North House Folk School - Courses, Classes, Workshops

Birch Bark Canoes: From Harvest to Construction

Boatbuilding

Erik Simula

Explore the history, construction and use of the Native American birch bark canoe in this hands-on course. Paddled for centuries on the lakes and rivers of the interior, all the necessary materials can be sustainably harvested from a healthy boreal forest: birch bark, cedar, spruce root and spruce gum. During the course you will work on several birch bark canoes in different stages of construction. Coursework includes harvesting and processing materials, canoe design characteristics, hand tool usage, traditional construction techniques, and historical use. This is a rare learning opportunity for anyone interested in the construction and history of the birch bark canoe.

Dates

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 - Fri, Jun 22, 2012 Nearly Full

(Early bird tuition deadline: 05/08/12)

Course Details

Length in days:

Hours:

9am-5pm

Tuition:

$360.00 per student (Regular rate)
$340.00 per student (Early-bird rate)

Levels:

Beginner to Advanced

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!)

Birch Bark Canoes: From Harvest to Construction