This will be a day of immersive education on how the Natural World in the Driftless functions during the winter season. The open landscape shows us the tree and plant communities clearly, the snowy ground reveals the movements and interactions of resident wildlife, and the beauty, quiet, and solace of this season can take one's breath away (yes, so can the cold, dry air). The requirements for accessing this realm are that we dress well, sometimes move with some exertion, look and listen carefully, and attain a foundation of knowledge and awareness of these characters, their tracks, and the stories they live out. With good snow conditions we will cover many aspects of skillful tracking, like forms of feet, gaits (ways animals move), and behaviors of common species, but this will be balanced within learning about the overall ecosystem that all species work within and depend upon. This class will be devoted to helping folks attain this foundation and become more knowledgeable, involved and appreciative of this endangered, educational, and often underrated season.
Date: Saturday, February 15
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Lunch will be provided.
Ages: Adults only
Location: La Farge, WI
Instructions: Dressing warm will be very important, we will be moving slowly at some parts of this day and studying spots for periods of time. Insulated boots, snowpants, good jacket, hats, mitts, and underlayers are all important. Bring a backpack with an extra layer to sit on (or wear) as well as water and snacks. You are also welcome to bring a notebook and camera if you wish.
Sliding Scale Course Fee Guidelines (not including Materials Fees)
Supporter Level Ticket: $130
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: $105
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: $80
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