Spring is an explosion of life in the North! Discovering the birds, wildflowers, insects and more of this dynamic and rich northern landscape is the focus of this festival. Participation in the festival is open to anyone interested in hands-on learning and curious about the dynamics of the northern landscape.

This year's course offerings allow nature-lovers the chance to explore the North Shore and learn more about the local ecology and geology. Discover the language of birds, forage for spring wild edibles, and learn the identifications and uses of many local plants.

Schedule of Events:

Course Offerings:

9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Botany for Naturalists, Ecologists, and Herbalists
Instructor: Cynthia Lane

Take your botanical chops to the next level with plant taxonomic skills—the foundation of any plant-based practice. A weekend intensive designed to provide natural resource professionals, master naturalists, and herbalists with a solid basis in botanical science. Through the course, you will learn terms for key plant structures, characteristics of common plant families, and how to use dichotomous keys. We will spend the mornings in a lecture-lab setting, then head out on field trips to forests and wetlands in the Grand Marais area to observe and study plant structures in a natural setting. This course is geared towards students interested in learning technical botanical terms, plant taxonomy, and using botanical keys. A knowledge of local flora, experience identifying plants with image-based field guides, or similar experience will be an asset as the course is intensive. Students should have the ability to sit in a classroom setting for 2-4 hours (with breaks) and walk several hundred feet or more into a forest, bog, or other settings off-trail and over uneven terrain.

Required Tools:

A 10x hand lens; a few options are:

Wanapure 10× Metal Jewelry Loop Magnifier, Jewelers Eye Loupe: $15
Ade Advanced Optics 10x21TB-A Triplet Professional Loupe: $25
BelOMO Jewelers Loupe 10x Triplet Magnifier 21mm (.85"): $40
Note: A 20x hand lens is useful to have in addition to the 10x, but is not required.

Clipboard and paper, or hard covered notebook to take notes in the field
Sturdy boots for hiking on the Saturday field trip, rubber boots for the Sunday field trip may be useful, depending on recent rainfall
Hat, long pants, and long sleeve shirt to protect from sun and bugs
Rain gear
Backpack to carry water and snacks
Insect repellent and head net
Required book: "Botany in a Day", Thomas Elpel

Optional Tools:

Recommended book: "Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary", by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris
Camera or phone to take photos
Baggies and sharpie to collect plant samples

Tuition: $230.00
Materials fee: $5.00

Register Here

9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Northwoods Nature Through the Lens
Instructor: David Brickner

The beauty of the Northwoods inspires countless photographers in all seasons. And now that everyone carries a smartphone, taking a quick snapshot is easier than ever. For those who would like to move beyond smartphone photography and learn to use a DSLR or mirrorless camera to capture the beauty they discover, this course offers an introduction to nature photography.

This course is designed for beginners and those newer to photography. We’ll spend time getting to know our cameras, including learning the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—the key to creating a well-exposed photo. We will also cover gear, composition, editing, and organizing. It will be a mix of time in the classroom and time outside. This course is designed to be hands-on with time spent learning concepts in the classroom before heading outside to practice. We will explore several scenic locations in and around Grand Marais, capturing whatever catches our eye—landscapes, waterfalls, the scenic shoreline of Lake Superior, birds, and maybe a few mammals. On the final day of class, we’ll practice using editing tools like Adobe Lightroom and share some of our favorite photos.

Students should be comfortable hiking 3-4 miles during the course of the day over uneven terrain and come prepared for varied weather conditions.

This course is open to students ages 12+ if accompanied by an adult.

Required Tools:

A camera body and lens that you own
Tripod
Extra batteries and memory cards  
Rain gear,
Long sleeves
Long pants
Hat
Bug net
Sunscreen
Bug repellent
Hiking boots/shoes

Optional Tools:

While not required, a laptop or tablet for uploading and editing photos will be helpful for our final day of class as we will be spending time learning about editing software (specifically Adobe Lightroom). Feel free to bring any additional photography gear that you own and want to practice with and/or need help with. This may include additional lenses, filters, etc.

Tuition: $210.00

Register Here

9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Puukko Knife: Forge Your Own
Instructor: Robert Burns

For hundreds of years the puukko knife has been the prized tool of northern Europe and Scandinavia for its versatility and simple elegance. In this course, students will be introduced to the traditional techniques and fundamentals of knifemaking while learning how to produce a fully functional tool that will last a lifetime. Over the five days of the class, students will learn how to forge a blade, heat treat, make a handle, and sharpen the new blade. In addition to these practical skills, we will discuss the history of knifemaking and how to design a knife with intentionality. This course will be well suited to beginners all the way to advanced students. This course is open to students ages 14-15 if accompanied by an adult. A 25% tuition discount applies to the youth registrant when registering with a full paying adult; call to register. Students ages 16 and up may attend on their own.

We will be using hammers and working around fire/heat while standing on concrete throughout the day, so some degree of physical stamina is required. This course is designed so that the most physically demanding day will be the first day with a transition to more fine-hand skills.

Required Tools:

All natural clothing (no synthetic fabrics can be worn in the shop due to fire safety)
Work boots (preferably with steel toe)
Hearing and eye protection will be provided, but you may bring your own for fit and comfort

Optional Tools:

A favorite forging hammer
Personal tongs
Personal files
Personal Apron

Tuition: $575.00
Materials fee: $225.00

Register Here

8:30 am - 5:00 pm: What's this Rock Too? Central North Shore's Geologic Story
Instructor: Jim Miller

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?” Well, lace up some sturdy footwear and head into the field to be immersed in the fascinating geology of the central part of Minnesota's North Shore with UMD emeritus geology professor Jim Miller. This is a second in the “What's This Rock?” series of coursework, but does not need to be taken sequentially. This course will focus on “reading” rocks that tell part of the billion-year-old geological story of the Lake Superior area—a tale of fire and ice. However, What's This Rock Too will visit roadcuts and shoreline exposures that illustrate the volcanic and glacial history of the central part of Minnesota's North Shore. After an introductory presentation on Friday night, the class will travel by mini bus to Tettegouche State Park on Saturday morning and visit classic North Shore exposures on the way back to Grand Marais. The field trip will include stops at Tettegouche State Park, Caribou River, Sugarloaf Interpretive Center, and Temperance River State Park. Sunday morning class will carpool and start out with a hike up the Cascade River, followed by viewing roadcuts of the gemstone Thomsonite, and then rock-hounding on the shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais. After this excursion, you’ll never see the North Shore the same way again, too! Students ages 12 and up are welcome to participate with an adult; a 25% tuition discount applies; call to register. The materials fee for this class includes the cost of transportation on Saturday to sites to reduce the driving necessary for this course and to promote group discussions.

Note, field stops on Saturday and Sunday will visit roadcuts along Highway 61 as well as rock exposures along or near the shore.  Most stops will involve short walks (<.25 mile) along roads or hiking trails with slight to moderate inclines and several stops will require walking along cobbled beaches or uneven rock surfaces. As such, participants with mobility issues or a poor sense of balance are discouraged from participating

Required Tools:

Sturdy Footwear
Rain Gear
Hat
Water Bottle
Lunch for Saturday

Optional Tools:

Camera  
For safety reasons, rock hammers are not allowed
All participants will be given a high-visibility orange vest to wear during field stops

Tuition: $230.00
Materials fee: $35.00

Register Here

9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Wool: The Full Experience
Instructors: Elise Kyllo, Heidi Quist

Wool is an incredibly versatile, durable, and beautiful fiber that is surprisingly easy to make into fabric. Start at the very beginning of the process in this team-taught class, as we shear sheep from Prairie Willows Farm and then go through processing wool, step by step together; shearing, skirting, washing, drying, carding, making batts, spinning, and finally felting. Once the wool is processed and sdivided amongst the class, we will learn and practice the very foundation of making fabric; spinning fibers, which leads to knitting and weaving.  We will also work on the ancient method of making fabric, wet felting.

Wet felting wool pre-dates weaving and knitting and has recently seen a resurgence of popularity, as it is relatively easy and extremely versatile. Students will go home with new skills and one substantial wet-felted project. The course will be led by two fiber experts: Elise Kyllo, a former artist in residence at North House Folk School, specializing in wet felting, and Heidi Quist, a shepherdess from central Minnesota who raises sheep and is in charge of bringing and shearing the wooly guests of honor. This is a unique opportunity to immerse fully in wool craft and connect directly to the source. This course is open to students ages 12+ if accompanied by an adult. A 25% tuition discount applies to the youth registrant when registering with a full paying adult; call to register.

Required Tools:

2 large towels
Clothes that can get dirty/wet or an apron
Plastic bags to bring your wet projects home

Optional Tools:

Feel free to bring your favorite tools and whatever materials you might feel appropriate for this course. Apron, rubber gloves, etc. If you have your own carders and spinning tools you may bring them. Also, feel free to bring your own raw wool that may be processed and felted with, if suitable for felting.

Tuition: $345.00
Materials fee: $70.00

Register Here

9:00 am - 4:00 pm: Lichens: Pioneers of the North Woods
Instructor: Joe Walewski

Often overlooked and clearly underappreciated, our lichens 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. Bring a camera, notebook, and curiosity. Casual strolls through the park will never be the same again. Joe remarks, "I love lichens and so will you!!"

Required Tools:

Comfortable shoes
Clothing layers for any weather
Rain gear if needed
Water
Snacks

Tuition: $115.00

Register Here

7:00 am - 3:00 pm: Spring Birding on the North Shore
Instructor: Michael Karns

Spring offers excellent birding opportunities on the North Shore. With the arrival of warblers and other migrants, there is the potential to see an unusual number of species in a short amount of time. Join Michael Karns, avid outdoorsman and life-long birder for a day-long exploration of a variety of habitats. His approach to birding is equally appropriate for beginning or experienced birders. This class will take place primarily in the field, and participants will carpool to several nearby locations. Students should be prepared for hiking distances of up to a mile over uneven ground and all the charms of the spring forest, including bugs and rain. Youth ages 12-17 are welcome to participate with an adult. Youth qualify for a 25% intergenerational discount; call to register.

Required Tools:

Participants should wear clothing & footwear appropriate for a variety of field conditions, and bring a backpack with water, snacks and a lunch. Other personal items like sunscreen, bug spray and rain jacket may be advisable.
Binoculars

Tuition: $115.00

Register Here

9:00 am - 5:00 pm: The Modern Summer Pantry
Instructor: Lisa Golden Schroeder

Dive into a weekend kitchen lab that makes the most of harvests from the garden, farmers market, a CSA box, or foraged wild foods, all as they reach their peak. Play with updated ways of food preservation that will stock your pantry shelves year round, adding color and flavor to summertime grilling, as well as taking you into those cooler, comfort food days of the late autumn and winter. Experience a hands-on exploration of creating jars and bottles of special seasonings and condiments you won’t find at the grocery store. Among some of the new pantry essentials might be savories like quick-pickled wild mushrooms, fermented vegetable krauts & relishes, quick sweet-savory vegetable catsups, or prairie and spice grill rubs. Stir up some summer northland edibles like wild berry syrups to drizzle into patio cocktails, herb or spicy floral-infused honeys for toast or tea, or a rhubarb chutney to spoon onto local cheeses, grilled meats, or curries. Be ready to try new flavors! Students age 12+ may register for this course.

Required Tools:

Assorted containers for bringing food home (more details to come from the instructor before class time)
A basket or box for those containers

Optional Tools:

Your favorite apron, if you wish

Tuition: $160.00
Materials fee: $88.00

Register Here

9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Advanced Door Construction Service Learning Project
Instructor: Randy Schnobrich

Much of North House’s beautiful campus has been shaped by the talented hands of our students. From timberframes to bread ovens, the work of our community has left a legacy. We’re looking for some moderately experienced woodworkers to join in on the efforts and build several sturdy exterior doors in this hands-on workshop. As a group, we’ll build several doors with large windows that will welcome students and visitors alike. The techniques and skills we'll cover are easily transferable to interior doors, including mortise & tenon joinery. Door finishing, hardware, and hanging will also be discussed. Lunch on days one and two is on us!

Required Tools:

Tape Measure
6" Square
Eye Protection*
Ear Protection*
*provided, but you may wish to bring your own for fit and comfort

Tuition: $50.00

Register Here