North House Folk School - Courses, Classes, Workshops

The Harvest: Preparing For Birch Bark Canoe Construction

Boatbuilding

Erik Simula

The intrigue of building a birch bark canoe lies in the fact that all the necessary materials can be sustainably harvested from a healthy boreal forest: birch bark, cedar, spruce root and spruce gum. During this class, you'll spend two days in a variety of forest habitats harvesting these matrials and preparing them. For anyone seriously considering construction of a birch bark canoe, mastering the harvest process is an essential step. There are many misconceptions that a birch bark canoe is easy to build. Harvesting the right materials poorly will cost you dearly. In an apprenticeship-type of learning environment, Erik will pass along the required skills to create a desired length and shape of a finished canoe by better understanding what materials are available and what it takes to harvest those materials properly.

Dates

No classes currently scheduled

Course Details

Length in days:

Hours:

9am-5pm

Tuition:

$170.00 per student (Regular rate)

Materials:

Included

Levels:

Beginner to Advanced

Age with adult:

14+ (Review age guidelines/policy)

Making it happen:

When should I enroll?
We can't hold classes without students! Decisions regarding course cancellations (as related to minimum enrollment) are made three weeks before the class starts--so if you've got a course in mind, plan ahead and sign up at least three weeks in advance! That way we'll know you're coming, courses are more likely to meet minimum enrollment numbers, and then they'll actually take place.
Also watch for the words "nearly full" next to course dates. When that notation appears it means there are only one or two spots left--so sign up soon!
Do you take last minute registrations?
Of course! Although it's important that courses meet minimum enrollment three weeks before their scheduled start dates, we know that life doesn't always allow for prior planning. As long as there are still spots left in a course we're happy to accept your registration last minute.
When will new course dates be posted?
New course dates are posted both in the spring and fall to coordinate with our course catalog release dates. All the new dates are opened for enrollment on the same day and at the same time, so that everyone gets a fair crack at a spot in the courses they're interested in. As that time rolls around we announce when the new dates will "go live" in our e-newsletter. (sign up here!)

The Harvest: Preparing For Birch Bark Canoe Construction