In this program we will learn about various local game animals, how to find them, see them, and start to get closer to them. Deer, squirrels, rabbits, and fowl will be our focus, but many other species will be considered. We will learn to move more quietly in the woods, the habits, diets, schedules, and track and sign of these animals, and the how, where, and when of trying to encounter them. Concealment, clothing, scent, wind, and other practical elements will also be covered. This class is applicable to folks looking to observe, photograph, connect to, or hunt these animals. There will be in depth exploration of ethics, respectful practice, and ecosystem-level considerations for harvesting. The objective of this class is to connect folks to the ecosystem with respect, through means that will be guided by student interests.
Instructions: Please dress for being outdoors all day, ideally in muted, earthy tones with quiet textures. You are encouraged to bring a backpack with a water bottle, snack, notebook, and any other needs to make yourself comfortable through the day.
Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Lunch will be provided.
Ages: 12+
Location: Viola, WI
Sliding Scale Course Fee Guidelines)
Supporter Level Ticket: $125
If you move through the world with financial ease and the means to fulfill many of your wants as well as your needs – you are able to eat out when you want, abundantly meet your needs through employment or can comfortably not work, have access to family wealth, own property, etc. – consider paying at this level, which will help us ensure the long term sustainability of our programs while keeping our offerings accessible to those with access to fewer resources.
Sustainer Level Ticket: $100
If you are able to meet your needs with relative ease while budgeting your educational and entertainment spending – for instance, you are able to take classes and eat out occasionally as long as you are mindful – consider paying at this level, which will help sustain the work of the Folk School at a modest level.
Supported Level Ticket: $75
If you struggle to fund your basic needs and have limited access to resources in your family and community, or if you would not be able to access this offering without a discounted payment option, consider paying at this level. We value your presence and contributions to our community and do not want any economic circumstances to be a barrier to attendance!
Instructor Bio — Nicholas WazeeGale
Nicholas WazeeGale is a lifelong student of the natural world, traditional cultures, and sustainability. His life is intricately tied to the Driftless landscape through foraging plant and fungi foods, hunting and fishing, tanning skins, making traditional handcraft, and obsessively observing and tracking the myriad unfoldings of the living landscape. He is a long time instructor with the Driftless Folks School and other outdoor education institutions, contracts as a professional wildlife tracker with the Wisconsin DNR, and teaches at the Kickapoo Valley Forest School. He is a certified Wilderness Guide through a year long wilderness living immersion course and holds both a Professional and Specialist Certification in track and sign via Tracker Certification North America.
Find him online at…
Instagram: @naturalnuances and/or @wildrootshandcrafts
Facebook: Nicholas WazeeGale
Website: www.wildrootshandcrafts.com