The Primitive Pottery Pathway teaches teaches the various aspects of pottery, from collecting the raw clay, to processing the clay, to making clay vessels, to firing them in an open fire. Pre-processed clay will be available for each student to work while the raw clay is being prepared for use. Two firings will be done, one instructor-guided and one student-guided. Each student will complete the Pathway with the tools necessary for producing pottery and products from the two firings.

HIDETANNING (BRAINTANNING BUCKSKIN)

Class Limit: 10 Students

The Hidetanning Pathway teaches brain-tanning buckskin and making rawhide. The tools each student may make include hide scrapers and bone awls. Each student will use his or her finished buckskin to then produce a piece of clothing, moccasins or a pouch. The rawhide will be used for any of a variety of rawhide projects. Sewing will be done with lacing and/or sinew. The goal is to learn how to turn animal hides into functional (and possibly fashionable) clothing or accessory items.

The Primitive Musical Instruments Pathway explores one of the most central aspects of many primitive cultures: music. Whether it was picking up a stick to pound on a hollow log or stretching a hide over a hollowed stump to make a drum or using reeds to make wind instruments, music was everywhere.  In many cultures music was not only the evening’s entertainment, music was what bound the culture together. Students on this Pathway will gather as many natural materials as possible and then turn these raw materials into instruments, learn to play the instruments and, with a bit of practice, learn to play in concert with the other students.