Program Details
Overview
Week in the Woods (WITW) participants will stay in the forest for five days and four nights, allowing the energy of our everyday, technology-filled lives to be replaced by the more peaceful energy of the woods. Through the process of creating objects from forest treasures, students will explore old and new techniques and hand tools from many cultures. As part of this process participants will go on frequent guided excursions, learning to recognize the unique characteristics of forest types, flora and fauna of the boreal landscape, and the influences of history on forest dynamics.
Participant Categories
- Adult Learners (19 years and older)
- Youth/Adult Co-learners (youths 6-18 years of age)
- Learners Receiving UAF Credit
Guided Techniques
Tool care and sharpening *
Carving *
Use of the following:
- bark
- roots
- twigs and branches
- unique or unusual growth forms
- burls
- fiber
- naturally occurring coloring agents
- conks or bracket fungus
Containers of many kinds
Toys and ornaments
Bookmaking
Making artist charcoal
Decoration techniques
Riving and shaping
Joinery
Steam bending
Spring pole lathe
* For the most part learners will have the option to pick and choose from the daily schedule of projects. However, tool care and sharpening, as well as certain carving techniques, will be required for everyone.
If you are a returning student or someone who has already had many of these experiences, you may want to focus on a more comprehensive or challenging project of your choosing. Please click on the "Adult Learners (19 years and older)" link above to read more about these "Special Focus" projects.
Location and Conditions
The location for Week in the Woods is a tranquil spot in the heart of the Tanana Valley State Forest near Fairbanks, Alaska. The site is 8.6 miles down a dirt logging road with lots of turns and hills, but is accessible with a normal car. The actual work and camping area is located about 200 yards off the road on the uphill side. It is an upland, mature stand of mixed spruce, birch, and aspen with a moss and shrub forest floor. There is a fire pit area around which everyone sits, cooks, eats and talks. There will be 2 pit toilets nearby and several large work areas that are tarped over in case of rain.
WITW is a rugged outdoor program. Participants will need to be resourceful, have a desire to work with their hands, be unafraid of getting dirty, and be familiar with basic camping conditions in Interior Alaska. Everyone will be expected to set up their own tents, supply their own water, and feed themselves for five days and four nights. Participants should be prepared to keep themselves warm and dry in rainy conditions, as well as stay comfortable with mosquitoes and flies.
Orientation will commence at 11:00am on Friday, June 29th and the program will end by 4:00pm on Tuesday, July 3rd. Participants are asked to arrive no later than 9:00am on Friday morning to set up camp. If at all possible, participants are encouraged to arrive on the afternoon or evening of Thursday, June 28th. This will allow you to get organized and settled in at your leisure.
Electronics of any kind will not be allowed except for emergencies.
In the middle of June registered participants will receive a letter containing a map to the site, parking information, a list of what to bring, and additional details.
*Please note: ED595 students have one additional day to be chosen by consensus.