North House Folk School

Overview

Discover the local ecology and geology of this dynamic environment during a very special weekend that celebrates our northern landscapes. Students in classes will learn about the language of birds, forage for spring wild edibles, identify mosses and lichens, capture the perfect nature photograph, and be inspired by the magic of seasonal ponds! Special guest scientists, authors, and artists will gather for a public panel on Friday to talk about how seasonal ponds have inspired a powerful creative project, and Saturday evening, dive deep into the wonders of seasonal ponds of the north woods with our visiting ecologists.

Course Offerings for Northern Landscapes Festival can be found below. Registration for courses opens August 27 for members and August 28 for everyone.

Free programs

The Intersection of Art and Science: Refugia, The Seasonal Pond Project Panel Presentation

Kristen Anderson, Sue Eggert, Betsy Colburn, Susan Hawkinson, and Loree Miltich

Friday, May 29 | 7pm | Blue Building

What can the outdoors teach us about creatively navigating the ups and downs of modern life? With this mindset, fiber artist Kristen Anderson turned to nature for peace and artistic inspiration to work through the challenges of a family member’s cognitive decline diagnosis and make art. While learning about wetlands, she connected the rich, biodiverse seasonal pond ecosystems to remaining vibrant pockets of memory not yet taken by dementia in her loved one. She enlisted the help of a willing scientist to guide her into a seasonal pond ecosystem and help shape the content of her work. The project evolved into a collaborative art series and a ripple effect of inspiration for creative writers who also experienced the wonder of the ponds and the meaning within the project. The artists and scientists will share their experience of working together to honor both the mind and seasonal pond ecosystems with the visual art and poetry that grew out of the partnership.

Kristen Anderson is a fiber artist working in felt whose time in the seasonal ponds led to a series of 14 tapestries. Susan Hawkinson and Loree Miltich are writers who have created a double-voiced poem in response to the feltwork. Sue Eggert and Betsy Colburn have spent years studying and writing about life in inland waters, especially headwater streams and small seasonal ponds. They share a passion for aquatic insects and delight in introducing others to the amazing variety of freshwater life.

Seasonal Ponds of the North Woods: Hotspots of Life

Betsy Colburn and Sue Eggert

Saturday, May 30 | 7pm | Blue Building

Seasonal ponds of the northern woodlands are hidden jewels. For a few months each year, they provide an irreplaceable home to fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, water fleas, water boatmen, caddisfly larvae, phantom midge larvae, diving beetles, snails and fingernail clams, wood frog tadpoles, salamander larvae, and dozens of other unique animals. Join ecologists and authors Betsy Colburn and Sue Eggert and explore the habitat features, animals and their adaptations to seasonal change, and conservation needs of these magical aquatic habitats nestled in the northern forest.

Both Betsy and Sue have spent years studying life in inland waters, especially headwater streams and small seasonal ponds. They share a passion for aquatic insects and delight in introducing others to the amazing variety of freshwater life. Both have written extensively about under-recognized and unappreciated small water bodies, including many published papers. Betsy’s book, Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation, is a valuable resource on all aspects of seasonal ponds. On Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, Betsy and Sue will teach a hands-on course called The Magic of Northern Seasonal Ponds.