UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

The Porcupine Mountains Folk School will host several workshops throughout 2010. Most classes have a limited number of spaces. Registrations and fee payments are accepted by calling
906-884-4188. All workshops are held at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park of Michigan in the Folk School Building which is located near the Union Bay Campground.

Please note that in addition to the class fee, a Michigan State Park motor vehicle permit (MVP) will be collected during the class period. More information about the permits can be found below.

To enroll please call 906-884-4188 or e-mail us, .

Please call 906-884-4188 for more information
Please call to pre-register for classes
Pre-payment is required

2010 Spring/Summer Classes

Pre-payment and registration are required
Please call 906-884-4188

• Chainsaw & Handtool Sharpening with Bruce Ruutila and Brian Yaklyvich •

Time: Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $24

Learn how to sharpen your chainsaw, lawn mower blades and hand tools. Bring your scissors, hand planer, chisels, drill bits, and knives to learn how to sharpen and care for them. 

Register by calling Beth at the Ontonagon EDC office 906-884-4188 by Friday, April 23, 2010.

• Bead Making (Lampworking) with Sherrie McCabe •

Time: Saturday & Sunday, May 15 & 16, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
One hour for lunch; bring your own. Water, tea and coffee will be available.
Cost: $85 plus $30 for materials

Minimum number of students: 6
Maximum: 7

Students will be provided detailed instruction in the safe operation of a torch and the traditional Italian methods used to melt glass and manipulate it to produce glass beads. You will use glass rods in a variety of colors to create designs and patterns. Techniques such as centering, shaping, applying dots and stripes, raking, feathering, and plunging will be demonstrated and practiced. There will also be an introduction to sculptural beads.

Because the class could have a combination of beginning and more advanced students, Sherrie will begin by introducing the basics but is happy to add advanced techniques such as hollow beads and making murinni canes for those who have previously taken the class.

Special Note: When you  register and pay at the EDC (906-884-4188) please give your name, address, phone number, and email address. The Instructor, Sherry, will send you specific information about preparations for the first day.

• Whistle and Flower Carving From Soft Maple Tree Twig with Pekka (Peter Olson) •

Time: Saturday, May 22, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $20 (No materials fee)

Minimum number of students: 5
Maximum: 10

Pekka will guide participants through the process of carving whistles and flowers from freshly cut soft maple tree twigs. Participants who are 10 years old and older are welcome.

Materials: Participants may bring their own small knife or jack-knife if they wish. They may also bring some freshly cut 12” soft maple tree twigs that are about the diameter of a dime or a nickel. There will be some knives and twigs available at class.

Note: Please register and pay at the EDC Office with Beth, 906-884-4188.

• Felted Loon with Heidi Bukoski •

(WORKSHOP CANCELLED - rescheduled to July 17, see below)

Time: Saturday, June 26, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $53 (+$10 materials fee payable to instructor at class)

Students learn to needle felt, also known as dry felting, and create a life like loon entirely out of wool using a barbed needle. This technique has many applications which we will discuss. Your finished loon will measure approximately 7"x4". It will have garnet bead eyes and swim on a pond of blue wool.

Register by calling Beth at the Ontonagon EDC office 906-884-4188 by Friday, June 18, 2010.

• Basic Timber-Framing Class with David Suutala & Steve Stier–
Constructing a Stage Roof for the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival •

Time: (5 days) Beginning class, Friday–Tuesday, July 9–13, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $395 (Included: Use of tools, lunch, timber-framing book, class hand-outs, and a free TICKET to the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, August 27–29, 2010.)

Skilled framers with combined experience of over 40 years will guide participants through design, layout, boring and chiseling mortises, forming and pegging tenons, cutting braces, and assembling bents for the 20-foot by 20-foot stage roof. Participants will be shown/taught the basic information and hand skills of timber-framing that will enable them to progress to higher technology tools and machines and to build their own basic structure. All skill levels are welcome, but keen interest is necessary. This is a hands-on workshop, so come prepared to work hard, learn a lot and have a great time.

The two classes will be held at the Porcupine Mountains Folk School. The first session is designed for all skill levels. The second session will engage advanced wood workers, contractors, and graduates of the first session.

Register for the class(es) by calling Beth at Ontonagon County EDC, 906-884-4188, and make payment to "The Friends of the Porkies."

For additional information, call Jim Bradley, 906-884-4274.

• Homemade Lotion, Lip Balm, & Soap with Linda Montonati and Zona Wick •

Time: Saturday, July 10, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Cost: $35 (includes materials costs)

Make & take home your own natural vegetarian-based products. Each participant will learn to make soap, face and body lotion, and lip balm; and will go home with recipes and samples of each.

Register by calling Beth at the Ontonagon EDC office 906-884-4188 by Thursday, July 1, 2010.

• Basic Timber-Framing Class with David Suutala & Steve Stier–
Constructing a Stage Roof for the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival •

Time: (4 days) Advanced class, Wednesday–Saturday, July 14–17, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $300 or $75 per day

Skilled framers with combined experience of over 40 years will guide participants through design, layout, boring and chiseling mortises, forming and pegging tenons, cutting braces, and assembling bents for the 20-foot by 20-foot stage roof. Participants will be shown/taught the basic information and hand skills of timber-framing that will enable them to progress to higher technology tools and machines and to build their own basic structure. All skill levels are welcome, but keen interest is necessary. This is a hands-on workshop, so come prepared to work hard, learn a lot and have a great time.

The two classes will be held at the Porcupine Mountains Folk School. The first session is designed for all skill levels. The second session will engage advanced wood workers, contractors, and graduates of the first session.

Register for the class(es) by calling Beth at Ontonagon County EDC, 906-884-4188, and make payment to "The Friends of the Porkies."

For additional information, call Jim Bradley, 906-884-4274.

• Felted Loon with Heidi Bukoski •

Time: Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $53 plus $10 for materials

There will be a half hour lunch break. Bring your own. Coffee and tea will be available.

Minimum number of students: 3
Maximum: 12

Students will learn to needle-felt, also known as dry felting. Needle-felting uses a barbed needle. This technique has many applications which will be discussed. Students will create a life-like loon made entirely of wool. The finished loon will measure approximately 7” x 4”. It will have garnet bead eyes and swim in a pond of blue wool.

Registration: Please register and pay the fee at the EDC Office, Beth Allen, 906-884-4188, by Friday, July 9, 2010.

• Wool Mitten Making with Mary Brownell and Roberta Chabot •

Time: Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $30 (no materials cost)

There will be a 1⁄2-hour lunch break. Bring your own lunch. Beverages will be provided.

Minimum number of students: 8
Maximum: 10-12

Students will make their own wool mittens with a flannel lining. They will receive instructions, a pattern and guidance about how to sew their mittens. All materials for the mittens will be provided.

Materials: Students must bring their own sewing machine which they know to use. They also must bring a pair of sharp scissors, a box of straight pins, a size 14 sewing machine needle, and a spool of neutral colored thread.

Register by calling Beth at the Ontonagon EDC Office 906-884-4188 by Monday, September 6, 2010.

What To Bring:

Winter: In the winter, come dressed and prepared for lake-effect snows! Our building is quite warm, but you may want to get out and enjoy the fresh air. (Winter interpretive programs) We recommend bringing boots, a warm coat, a hat, gloves/mittens, and a scarf. You may want to think about bringing cross-country skis or snowshoes to enjoy an afternoon hike or lantern light skiing on Saturdays from 7 to 9 p.m.

Summer: Please bring your favorite folding chair, bug dope, sunscreen, sunglasses, an extra layer of clothing, and a rain jacket. There are lots of things to see and do in the park after hours; it stays light until about 9:30 p.m. (Interpretive programs) The Porcupine Mountains Folk School site is quite close to Lake Superior, so be prepared for cool mornings.

What to bring in all seasons: We also ask that you bring a bag lunch or some money to purchase lunch from one of the local eateries. We will provide menus, phone numbers, and driving directions for each. All locations are within 5-15 minutes of the Folk School. Meals are quite affordable ($5-$15), and some of the restaurants will deliver. We have a refrigerator to store lunches and beverages. Bottled water, coffee, tea, and a variety of sodas will be available throughout the day. In addition to these items, some workshops require other materials. Please check the details below. If needed, bring personal safety equipment (eye protection, hard hat, gloves). We will have some of these items if you do not bring them, but please bring gloves. You will be attending class in a Michigan state park; a motor vehicle permit will be required. They can be purchased at the park office or campground. No smoking please.

MOTOR VEHICLE PERMITS (MVP)

Annual Motor Vehicle Permits give each vehicle’s occupants access to any of the 97 state parks throughout 2010 except the three Mackinac Island Historic State Parks. All vehicles registered in Michigan will qualify for a resident MVP. As part of your Folk School fee, you can choose to pay for an MVP when you register for a workshop if you do not already have a sticker. We can have the stickers (except Senior Annuals*) available for you upon your arrival to your workshop. Alternatively, you may purchase your MVP sticker on-line at the DNR E-Store. You may also call 517-373-9900 with a valid credit card and order your annual sticker by mail.

Here is a complete breakdown of the permit pricing:
Annual Resident: $24
Annual Non-Resident: $29
Daily Resident: $6
Daily Non-Resident: $8
Senior Annual*: $6
Towed Vehicle: $6
Commercial Coach Daily: $15

*In order to qualify for a Senior Annual permit, the individual must be over the age of 65 and must have a car registered in Michigan to establish residence. You must present documents indicating proof of age (such as a driver’s license) and vehicle registration when purchasing a Senior MVP. Parks will sell a Senior MVP when the names on these documents are the same. The Senior MVP immediately must be installed on the vehicle. These permits are not available by mail.

To reach us at the Folk School call 906-884-4188.

The Porcupine Mountains Folk School is sponsored in cooperation with the Porcupine Mountains State Park and the Friends of the Porkies, whose mission is to promote and enhance the use of the Porkies. The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural resources for current and future generations.