Workshops and Seminars


 Some classes need a little explanation, you can find those here.

The Golden Spatula Cook-Off
with Eli Lottig

We are bringing back the Cook-Off to honor Rhonda Reynolds.  Rhonda loved to cook for others while winter camping.  If you ever had the chance, it was a meal you wouldn't forget! 

Three judges will rate your favorite meals based on Taste, Presentation, Creativity and Complexity.

We have decided to change things up a little bit!  Instead of bringing your dishes to the Pavillion, our judges will come to you!  You can present your meals inside your tent or camp.  We will have a sign up sheet in the registration tent with staggered times so the judges will have time to get to everyone.

Contestants can use a wood stove, open fire, or campstove

Must be a complete meal (Desserts are optional)


All ingredients must be prepared on site using your preferred cooking method


The winner will receive a Golden Spatula from Pete and Brautigam Expedition Works.  Prizes for 2nd and 3rd place as well.

(The spatula pictured is a placeholder until Pete finishes the 25th Anniversary WCS Golden Spatula)

Pimp Your Pants-Demo
with Kevin Kinney

Wanna extend the life or your wool pants? Join Kevin from Empire Wool

and Canvas. He'll show you how to deconstruct, reinforce, and reassemble

a plain pair of wool trousers. You'll see how to plot, pattern, and

attach seat and knee patches, Learn how to attach pockets and simple

draw cord tunnels on the cuffs. Bring your own machine, posterboard,

shears,and pants. Some materials provided for patches and panels. Tinker

at your own pace during the weekend.

2 Hours, No Charge- 10 person limit
Email empirecanvas@charter.net to reserve your spot.


Birds Below Zero: How Boreal Birds Survive & Thrive in the depths of Winter 

With Sparky Stensaas 

All the owls, woodpeckers, grouse, chickadees and winter finches of America's boreal forest are cold hardy, and they have a multitude of survival tricks up their little feathered sleeves! Some thrive due to their amazing senses, others have snow-specific hunting skills, yet others have physiological strategies or anatomical quirks to help them thrive in the cold season. Cuddling and piloerection (not a dirty word!) also help birds stay warm. Did you know there are multiple species that even sleep the night away below the snow! HD Video will highlight some of these winter-warrior birds. Stay tuned…some of these tricks will blow your mukluks off!

Sparky will also share the best ways to visit and photograph owls at Sax-Zim Bog in northeastern Minnesota.


Snowshoe Chair Lacing- Workshop
with Jackson Harren & Greg Wilcox

Michael Neiger will teach a full day land navigation class on Saturday starting at 8:30am.  Folks will meet behind Mitchell on the stage.  Will break for lunch.

Boreal Bites 

With Andy Wright 

This cooking demo will feature traditional meals of those who lived, toiled and traveled in the Northlands before us: The Ojibwe. The Voyageurs. The Lumberjacks. We’ll visit the cultures and settings behind three dishes… And explore interpreting these ‘camp meals’ that deliciously reflect Sense of Place and History, inspiring our own Food Memories on the trail.





 Tea and Titles With Irene Henderson and Beth Peterson

Join Irene Henderson and Beth Peterson for tea and cookies and a discussion of three books chronicling the 2,200 mile journey from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the shores of Hudson Bay, Canada.

The first odyssey, Canoeing with the Cree, was undertaken by Eric Sevareid and Walter C. Port in 1930. Countless rapids, hungry bellies, and not so good advice were only a few of the obstacles the young men faced on their summer adventure. Food, shelter and correct guidance was given by the Cree, locals, and trappers. It took them almost four months to reach the Bay.

The second trek, Adventure North, followed the same route in 2008. Taking only 49 days, Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte averaged an amazing 45 miles per day. They completed the trip after graduating six weeks early from high school.

The third excursion, Hudson Bay Bound, was made by two women in 2011. Natalie Warren and Annie Raiho completed the trip in 85 days. Accompanied by a dog, the women travelled through the beautiful but unrelenting landscape and faced many hurdles along the way.

Three different viewpoints of the same momentous undertaking.

Please bring your favorite cup and join us!


Carving Class

With Roger Pilsner

Roger Pilsner’s Carving Class

Woodworking in the Hanson Lodge – all day Friday and all day Saturday, come and go as you please. No charge.

OPEN WORKSHOP - Try your hand at CHIP CARVING. You will receive a small basswood box. Now elaborate and decorate it – make it your own. Learn about chip carving and carving tools. I will bring spoon blanks as before, but let’s pursue embellishing them since you are all experts on making spoons.


WHAT IS CHIP CARVING you ask?

Chip carving is a relatively simple method of creating a 2-D carving using a thin short blade knife to remove triangle shaped pieces of wood. From simple triangles, an elaborate pattern can be created with basic carving skills. The most important skill is achieving a really sharp cutting edge. The knife blade must be really thin and sharp to allow the effortless chip cutting and

removal process.

Reference Material: the internet is loaded and the library has many books. I suggest any reference authored by Wayne Barton. He pioneered the modern chip carving movement and
 his books are easy to read, accurate, and complete without getting overboard. I suggest the KISS method, start simple.

A simple X-acto craft knife works pretty well. If you have one bring it along. Any short, thin, sharp blade with work. No time schedule, come and go at your leisure. No charge for materials. Please bring a camera and take pictures. Let’s have FUN. See you in the Hanson Lodge.

Cost:   Free, donations, refreshments, take pictures

Time:  All day Friday and Saturday. Come and go as you please.

Where:  In the Hanson Lodge, by the fireplace.

Questions:  Contact Roger Pilsner, 715-428-2329 or gmarap@pctcnet.net





Antler Handle Knife - Workshop   
Warren Peterson

Making an Antler Handle Knife Participants will learn to assemble a small blade into an antler handle as well as stitch together a sheath that will hang around the neck and will be provided information on sources for knife blades, leather, and tools required to make knives on their own. All materials are provided by the instructor. Cost is $50.00 per person. Contact Warren prior to Symposium if interested in taking this workshop. Warren M. Peterson, cell # 715-314-0797, email: wildexposurewp@yahoo.com 


 Screen Print Class
With Leigh and Amy Hunter

We are very much looking forward to seeing each & every one of you in real life.  We are preparing a screen printing adventure for your amusement.   Bring with you a mostly cotton shirt to enhance with a limited edition bootleg print.

 

The screen printing process works best on a shirt you already own and fit into, or you can head down to your favorite thrift mart to find the right item to be printed (any color shirt will work). We will have multiple designs to choose from, one geared toward the grown-ups and one geared toward the grown-downs.  You can pick whichever suits your fancy. 

 

This workshop can be whatever you want it to be, we will be happy to discuss the entire process, bits & bobs of what we’ve learned or you can just hang out and make snarky jokes, it’ll also be totally socially acceptable to just drop your shirt off, and let us print it for you while you’re off symposiuming!!

 

COST: the shirt off your back, and $5 ink donation per print.(kids free)



Each participant needs to bring;

100% cotton T-shirt/Hoodie (cotton blend will work) any color. 

A willingness to have fun.

Patience to wait for paint to dry.


 


Forging Demos by SUBTLE FORGE

Paige and Jamiah will be back as vendors, but will also be running forge demos all weekend. 

Traditionally knife makers would work together allowing each maker to perfect their craft. The smith would forge the blade and then pass it on to the handle maker and then on to the sheath sewer, this was not always the case but it was a very effective system. While Jamiah does follow the more modern approach of making the entire knife he also participates in the old tradition with fellow knife maker and close friend Paige May over at Wilderness Effects. Jamiah forges and grinds the blades and then Paige finishes the process by creating excellent traditional scandinavian style handles and sheaths. 


BWCA. Travel. Slush. Gear. 
With Bear Paulson

Skis or snowshoes? Pulk or sled? Camp on the ice or on land? Shelter and sleep. Finding snow covered portages. Equipment and camping considerations with slush in mind. 


Join Nick Gordon, lead guide and owner of NOW Outdoors

for a talk on outfitting for a winter expedition. In order to fully embrace the cold and deep snow of the north, he uses specialized equipment both traditional and modern. Nick will share insights on clothing and gear considerations necessary for extended winter excursions. 

 


UHMW Toboggan Workshop:      
 With Nick Gordon

A toboggan is a great tool for hauling the gear necessary for extended treks in deep snow country. Join Nick Gordon of NOW Outdoors to build your very own 8 or 10 foot UHMW toboggan just in time for winter. The satisfaction that comes with building your own gear is great and these premium toboggans are built to last! We will blend modern materials with traditional design to create a means of moving your winter camp with ease. When class is over, these toboggans can be easily rolled up to fit inside your vehicle. This course includes all materials, tools, and hardware. We do invite you to bring a drill if you have one. If you are unable to attend the workshop, we will have some fully assembled toboggans available for purchase as well.

Workshop Cost: (8 Foot $260) (10 Foot $300)

Space is extremely limited. Reserve your spot by emailing us at info@nowoutdoors.org.  




Avoiding Axe-idents | Camp Axe Use & Safety
Curt Isaacson

In this hands-on workshop, Hults Bruk Ambassador Curt Isaacson will demonstrate some safe and effective ways of putting axes to work in camp, with a particular focus on splitting firewood. Feel free to bring your favorite axe! 

Solo Winter Trekking 101/201
Pete Brautigam

Solo Winter Trekking 101


Join us in an hour-long two-part discussion on how to start solo trekking in the backcountry including the BWCA. Topics include route planning, safety, food, and camp setup.


Solo Winter Trekking 201


Join us for part two in an hour-long discussion on how to start solo trekking in the backcountry including the BWCA. Topics will include, training, gear and tips and tricks to safely get you and your gear over difficult portages alone.


Inexpensive Toboggan Wannigan/Camp box build 
Pete Brautigam

A camp box that can do it all, please join us for a two-hour workshop to convert the popular Plano sportsman tote into a highly functional, durable, lightweight camping gear box. These fit perfectly on a toboggan or in the back of the sedan. This will not be your average tote when finished. All tools and materials will be supplied. Please reach out to Peter Brautigam at pete.beworks@gmail.com to get signed up. To make your camp box truly unique and work best for what you like, please consider bringing items to the workshop you want to store, such as cooking and eating utensils, dishes, camp pots, etc. The cost for the workshop is $50 and limited to twelve people and kids are welcome with adult help.




Winter Camping 101

An overview class of equipment used, safety and styles of travel. Tents, sleeping bags, clothing, toboggans, snowshoes/skis, and other items will be discussed.

Ryan will share equipment he has used, and currently uses. This class will also cover basic safety concerns and tool usage. Questions, and discussion at the end of class are encouraged!






Lighten Your Load
Jonathon Maruska


A thoughtful discussion on planning strategies and packing techniques to reduce weight while maintaining comfort during toboggan travel.





Winter Women Camping 101

Wilderness guide Pam Wright shares the basics of winter camping, along with some highlights in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. 


Topics will include...








Winter Camping Food and Cooking – What’s Your Style? - Earl Swenson