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Summer workshops are held at the Historic Bement Billings Farmstead Museum
every day the week of July 26 - 30. Workshops are for ages 10 to Adult.
You may want to bring a lunch, although some refreshments are provided.
Your Registration form and payment are due by July 9. Please see the
bottom of this page for a printable form. Our space is limited, so
don't delay! Come out and have a great afternoon learning some of the
many still useful Frontier Wisdom Skills.
2010 Summer Program: General Information
Frontier
Wisdom is a unique series of workshops designed to immerse the
participant in 18th century life skills. Learn to make a “possible”
bag, developing a sense of pride and accomplishment as you create
something useful and artistic. Construct a wooden three-legged stool
using primitive woodworking tools; make a knife from flint; build a
primitive shelter; and make your very own atlatl. Most participants
will have created an authentic replica to take home by the conclusion of
the workshop.
Each
morning we will begin with a woods walk, identifying local flora and
fauna, and learning how plants and trees were used in the 1740-1840
period. The Bement-Billings Farmstead began with a sawmill on site
operated by the Bements. Dick Mider and Ed Nizalowski, tree experts,
will guide participants to the original saw mill site, and discuss uses
for the indigenous trees found on the site in the 1800's. Come prepared
for a variety of weather, though we have plenty of indoor classroom
space if needed. Bring snacks and lunch. We provide plenty of good
company, plenty of things to do, and small groups for each class (about
10 students per session). We encourage grandparents and parents to
participate as their schedules permit.
Our Presenters:
Bob
Berg is internationally known as an expert in the production of
equipment and tools made from natural materials. Using experience
gained from several decades of hunting and fishing, Bob will teach his
students to make cordage from plant and animal fibers. This can be used
by the hunter to fish, to trap, and to craft clothing, shelter, and
tools. His emphasis is on cultures that used atlatls (spear throwers)
to project the power of stone and bone spear points to harvest fish and
game. Students will take home their own atlatl.
Kristi Knapp is an expert at working with buckskin, and with
the adornments used to make buckskin clothing and accessories into
unique pieces of folk art. Her students will create their own
possible bags, then learn to personalize them with beading,
quilling, clay bead, bone and antler buttons, shell and claw
decorations, and unusual shoulder strap weaving techniques. This
workshop will include sewing with sinew, and the creation of primitive
sewing tools (such as bone awls and bone needles.) Kristi has worked
with adults and young people across the country. Last winter she
conducted a moccasin making class at our Welcome Center.
Joseph Brien operates his own company, Lost Art Workshops.
He provides all the materials and vintage tools necessary for the
student to construct a three-legged wooden stool. He will teach the
safe and proper use of a whittling knife, and how to use an ember to
char and hollow out the scoop of a spoon. Joseph has presented
workshops and demonstrations in schools, museums, nature centers, and
festivals. He has appeared on CBS “Sunday Morning” and HGTV’S “That’s
Clever.” He taught wooden stool and spoon making in December 2009 at
our Welcome Center. Participants leave with a wooden stool and
spoon.
Doug Jenks is a master at Brain Tanning leather. He has
conducted many workshops in early Native American Skills at Waterman
Nature Center. In 2009 Doug taught a two-day course in “Tanning the
Indian Way” during Newark Valley’s Northeastern Primitive Rendezvous,
and he shared his pioneer wisdom at the Newtown Battlefield
reenactment. He displays tanned hides and his authentic Indian lean-to
at rendezvous and reenactments. Students will learn to weave baskets,
to build primitive shelters, to make cordage from natural materials, to
flint knap, and to make a knife from flint. Participants leave with
their own knife.
Jerry Rhodes and Joe Cavanaugh round out the week teaching how
to make powder horns, powder measures, and primitive lanterns. Both
have taught classes at the Welcome Center and at the Northeastern
Primitive Rendezvous. Participants leave with a powder horn, powder
measure, and wooden lantern.
Monday July 26Due to unforeseen circumstances we are no longer able to offer the Atlatl Construction Workshop. We apologize for any inconvenience. For any questions please contact Gerald Rhodes at either geraldrhodes@gmail.com or 642-9516. 9:30 - 5:00 1A. Atlatl Construction and Use - FREE to Youth 10 - 16 Learn how to construct and use your own atlatl (dart throwe) to take home. Flint knap, learn how to make natural cordage, and fashion your own points around the campfire. 10:00 - 4:00 1B. Create a "Possible Bag" Youth 10 - 16 $60, Adults $80 "Possible Bag" was the name given by early 1800's traders to rectangular, soft-skin bags. A translation of an Indian word meaning "a bag for every possible thing," they held personal items and were places around the inside of the tipi where they doubled as pillows. When moving camp, possible bags were hung in pairs on either side of a saddle where their decorations could be admired. Create "possible bags" over 2 days. Learn advanced adornments if project is all 4 days(Monday - Thursday). Adorn with beads, quills, shells, bones, antler, & claws; weave shoulder straps. Tuesday July 27 9:00am Woods Walk: Identify trees used by the early settlers; discover how each kind of wood was used. 10:00 - 4:00 2A. Construct a wooden, 3-legged stool using perios tools 2B. Decorate "Possible Bag" with beads, quills, shells, bones, etc. Youth 10 - 16 $60, Adults $80 Bring your own lunch Wednesday July 28 9:00am Woods Hike: Learn to identifyl different flora & fauna, animal tracks and more! 10:00 - 12:30 3A. Spoon Making, use a carving knife and hot coals to fashion your own spoon from wood. 1:00 - 4:00 3B. Bakset Weaving 10:00 - 4:00 3C. "Possible Bag" Advanced adornments, weave shoulder strap Youth 10 - 16 $60, Adults $80 - Bring your own lunch. Thursday July 29 9:00am Hiking Trail 10:00 - 4:00 4A. Primitive Lighting & Candle Making, Participants will take home their own wooden box lantern and candle. 4B. "Possible Bags" Advanced Adornments, weave shoulder strap 4C. Primitive Shelters, build a primitive shelter for survival Youth 10 - 16 $60, Adults $80 - Bring your own lunch. Friday July 30 9:00am Hiking Trail 10:00 - 4:00 5A. Cordage, Knife Blade, Open Fire Cooking: Make Cordage from natural materials. Flint Knap to make a knife blade, and use the cordage to make the knife handle. Cook over an open fire. 5B. Powder Horn, Make a Powder horn & powder measure to take home! Youth 10 - 16 $60, Adults $80 - Bring your own lunch. |
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P.O. Box 222, Newark Valley, NY 13811 ♦ (607) 642-9516 ♦ NVHistory@stny.rr.com |
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