended session in the woods to harvest the birch bark in…

Explore the history, construction and use of the Native American birch bark canoe in this hands-on course. Paddled for centuries on the lakes and rivers of the interior, all the necessary materials can be sustainably harvested from a healthy boreal forest: birch bark, cedar, spruce root and spruce gum. During…

Most birds are not known for sitting still. By learning to recognize their songs, calls and the habitats they live in, you can have a satisfying birding experience every time you step outdoors, with or without your binoculars! In this one day workshop we’ll travel to various habitats and birding…

Most birds are not known for sitting still. By learning to recognize their songs and calls and the habitats they live in, you can have a satisfying birding experience every time you step outdoors, with or without your binoculars! In this morning workshop we’ll travel to various habitats in Cook…

Many birds have left the area for their wintering grounds, but while the number of bird species may have dwindled, the possibility of spotting rarities increases during the late fall migration. On this birding scavenger hunt, we will search the Lake Superior shoreline and adjacent land areas for waterfowl and…

Soup and bread are some of the most elemental comfort foods; rediscover how good these staples can be – in distinctly French fashion – with Chef Scott Graden of New Scenic Cafe. Class will start by preparing a country sourdough and the quintessential baguette. While it rises, Scott will lead…

The market basket will take you many places: from the market to the beach, from picnics to the grocery stores. This course is an introduction to the awesome qualities of the ash tree, which we will use for both weaving the basket and making the handles. We will prepare the…

The black ash pack basket: It's beautiful, highly functional, and can be made using simple materials. The first part of the class will be spent preparing black ash splint for your basket by pounding a locally harvested log. Next, you'll weave the basket and finish it with a rim, handle,…

Outfit your own blacksmithing tool chest while developing and refining your skills on the forge. In this course, you will create the set of tools needed to become a backyard blacksmith, while simultaneously learning the basics of blacksmithing. Initial tool projects will include tongs and fire-tending tools. Heat treatment, forging,…

Always wanted to try your hand at the forge? This is the place to start and continue to develop your blacksmithing skills. You will be introduced to the basic skills of the blacksmith including safety, fire control, tools and equipment in both a classroom and 'on the forge' setting. Student…