UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
The Porcupine Mountains Folk School will be hosting a series of fun workshops throughout 2008. All have a limited number of spaces, and registrations are accepted on a first-come first-serve basis. To register, call 906-884-4188. Workshops are all held in the park at the Folk School Building, which is located near the Union Bay Campground and the Kaug Wudjoo Lodge, unless otherwise noted. Please scroll down to see all of our offerings.
Please note that in addition to the class fees, a Michigan State Parks motor vehicle permit (MVP) to enter the park will be collected along with your class registration and fees. More information about the permits can be found below.
To enroll, please call 906-884-4188, , or fill out the form on this page.
2009 Spring/Summer Class Schedule
Please call 906-884-4188 for more information
Please call to pre-register for classes
Pre-payment is required
------------ APRIL ------------
• Glass Bead Making with Sherrie McCabe •
Time: Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break
Cost: $75 for both days plus $30 for materials
Materials: All materials and safety equipment is provided
Minimum of five students, maximum six
Students will be provided detailed instruction in the safe operation of a torch and the traditional Italian methods used to melt glass and manipulate it to produce glass beads. We will use glass rods in a variety of colors to create designs and patterns. Techniques such as centering, shaping, applying dots and stripes, raking, feathering and plunging will be demonstrated and practiced. There will also be an introduction to sculptural beads.
• Shaker Box Making with Eric Pintar •
Time: Friday, April 10 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $75 for both days plus $40 for materials
This hands-on workshop is an opportunity for folks of all ages to learn the traditional craft of bending wood to make Shaker Oval Boxes. Each student will make a nest of five boxes in cherry wood. Close instruction each step of the way insures success in this event. No experience necessary due to the simplicity of the project. All will enjoy putting their hands to work and will delight in the finished boxes.
• Black Ash Basketry with April and Jarrod Stone Dahl •
Time: Saturday, April 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $50 plus $25 for materials
Course must hold six students
For this one-day workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of this form of traditional splint work. We will start with an in-depth description of the harvesting process followed by hands-on preparation of the raw material. Types of baskets, history, and stories will be shared and discussed throughout the day while participants weave a small basket of their own to take home.
• Beginning Spinning Techniques with Victoria Calhoun •
Time: Saturday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Cost: $20
Experience the process of spinning from beginning to end. This class will allow students to gain experience with every step from cleaning and carding wool to creating finished yarn using a drop spindle. A spinning wheel will also be on hand for students to try. Wool will be provided and equipment will be available for use during the class.
------------ MAY ------------
• Gardening with Frank Wardynski •
Time: Saturday, May 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $10
If you've never gardened before, here is your chance to learn how. Get started with your new garden by planning in the spring, developing your site, and learning the best things to plant in this region. If you have been gardening for years, this class will be a great place for you to learn how to improve your yields through composting and increased soil fertility. Now is the time to save money and turn the “current economic downturn” into an opportunity for a healthier lifestyle by gardening!
• Traditional Finnish Tree Carving with Pekka •
Time: Saturday, May 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $42 plus $13 for a carving knife, or students may use their own pocket knife with a 2-1/2- or 4-inch blade
Minimum of five students, maximum of eight
Students will leave this class having learned some of the basic techniques of an ancient Scandinavian art form. Every participant will carve a deceptively simple looking traditional Finnish evergreen tree while learning woodworking techniques that have been passed down for centuries and mastered by instructor Pete Olson (aka Pekka).
• Scandinavian Fan Bird Carving with Pekka •
Time: Saturday, May 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $42 plus $13 for a carving knife, or students may borrow one from the instructor
Minimum of five students, maximum of eight
Once again Pete Olson will share his knowledge by teaching ancient Scandinavian carving techniques. This class will feature delicately ornate fan birds. He stresses that these techniques are difficult to master. Expect to learn a new skill that you will want to spend the next several years honing!
• Watercolor Painting with Nancy McCabe •
Time: Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day with a one-hour lunch break
Cost: $75 for both days plus $25 for materials
Minimum of 5 students
This class is designed for both beginning and intermediate students. It is a no-pressure chance to create with watercolors. Students will be able to experiment with many different facets of painting, wet on wet, dry brush, lifting of colors, washes, and some just-for-fun painting techniques. The instructor will contact students about materials before the first day of the class.
------------ JUNE ------------
• Pet Care with Matt Sturmer •
Time: Wednesday, June 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $15 (children under 16 are free)
Minimum of 8 students, maximum of 30
Unravel the great mysteries of veterinary medicine. For example: Why does my pet need shots? What in the world is a DHLPP or a FVRCP? Learn the who, what, and where of common tests needed to help heal your sick pet. Discover the best food to feed your pet. Find out what to do when good dogs turn bad. Learn some basic first aid for your pets. Then pass the short quiz at the end of class and get your Pet Care Certification certificate, complete with a special souvenir. Please bring an unframed photograph of your pet(s) to class.
• Making Copper Bowls with Ed Gray •
Time: Saturday, June 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $45 plus $20 for materials
Please bring a sack lunch
Minimum of 8 students, maximum of 22
American Indians living in this region discovered outcroppings of native copper, which is almost entirely pure in its natural form. They forged tools from the copper to fit their life needs. In this workshop participants will follow the same ancient methods to create a beautiful and functional copper bowl. The bowl will be annealed by fire until the forming process is completed, and can then be embellished with beads, and/or found objects. The finished bowl will be about 6 inches in diameter.
• Creative Adventures in Nature with Maria Formolo •
Time: Saturday, June 20 from 3:00 p.m. to conclusion
Dinner break from 4:00-5:00 (a free dinner is provided to students of this and the copper bowl class, otherwise please provide your own food)
Cost: $15 (children under 12, accompanied by an adult, are free)
Minimum of 8 students, maximum of 16
Create with nature through storytelling, mask creation, dance, and voice. This workshop will begin with a storytelling event, followed by a walk through nature to gather mask materials. After materials are gathered, students will create characters for the final performance event. The finale will be the unique performance which results from the combined creativity of the group. Participants should bring writing materials anything they might want to include in their costume, musical instruments, other objects they would like, and, of course, any gear needed for the weather (or insects!) of the day.
• Breath Work with Marnie Polkky •
Time: Saturday, June 27 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $22.50
Minimum of 5 students, maximum of 10
------------ JULY ------------
• Felting with Heidi Bukoski •
Time: Saturday, July 11
Two classes: Rose from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Mitten/Slipper from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $40 for each class or $70 for both, plus $11 materials for the rose class and/or $12-15 for the mitten/slipper class
Minimum of 5 students
Choose to take one or both felting classes; both are suitable for beginning felters. In the first class, students will choose to make either mittens or slippers in black or white wool, embellished with bits of color. This will be accomplished using traditional wet felting techniques, starting with loose fibers, not knitted yard. In the second class, students will make a felted wool rose. This class covers both wet and dry felting techniques. The petals and leaves are wet felted and the flower is constructed using a felting needle.
• Encaustics with Melissa Hronkin •
Time: Friday, July 24 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $35 plus $10 for materials
Minimum of 5 students
Come and discover the sweetness and luminosity of working with the ancient and contemporary art of encaustics (pigmented beeswax) and beeswax collage! Participants will learn about the history of the medium and the honeybees that help create it. We will create several small-scale works in experimental encaustics, Xerox transfer, and mixed media collage. No experience required, just a sense of adventure! Check out the blog www.melissa-hronkin.blogspot.com for Melissa's work and links to encaustic information.
• Soap Making For Kids with Cameryn Polkky •
Time: Saturday, July 25 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $15 plus $5 for materials
Minimum of 5 students, maximum of 15
------------ AUGUST------------
• Writing Workshop with Rosalie Sanara Petrouske •
Time: Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9 with the option of attending on Monday and Tuesday
Cost: $52.50 for the weekend plus $30 a day for Monday and Tuesday
Minimum of 4 students, maximum of 15
Henry David Thoreau had the right idea. He spent his life observing and writing about the world around him. In this class, students will have the opportunity to discover the sacred in nature through observation, reading and writing poetry and prose. Participants will be given writing prompts that explore the sacredness of place, time, and objects found in nature. If the weather permits, a field trip may be scheduled to visit Lake of the Clouds where the class can write outdoors. Students should bring a notebook and pen or pencil, a photograph of a special place, and a treasured object that they have found in nature, such as a rock, a shell, a bird's nest, etc.
WORKSHOPS HELD THIS PAST WINTER:
• Christmas Wreaths and Swags with Heidi Held •
Time: Saturday, December 6 at 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $15 plus $2 materials fee
This class will meet at On the Noggin to gather materials before going to the Folk School. Bring back the tradition of Christmas as you learn to make your own holiday decorations using the beauty of nature. This class will begin with the collection of princess pine, evergreen boughs, and other decorative tidbits from nature. Students will then use these items to create wreaths and swags to decorate their homes or share with loved ones during the holiday season. Wire, twine, wreath forms, hot glue, and snowshoes (if needed) will be provided. Students should bring garden clippers, scissors, wire cutters, gloves, and bags for gathering materials. Bow making will be taught to interested students if they provide the ribbon.
• Making Plant Medicines: Herbal Teas with Andrea Corpolongo Smith •
Time: Saturday, December 13 at 2:00 p.m.
Cost: $30 plus $5 materials fee
Learn how to create a personalized herbal tea blend that nourishes your specific body type, helps to heal chronic discomforts, and tastes wonderful! Participants in this class will discuss several ways to recognize patterns of health and disease in themselves and those around them. Everyone will be given the opportunity to determine his or her constitutional type, identify potentially unbalanced organ systems in his or her body, and finally create, taste, and take home a personal tea blend. Proper methods for brewing medicinal teas will be discussed and handouts will be provided. The herbs covered in this class will include Dandelion, Nettle, Red Clover, Chamomile, Damiana, Scullcap, Licorice, Peppermint, and Rose.
• Twig Wreath Workshop with Wayne Walma and Pam Beal •
Time: Sunday, December 14 at 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $25 plus $10 materials fee
Materials: Participants should bring hand pruning shears if possible and work gloves if desired.
Wayne and Pam have been making beautiful birch twig wreaths for years. The inspiration for the design came from old-fashioned birch brooms. The wreaths are extremely durable and need minimal care. They make wonderful Christmas decorations but look at home when displayed year-round, indoors or out. Participants will have the opportunity to make a 14- or 16-inch wreath. Each student will cut and assemble his or her twigs and learn to operate the foot crimping machine. The final wreath will be simple and rustic, and further decorating options will be discussed. These wreaths make excellent gifts!
• Herbs for Stress Relief with Andrea Corpolongo Smith •
Time: Saturday, January 17 at 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $25
Learn to select and prepare common herbs to safely deflate some of the stress in your life. This class will introduce students to several readily available herbal teas and tinctures, such as catnip, lemon balm, chamomile, mint, motherwort, St. John’s Wort, sweet violet, kava kava, and more, that aid in sleep, reduce anxiety, or simply bring about calm deep breaths. Other safe and natural stress reduction techniques that complement the use of herbs will be discussed. Handouts and herb samples to taste and smell will be provided.
• Build Your Own Snowshoes with Jarrod Stone Dahl •
Time: January 24, 25, and 31, and February 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $235 for all four days plus $25 materials fee for nylon laces or $100 for babiche lacing
Minimum of four students, maximum of six
Participants will learn fundamentals of “green” woodworking skills while making these Ojibwe style snowshoes. Staves will be worked by the participants to rough size with final shaping by crooked knife or whittling knife. Steam bending the staves into jigs, nylon lacing, and finishing will follow. Handouts and in-depth discussion of styles, uses, history and stories will be shared during this four-day affair.
 
• Cross Country Skiing or “None of This No Wax Crap!” with Jim Waters •
Time: Saturday, February 7 at 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $10
Materials: Participants must bring their own waxable skis
This class is dependent on weather
This class will begin with a demonstration of the basics of cross-country ski waxing, during which everyone will have the opportunity to try it out on their own skis. Skiing techniques will be discussed, followed by a jaunt around Union Bay campground so students can put what they have learned into practice. As you can tell from the course title, the instructor politely requests that students bring only waxable skis.
• Build Your Own Toboggan with Jarrod Stone Dahl •
Time: Saturday and Sunday, February 21 and 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $125 for both days plus $45 materials fee
Minimum of four students, maximum of six
For this two-day workshop, participants will spend the first day learning about the type of wood being used while preparing their staves for steam bending. For assembly the second day, participants will attach cross bars using hand-peened copped rivets along with the rope and any other final touches. Everyone will leave this workshop with a finished 8-10’ long toboggan of their own.
• Herbs for Immune System Health with Andrea Corpolongo Smith •
Time: Saturday March 7 at 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $25
Modern medicines tend to shut down your body’s natural defenses, exhausting your immune system and making it harder for your body to fight infections. Students in this class will learn to use herbs to assist their bodies through the use of various alterative herbs. Topics such as making mucus secretions more effective at trapping and disposing of bacteria and viruses and enhancing fevers to “sweat out” colds and flus will be discussed. As always, handouts will be provided and herb samples will be available to taste and smell.
• Wooden Spoon Carving with Jarrod Stone Dahl •
Time: Saturday, March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $50 plus $15 materials fee if a spoon blank is desired
Minimum of five students, maximum seven
For this one-day workshop, participants will learn to make a spoon from a piece of firewood using axe, chisel, and knife. We will discuss form and shape while working with the grain and type of wood as several types of wood will be provided. Use of gouge and proper axemanship will be stressed. Spoon blanks are available to those with weaker hands or simply for a head start. Chip carving tools will also be available for those wishing to decorate their finished product.
• Food Preservation Basics with Joanne Pihlaja and Lucia Patritto •
Time: Wednesday, March 17 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 for adults, no course fee for students 12–19 if accompanied by an adult participant. A $20 materials fee is required for all participants
MSU Extension Regional Educator Joanne Pihlaja and Gogebic County Extension Director Lucia Patritto will demonstrate safe and efficient home canning and freezing and provide opportunity for hands-on learning. Participants will learn the basic techniques for sterilization of equipment, proper processing of preserves, sauces, fruits and vegetables, using the pressure canner, hot water bath and freezing methods, and how to prevent food-borne illness. Participants will make homemade salsa and freezer jam. Please bring your own apron if you are able to. All other materials will be provided. Adults are encouraged to bring a young person—at least 12 years old—to help promote these great food preservation methods among younger generations.
• Ukrainian Egg Decoration for Hobby and Fun with Jim Michie and Jody Maloney •
Time: Sunday, March 22 at 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $10 plus $20 materials fee
Learn the basics necessary for you to embark on lifelong enjoyment of decorating eggs in the Ukrainian style, also known as Pysanky. Jim and Jody will show you the basic tools and techniques for dyeing your own Ukrainian Eggs, and you can enjoy making several of your own in time for Easter. This class is for beginners, but experienced egg makers are always welcome to share knowledge and tips. Participants will receive their own kits, which include all of the necessary tools, waxes, and dyes. Eggs will be provided.
Minimum of five students. Please register at least two weeks in advance to guarantee adequate materials.
• Dog Sledding with Robyn Smith •
Time: Saturday, March 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break
Cost: $60 per person; children 12 and under are free with a participating adult. Children 12 and under will not be admitted without an adult.
Maximum of 12 adults plus accompanying children. Please remember to dress for the weather—the afternoon will be spent outside!
This is a hands-on introduction to dog sledding class. Have you ever wanted to meet a real sled dog? This is the class for you! You will learn what makes a sled dog, what they eat, how to put a harness on a dog, how to hook the dog up to the gangline, and how to drive a dogsled.
What To Bring:
Winter: In the winter, come dressed and prepared for lake-effect snows! Our building is quite warm, but you may want to get out and enjoy the fresh air. (Winter interpretive programs) We recommend bringing boots, a warm coat, a hat, gloves/mittens, and a scarf. You may want to think about bringing cross-country skis or snowshoes to enjoy an afternoon hike or lantern light skiing on Saturdays from 7 to 9 p.m.
Summer: Please bring your favorite folding chair, bug dope, sunscreen, sunglasses, an extra layer of clothing, and a rain jacket. There are lots of things to see and do in the park after hours; it stays light until about 9:30 p.m. (Interpretive programs) The Porcupine Mountains Folk School site is quite close to Lake Superior, so be prepared for cool mornings.
What to bring in all seasons: We also ask that you bring a bag lunch or some money to purchase lunch from one of the local eateries. We will provide menus, phone numbers, and driving directions for each. All locations are within 5-15 minutes of the Folk School. Meals are quite affordable ($5-$15), and some of the restaurants will deliver. We have a refrigerator to store lunches and beverages. Bottled water, coffee, tea, and a variety of sodas will be available throughout the day. In addition to these items, some workshops require other materials. Please check the details below. If needed, bring personal safety equipment (eye protection, hard hat, gloves). We will have some of these items if you do not bring them, but please bring gloves. You will be attending class in a Michigan state park; a motor vehicle permit will be required. They can be purchased at the park office or campground. No smoking please.
MOTOR VEHICLE PERMITS (MVP)
Annual Motor Vehicle Permits give each vehicle’s occupants access to any of the 97 state parks throughout 2008 except the three Mackinac Island Historic State Parks. All vehicles registered in Michigan will qualify for a resident MVP. As part of your Folk School fee, you can choose to pay for an MVP when you register for a workshop if you do not already have a sticker. We can have the stickers (except Senior Annuals*) available for you upon your arrival to your workshop. Alternatively, you may purchase your MVP sticker on-line at the DNR E-Store. You may also call 517-373-9900 with a valid credit card and order your annual sticker by mail.
Here is a complete breakdown of the permit pricing for 2008:
Annual Resident: $24
Annual Non-Resident: $29
Daily Resident: $6
Daily Non-Resident: $8
Senior Annual*: $6
Towed Vehicle: $6
Commercial Coach Daily: $15
*In order to qualify for a Senior Annual permit, the individual must be over the age of 65 and must have a car registered in Michigan to establish residence. You must present documents indicating proof of age (such as a driver’s license) and vehicle registration when purchasing a Senior MVP. Parks will sell a Senior MVP when the names on these documents are the same. The Senior MVP immediately must be installed on the vehicle. These permits are not available by mail.
To reach us at the Folk School call 906-884-4188.
The Porcupine Mountains Folk School is sponsored in cooperation with the Porcupine Mountains State Park and the Friends of the Porkies, whose mission is to promote and enhance the use of the Porkies. The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural resources for current and future generations.
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