Nature Studies & Outdoor Skills

A Native American medicine pouch is a container for items believed to protect or give spiritual powers to its owner. The medicine bag is considered a very precious possession which represents a person's spiritual life and its contents are generally considered holy by the tribal community. The bags might be very plain or richly decorated and are meant to give guidance, good luck, good health, protection, abundance and even love to the individuals who carry them. Students will cut leather and shape their pouch as desired, then stitch with imitation sinew. A rawhide cord will be used to hang the pouch and can be attached using one of two different methods. It can then be decorated with beads, antler or feathers. Children who are 12 years of age and older are welcome.

Feather fans are quite significant to Native Americans and have a long history of being used in Pow Wows and in the Native American Church. They are also used in spiritual "smudging" ceremonies with sage or cedar. Our instructor will share Native American legends and stories with you as you make your own feather fan using a piece of corrugated cardboard covered in leather with feathers added and shaped to fit your hand. Children who are 10 years of age and older are welcome.

The goal of this class is to help you get started in fly fishing or better your casting. We will go over different types of fly rods and when to use them. The proper way of lining a fly rod will be taught. You will be doing the over hand cast, roll cast and side arm cast, for a few examples. You will need to bring a hat and a pair of glasses or sunglasses. If you have a fly rod please bring it, otherwise one will be provided. To end, students will get a chance to try different fly rods.

A Native American medicine pouch is a container for items believed to protect or give spiritual powers to its owner. The medicine bag is considered a very precious possession which represents a person's spiritual life and its contents are generally considered holy by the tribal community. The bags might be very plain or richly decorated and are meant to give guidance, good luck, good health, protection, abundance and even love to the individuals who carry them. Students will cut leather and shape their pouch as desired, then stitch with imitation sinew. A rawhide cord will be used to hang the pouch and can be attached using one of two different methods. It can then be decorated with beads, antler or feathers. Children who are 12 years of age and older are welcome.