Courses

The spring migration of birds can be overwhelming, with multitudes of different species singing and passing by all at once. While it is exciting to finally catch of glimpse of a rare warbler, it is just as good to finally know the difference between a Downy and Hairy Woodpecker, or…

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…

Spring in northeastern Minnesota is truly alive with life. After a winter of cold and white, there is a veritable explosion of all things feathered. The Boreal Birding Workshop is field focused, offering students a rare opportunity to immerse in this world and develop an appreciation for the wide range…

Fall birding deep in the boreal forest on the edge of the Boundary Waters offers a tremendous time to spot neo-tropical migrants during the peak of migration. Held at historic Gunflint Lodge, this unique offering will immerse students in the pristine wilderness of the Gunflint Trail with esteemed Minnesota birder…

It's June and here they come, the plants are coming! This course heads into the woods just as the plant life is bursting and take a detailed look at the structures and relationships of what’s in the boreal forest, as well as the general plant ecology of the environment. Day…

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…

Enjoy excellent spring birding in a truly spectacular location on the iconic Gunflint Trail. In this course, part of the Up the Trail series, students will take advantage of the spring migration and enjoy being in the field on the edge of the Boundary Waters. Based out of Gunflint Lodge,…

Often overlooked and clearly underappreciated, our lichens, mosses, and ferns are wonderfully diverse and surprisingly beautiful. We will explore habitats from the shore of Lake Superior to inland forests and rocky outcrops. Practice with tools and techniques that will catapult you from nerdy novice to local respected authority (you'll amaze…

North House Folk School is excited to partner with Sugarloaf: The North Shore Stewardship Association and University of Minnesota-Extension to host the Northwoods-Great Lakes Master Naturalist Volunteer Training Course on the spectacular North Shore of Lake Superior. Dig into northern ecology in this five day immersion course that offers a…

The woods-- we're surrounded on three sides here in Grand Marais, but there's much more to understand than simply trees. Join Featured Guest Lee Frelich of the U of MN Center for Forest Ecology for an in-the-field introduction to Forest Ecology. After a brief introductory session, students will carpool to…

Nature has its own rhythms and these days, it can be hard to predict! Phenology is the recording of the natural calendar—the arrival times of various migrating birds, lake ice-outs, blooming dates of wildflowers, harvest times for crops, and tree leaves changing color in the fall are all events that…

Lace up some sturdy footwear and head into the field to be immersed in the fascinating geology of the North Shore with UMD geology professor Jim Miller. Using only your powers of observation, we will “read” the rocks ​along the Lake Superior ​shoreline ​to unravel ​its billion year-old​ geological story…

How many times have you walked along a cobbled beach or a rocky ledge along the North Shore and wondered: What’s this rock? Where did it come from? Why is it here? And Lake Superior agates – what do they look like? Where do I find them? How do they…