North House Folk School - Courses, Classes, Workshops

Bows and Arrows: Crafting a Traditional Longbow and Arrow Making

Outdoor Skills & Travel, Woodworking & Furniture Craft

Rick Yonker

This course takes students through the step-by-step process of crafting a wooden longbow, wooden-shafted arrow and bow string. To facilitate learning about constructing a traditional bow, students start with a rough-cut stave of hickory. Bows are backed with flax-fiber linen. Arrows include field point and feathers. String is made using the traditional Flemish twist technique. Throughout the course participants learn the basics of working wood with a drawknife, carpenter's scraper and other traditional hand tools. Class discussion includes design theory, different bow shapes, and the art of tillering a bow (getting it to bend correctly). As time and weather permit, students will practice shooting techniques on campus.

Materials fee includes stave, string, utilization of specialized tools, arrow point/feathers, and pre-course preparation. String is made using 16 strands of B-50 Dacron. Coaching on basic intuitive shooting techniques will be included. Applications of finish and grip materials will be covered in class, allowing the students to focus on the finishing aspect at their leisure. Previous woodworking experience helpful.

Dates

Fri, Aug 03, 2012 - Sun, Aug 05, 2012

Course Details

Length in days:

Hours:

9am-5pm

Tuition:

$255.00 per student (May 1-Oct 31)
$225.00 per student (Nov 1 - Apr 30)

Materials:

$260.00

Levels:

All Levels

Age with adult:

12+ (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!)