Adult Workshops
Traditional Bow building
2 Weekends
Oct 4 & 5, 11 & 12
Time: 10 am - 5 pm
$500 / participant, includes an Osage Orange bow stave ($150 value)
6 Spots Available
Ages 18+ (16+ with parent)
Location: Vulpes Outdoor Classroom, Bloomfield, NJ
Bow making is an essential survival skill. Making and shooting projectile points from a bendy stick allowed our ancestors to procure larger harvests of meat with less personal risk.
The art of bow building has advanced greatly since it’s conception, but the concepts remain the same. With some simple techniques, a bowyer is able to carefully remove wood from a selected log and turn it into a functional hunting tool that can last generations.
Not only that, but the bow itself is a powerful symbol of precision, self-sufficiency and artistry. Something shifts when you hold a finished self-bow in your hand…
In North America, our best choice is Osage Orange. This class will cover the proper harvesting, seasoning, storage, processing, shaping, tillering and finally shooting of a traditional self bow.
Not only will participants leave with a finished longbow, they will have the information and experience to continue their bowyer’s journey for many years.
All tools and materials provided.
Wild Clay Pottery W/CONRAD SIMAS
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
OCTOBER 18 & 19
Day 1: 10 am - 5 pm
Day 2: 10 am - 6 pm
$200 / participant (includes material fee)
AGES: 18+ (16+ with parent)
Location: Vulpes Outdoor Classroom, Bloomfield, NJ
Learn the process of turning earth into functional vessels with our favorite mud master, Conrad Simas. Making earthenware pottery is a technology that goes back almost 20,000 years and has it’s place in history as food storage, water transportation, cooking, harvesting, weaponry and so much more. This class will cover everything from clay how to find, harvest and process wild clays to firing and quenching methods to seal the clay. Conrad’s method makes a functional vessel in 2 days or less.
Day 1: Intro to earthenware, clay processing, hand building pottery, burnishing, quick dry methods
Day 2: Drying & pre-heating pottery, pit firing method, sealing techniques, cooking on the fire
All tools and materials provided
Braintanned Buckskin
W/ Conrad Simas
Saturday & Sunday
November 1st & 2nd
10 am - 6 pm
$ 200 / participant
Ages 18+ (16+ with parent)
Location: Vulpes Outdoor Classroom, Bloomfield, NJ
Hide tanning was a skill that was used in every culture across the globe. Each culture had different animal skins and different techniques, but the goal was always the same: preserve the skin to use as a highly durable, warm, soft and gorgeous material to make into clothing, bags, and much more. In this 2 day workshop, we will cover all the steps to make Brain-tanned Buckskin.
Day 1: Fleshing, cleaning, scraping and soaking the hide
Day 2: Stretching, drying, softening and smoking the hide.
*Any class of ours that involves animal processing is done in a way that is mindful and respectful to the animal. All hides are from carefully selected roadkill or from the local deer-processor where hides would normally be thrown in the trash. It is also worth noting that animal processing can be a visceral and emotional experience and we take careful consideration to make sure all students feel comfortable and supported through the entire experience.
Disclaimer: Students will not be going home with a finished hide. This class is designed to introduce all of the steps of hide tanning so that each student has the knowledge to process a hide into buckskin. The entire process from deerskin to buckskin takes about 4-5 days.
All tools and materials provided
Plaited BARK BASKETRY
Sunday, November 9th
12 pm - 5 pm
$90 / participant
Ages 18+ (16+ with parent)
Location: Vulpes Outdoor Classroom, Bloomfield, NJ
Tree barks are an amazing basketry resource in our area. They are flexible, strong, plentiful and beautiful which makes them perfect for a wide range of basketry styles. With some fundamental techniques, they can be used to make beautiful vessels that will last generations.
Each student will be making their own plaited-style “berry basket”
We will also cover the identification, harvesting, storage, and preparation of the willow as well as the local trees and plants that are ideal for wicker-style basketry.
All tools and materials provided
Natural Dye
Workshop
Sunday, November 16th
TIME: 12 pm - 4 pm
$90 / participant (includes $10 material fee)
AGES: 18+ (16+ with parent)
Location: Vulpes Outdoor Classroom, Bloomfield, NJ
Learn how to make your own pigments and dyes from your natural surroundings! In this one day workshop, we will cover the basics (and not so basics) of natural dyes, material selection and preparation, eco-printing, mordants, the effects of time, heat, and pH through the creation of our own silk scarves, cotton bags, and wool thread. Participants are also welcome to bring their own 100% natural fiber garments to play with. Join us for a journey through the dazzling array of natural colors around us.
All tools and materials provided