Courses

Since at least 300 AD, the birch bark and sod roof has been the most important roof type in Scandinavia for heated homes. The sod both insulates and protects the waterproof bark layer from sunlight and wind. This combination can last 50-70 years before the birch bark needs replacing. The…

The Norwegian countryside is scattered with eye-catching wooden structures with sod roofs, steeped in the history of families making their living in the beautiful but harsh landscape. Reaching back centuries, each structure was designed and constructed for a specific purpose: storing grain, livestock, textiles, or even serving as the wedding…

Considering when and where to start on that big cabinet project you want to build and install?  Start here.  Before you jump into a big project, learn the basic techniques, tools and equipment used by both traditional and contemporary cabinet makers.  As a class project, each student builds a pine…

Make your mark at North House by carving signs for campus! Put your carving skills to good use or learn the basics of incise carving – letters, numbers and other forms – while creating unique signs that will direct students and visitors at North House. A useful course for woodworkers…

Woodenware has been embellished since Ancient Egypt: by adding color, pattern and texture, a finished piece reflect the taste, culture and interests of you, the maker. We will look to natural world for inspiration and also learn how to navigate the extensive collections of folk art available in digital archives…

Create beautiful and useful things for your kitchen using simple hand tools and birch wood. Participants in this course will be introduced to the Swedish traditions of ‘köksredskap,' or the process of carving functional utensils, including butterknives, small spoons or bread boards. Students will start by splitting a green log,…

The spoon is in the eye of the beholder. A crooked branch can become a perfect ladle; a slight bend makes a lovely eating spoon. Enjoy three days of handwork in this greenwood carving class focused on ladles and spoons. Working with birch, you’ll use simple hand tools and carving…

North House Folk School is delighted to welcome Drew Langsner to campus for the first time to teach a course in bowl making. Drew has been well-known in the traditional craft world for decades as the founder of Country Workshops, a school devoted to the teaching of traditional woodworking with…

Traditional northern craft meets Don Draper? Fedoras are definitely back in fashion, DIY is all the rage, and in this fun course you can combine them both. Put a northern twist on a southern hat weaving tradition and make a woven cattail hat to protect yourself from the sun during…

With more than just aesthetic appeal, cedar-strip boats are known for being lightweight, strong and quick to build. Gain the know-how and confidence to complete a boat project in your own backyard through seven days of hands-on instruction building a tandem canoe with other students. Techniques involve setting up the…

Enjoy the contrast of light and dark wooden strips, the quiet lapping of water on wood, and the pride of craftsmanship that stems from building your own cedar-strip boat. From start to finish, cut thin cedar planks and learn to assemble an appealing pattern for your canoe or kayak. Students…

Felt is a non-woven fabric that utilizes the ability of microscopic scales on wool fiber to attach and hold together firmly. Cobweb felting is an advanced form of felting that is made with a single layer of wool – sheer, but sturdy enough to hold together well. Cobweb felt is…

Composite canoes are light, efficient and paddle like a dream. But canoe country granite can chew them up if you’re not careful. It can seem a bit daunting to use modern resins and fabrics but fear not. We’ll take the mysteries out of repairing that faithful paddling friend safely with…

Spend a fun evening in the kitchen as you learn new cooking skills and share great culinary fun with other students who love to cook. In this hands-on, participatory cooking class, you’ll prepare and enjoy a delicious summer evening meal, including wine pairings and craft brews. Take home a recipe packet…

Coopering — the craft of joined wooden staves to create a vessel — was an integral skill in many cultures worldwide; from Japan to Ireland, every meal had a food or drink that had at some point been stored in a coopered vessel. The skill and product is still relevant…