Courses

Learn blacksmithing through making several small household items from the Viking age. This class will utilize traditional hand forging techniques to produce everyday iron items typical of those found in the archaeological record from 9th century Sweden. Over the course of three days, students will forge a cloak pin, a…

Ten centuries may have passed since the Viking age, but some things remain the same:  the components of knife-making: fire, steel, skilled knowledge and effort and the usefulness of a small pocket knife. This class will utilize traditional hand forging techniques to produce small Viking age knife blades typical of…

This course is intended is an extension of the Viking-Era Smelting course. Take your raw bloom the next step and make it into useable steel. Students will learn how to consolidate the bloom, fold it and forge weld it until it becomes a useable high carbon steel bar from which…

Eastern European cultures are a treasure chest of delicious foods that have found their way, pre-made and packaged, onto grocery store shelves. This class returns these foods to their handmade origins. We’ll make noodles from various grains; bring your biceps because we’re using rolling pins! We’ll explore some regional dumplings…

Have you ever collected perfectly smooth, round pebbles from the shores of Lake Superior or other places in the world and then wondered what to do with them?  This course offers the perfect solution.  Students will spend an hour or so the first day gathering pebbles and then will use…

Head up the trail and experience the unique and ancient geology of the Gunflint area. We are pleased to partner with Gunflint Lodge to offer students an opportunity to immerse in the rich history of this special area using one of Minnesota's premier wilderness resorts as a home base for…

Before Sketch Up and other CAD programs, timber framers brought a low-tech but highly skilled approach to layout. Techniques for lay-out varied depending on geography: German methods, French methods, Japanese methods and American methods all differ. Using the method he learned in German trade school, instructor Gerald David will lead…

While quinoa and red rice are grabbing all the headlines, our farmers are planting grains that are delicious, easy to use and as super-healthy as any of the “super foods” shipped in from far away.  These grains are low-fat, high protein, and loaded with minerals and vitamins and antioxidants, known…

Grand Marais & Beyond is a unique opportunity to photograph and explore the pristine shores of Lake Superior with editorial photographer Layne Kennedy (www.laynekennedy.com). The course is designed for the enthusiastic photographer, amateur or professional, with an emphasis on storytelling with your photography. At the conclusion of the workshop, each…

Grand Marais & Beyond is a unique opportunity to photograph and explore the pristine shores of Lake Superior with editorial photographer Layne Kennedy (www.laynekennedy.com). The course is designed for the enthusiastic photographer, amateur or professional, with an emphasis on storytelling with your photography. At the conclusion of the workshop, each…

Create the traditional paddle used by Northwoods travelers for hundreds of years. In this course, a North House classic, students will learn about wood selection and wood grain considerations as well as paddle sizing and the theory of shape as applied to handles, shafts and blades. Choose from a variety…

It may never have occurred to you, but puppets and oven mitts are very closely related. They are both made of colorful wool, both are wet felted around a resist, and with a little imagination, they both can talk. Is an oven mitt just a shy puppet or is a…

Experience traditional broom making from start to finish as you prepare broomcorn and tree sapling handles and explore design and construction methods. This two-day introduction to broom-making will cover a variety of styles including full sized sweeping brooms, whisks, cobwebbers, and more as time allows. Students will explore the usefulness…

This class is just what the title suggests- making a knife that is meant to be used- in the garden or forest, for cooking or hunting. We will begin by hand-forging a blade of high-carbon steel, starting from round stock. With the blade forged to shape, we will do heat…

Forget about stepping out of bed onto cold floors on wintery mornings—these hand-crafted cozy slippers will keep your feet toasty all year long. Sew your own custom pair of leather slippers, lined with soft fur and finished with non-slip soles to make them perfect house shoes. Leatherworking and shoemaking techniques…