Week in the Woods

Week in the Woods offers an opportunity for families and individuals to become intimate with the boreal forest of Interior Alaska and to build environmental stewardship through exploration in natural history, craft, and arts while living in the best of all classrooms – the woods.

2024 Session: June 21 – 26

Are you looking for a truly unique Alaskan adventure?

Spend 6 days in the remote boreal forest outside of Fairbanks learning traditional hands-on crafts and exploring forest ecology with a host of talented instructors.

Practice carving, birch bark basket-making, outdoor skills, woodworking, natural history, and more while camping in the Alaskan wilderness.

During Week in the Woods, students of all ages explore old and new techniques from many cultures to create fun and useful creations from materials found in the forest. 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.

Leave the hectic, media driven, everyday world behind and step into a quieter existence for a short week – experiencing the connection between natural history and the creative process. As a group we will work toward building an intimate relationship with the environment around us through exploration, experimentation, craft, and play – thereby becoming better stewards of the land that supports us. Read about other participant’s experiences.

We welcome families and individuals and also offer continuing education credits for educators through UAF.

For program details and registration information, please click on the tabs above.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions:

Kerri Hamos, Program Director: (907) 457-1219 or kerri@folk.school

Overview

Week in the Woods (WITW) participants will stay in the forest for six days and five 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 and experiences 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

Program Description

EXAMPLES OF SKILLS YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN OR HONE:

Knife handling and carving *
Tool care and sharpening
Observation
Communication through language and drawing
How to make things with simple tools
All manner of wilderness skills
How to be comfortable in the woods

GUIDED PROJECTS:

Carving Projects
Bark Projects
Weaving
Woodworking Projects
Language Arts
Toys, Games and More
Natural History
Art
Wilderness Skills

MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR OUR USE FROM THE STOREHOUSE OF THE FOREST:

Bark
Roots
Trees, Twigs and Branches
Unique or unusual tree growth forms
Plant fiber
Naturally occurring coloring agents
Conks, bracket fungus, lichens and mushrooms
Bones and antler
Skins, hair and feathers
Air and water
Sound, Colors, Smells, Textures and Movement

WHAT STUDENTS WILL GO HOME WITH:

Useful objects you have made with your hands
A new or broadened appreciation of undervalued aspects of the woods
A sense of community
Woodworking skills
Wood science knowledge and an understanding of how wood science fits into the global picture
Memories from a fun and inspiring week!

*For the most part learners will have the option to pick and choose from the daily schedule of projects. However, general tool safety and knife handling, as well as certain carving techniques, will be required for everyone.

Check out the Week in the Woods Bulletin Board for yearly program highlights and more!

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 5 miles down a narrow dirt logging road, accessible with a normal car. The actual work and camping area is located about 200 yards off the road. It is an upland, mature stand of mixed birch, spruce, and aspen with a moss and shrub forest floor.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for all participants. There is a fire pit area around which everyone sits, eats and talks. There will be 2 pit toilets nearby and several large work areas that are tarped-over in case of rain.

Note: WITW is a rugged outdoor program. Participants will need to be resourceful, have a desire to work with their hands, and be unafraid of getting dirty. Participants should be prepared to keep themselves warm and dry in rainy conditions, as well as stay comfortable with mosquitoes and flies. However, this does not mean you need to be an experienced camper! We are happy to assist newcomers in any way we can, and please feel free to ask us any and all questions about what to expect and how to prepare so that you can comfortably enjoy the week.

Everyone will be expected to bring:

their own waterproof tent
a rain tarp (The rain tarp is intended to make a larger awning over the tent entrance – a great help in rainy weather. Feel free to contact us if you would like more guidance on a rain tarp.)
their own water bottle (we provide drinking water)
any snacks they desire for between meals
a mess kit for each person (plate, bowl, cup, silverware)
camp chairs (as desired)
sleeping bags, sleeping pads, personal effects, etc

We will provide:

breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all participants (see meals section below for details)
drinking water (please bring your own water bottle)
hot water in large kettles on the fire
plenty of tarped-over space for working on projects
tools and materials

Participants should plan to arrive Friday afternoon or early evening to set up their camp. Dinner will be provided Friday around 6:00 pm. (Friday is not a class day but simply time to settle in. Instructors and tools will be not be available for projects.) Orientation will be after dinner on Friday evening.

Breakfast will be served at 8:00 am each morning. On Wednesday, the final day of the program, participants can be on the road by 4:00 pm.

IMPORTANT: Use of cell phones and other electronics is not allowed during Week in the Woods in the main camp area, aside from taking photos. Cell reception is limited at the campsite, and there is no option for recharging devices. If you absolutely need to make a call we expect you to go out of sight and earshot, as it is disruptive to the whole camp (and counter to the philosophy of Week in the Woods) to hear a phone ring or see and hear someone using a phone while enjoying a community of friends in a beautiful forest. Thank you for respecting this policy.

By the 1st 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.

Meals:

Week in the Woods staff will prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all participants each day. Meals will be served family style and will include a variety of healthy options.

There will be a camp cook who will be in charge of preparing meals. However, assisting the cook and cleaning up will be a shared responsibility among all folks. After orientation, all participants will sign up for “assistant to the cook” and “dish duty” for two or three meals. We appreciate everyone’s help in keeping camp running smoothly and efficiently so we can all focus on our learning time.

Please alert us in your registration form if you have any food allergies, especially any life-threatening allergies, so we can plan accordingly.

Note: Participants are expected to bring any snacks they may want for between meals.

Fees Schedule:

Adult Learner Registration Fee: $900.00
Adult Learner Receiving UAF Credit Fee: $1,000 (plus fee paid to UAF)
Youth/Adult Co-learners Registration Fee: $1,400.00 (Fee covers one adult and one youth)
Additional Youth Co-learner Registration Fee: $350.00
Second Co-learning Parent or Partner: $800

Scholarships: If WITW is something you would love to do but you are having trouble making it work financially, please contact Kerri Hamos, Program Director, at (907) 457-1219 or kerri@folk.school. We offer need-based financial assistance.

Tool Purchase:

All adults will be required to own their own sloyd or chip carving knife.
These and other tools will be available for purchase in camp. Please bring cash or check to Week in the Woods.

Carving Knives:
- Sloyd Knives: $24.00
- Chip Carving Knives (recommended for small hands): $20.00
Hook Knives: $30.00
Sharpening Supplies:
- Strop: $30.00
- Cylindrical Hone: $2.00

If you already own tools from a previous session of WITW, please bring them with you.

Cancellation Policy:

If you cancel 30 days or more before the start of the program, participants receive a full refund less a $25 administrative fee.
If you cancel 14-29 days prior to the start of camp, we will refund half the tuition fee.
If you cancel within 14 days of the program, there is no refund, but we can credit your tuition toward the following year of WITW.
If you find someone to take over your registration, we will refund the cost less a $25 administrative fee once they register and pay.

Out of Town/State Participants:

For those of you traveling from out of town, we offer some options that will make the logistics easier and hopefully save you some money. We will provide each family unit with camp chairs and mess kits as requested. This means you will only be responsible for your tent, tarp (to make a larger awning over the tent entrance – a great help in rainy weather), sleeping bag and pad, and personal effects.

In the past we have also helped some out of town folks arrange a van service to take them to and from camp. Van service might save you some rental car expense. If you are interested in exploring this option, please contact us and we can help direct you to local companies.

Don’t hesitate to contact Kerri Hamos, Program Director, at (907) 457-1219 or kerri@folk.school with any questions.

A typical day at Week in the Woods begins with a family style breakfast followed by a Blackboard Meeting where the day’s activities are previewed and classes are developed according to student interest.

Following a full day of classes, a family style lunch and dinner, nature walks and guest lectures, there are evening activities that include plays, talks, and games. Evenings are also a time for students to collaborate, explore, and pursue projects that have been introduced.

General timeline for a typical day:

7:30 am: Breakfast helpers assist the cook
8:00 am – 8:30 am: Breakfast
8:30 am – 8:45 am: Clean up
8:45 am – 9:00 am: Blackboard meeting
9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Classes and guided activities
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm: Lunch helpers assist the cook
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Clean up and take a break
2:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Classes and guided activities with snack breaks
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Dinner helpers assist the cook
6:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Dinner
6:30 pm – 6:45 pm: Clean up
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Evening program: presentations, guest speakers, projects, games
9:00 pm: Tools down – done for the day!
10:00 pm: Quiet time
(Time between classes and meals is not instructional time, but instructors are available.)

Click on the links below to see snapshots of a day at Week in the Woods for Mac, Addie, Tom and Van:

A Day in the Life of Mac

A Day in the Life of Addie

A Day in the Life of Tom

A Day in the Life of Van

Toni Kaufman

Toni’s love of making pots spans many years and a variety of different disciplines. She has taught pottery in Fairbanks (at the University of Alaska and her studio) and has shown her work throughout the community. The process of working with clay has been a journey of discovery, frustration and delight which she loves sharing with others.Read More

John Manthei

John has been a carpenter/cabinetmaker for nearly half a century and now spends a considerable amount of time teaching through The Folk School. He is one of the founders of Week in the Woods and The Folk School. John's intimate connection to the land and rivers of the interior drives most everything he does. john@folk.schoolRead More

John has been a carpenter/cabinetmaker for nearly half a century and now spends a considerable amount of time teaching through The Folk School. He is one of the founders of Week in the Woods and The Folk School. John’s intimate connection to the land and rivers of the interior drives most everything he does.
john@folk.school

Carolyn Parker

Carolyn has done botanical surveys throughout Alaska and in other far northern landscapes for over 30 years. The rest of the time she stays based at the University of Alaska Museum while gardening, hiking and ski-joring in the boreal forest around Fairbanks.Read More

Marianne Stolz

Marianne was born and raised in Germany where she completed a wood carving apprenticeship. Her passion for mountains and ice climbing brought her to Alaska in 1985. She now works as a professional wood carver, ice carver and artist.Read More

2024 Session: June 21 – 26

Pricing:
Prices include: All meals during the program, 5 days of instruction, all materials and tools (other than your personal carving tools), and a primitive but fully supported Boreal forest camping experience.

Adult Learner Registration Fee: $900.00
Adult Learner Receiving UAF Credit Fee: $1,000 (plus fee paid to UAF)
Youth/Adult Co-learners Registration Fee: $1,400.00 (fee covers one adult and one youth)
Additional Youth Co-learner Registration Fee: $350.00
Second Co-learning Parent or Partner: $800

Note: Full payment is due by 60 days before the start of the program.

Early registration deadline: May 1, 2024

Participants registering after May 1st will be charged a $50 late fee.

Scholarships: If WITW is something you would love to do but you are having trouble making it work financially, please contact Kerri Hamos, Programs Director, at (907) 457-1219 or kerri@folk.school. We offer need-based financial assistance.

Cancellation policy:
If you cancel 30 days or more before the start of the program, participants receive a full refund less a $25 administrative fee.
If you cancel 14-29 days prior to the start of camp, we will refund half the tuition fee.
If you cancel within 14 days of the program, there is no refund, but we can credit your tuition toward the following year of WITW.
If you find someone to take over your registration, we will refund the cost less a $25 administrative fee once they register and pay.

Registration coming soon.

Over the past few years, several families from out of state have had the trip of a lifetime attending our unique program!

We would like to continue welcoming families from far and wide to Week in the Woods and are offering some options that will make logistics easier and hopefully save you some money.

Please check out the IMPORTANT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS below, browse the Week in the Woods program pages, check out the video, and generally familiarize yourself with the program. Then choose our Alaskan learning adventure this spring as a special treat for you and your loved ones.

Don’t hesitate to contact Kerri Hamos, Programs Director, at (907) 457-1219 or kerri@folk.school with any questions. We are very happy to help you in any way we can.

Week in the Woods, (WITW) participants will stay in the forest for six days and five 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.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

CAN I ATTEND SOLO?

As long as you’re over 18, we welcome solo attendees.

WHAT ABOUT KIDS?

We love having kids from 6-18 at Week in the Woods, but all children who register must have an adult co-learner also registered and present for the week. Adult co-learners are expected to care for and learn alongside the kids they register with. Read about our co-learning philosophy and expectations. See the Program Details tab for co-learner tuition costs.

WHAT’S THE BEST TRAVEL OPTION from SEATTLE?

Most out-of-state participants will use Alaska Airlines to fly from Seattle to Fairbanks. The direct flights are only about 3-½ hours. Flights stopping in Anchorage are also fine, and may be less expensive, but will take a bit longer. Several common brands of rental cars are available at the Fairbanks International Airport by advance reservation.

HOW DOES THE CAMPING WORK at WEEK IN THE WOODS?

CAN YOU HELP ME IMAGINE THE BASIC LOGISTICS OF THE TRIP?

SURE! Arrive at Fairbanks International Airport at least a day or two ahead of time.
Rent a car at the airport, so you can explore a bit of the Fairbanks area, get to and from your initial lodging, and shop for whatever supplies you want for the days in the woods (all meals are provided except snacks). The local Fred Meyer near the airport is huge, and has a full organic food section, as well as other last minute camping supplies if necessary.
To save money, you can consider returning your rental car and arranging a van service to get from Fairbanks out to the Week in the Woods site. The van is an additional cost, but having your rental car sit unused for 5 days at the site could be much more expensive, and most rental cars are not allowed to be used on the small unpaved forest road.
Arrive by car or van at the site. Be greeted by cheerful staff and other participants who will help carry your gear a few hundred yards into the forest and assist you in choosing a spot, setting up your tent and absorbing the charms of the boreal forest.
Note that it never gets dark in central Alaska near the solstice, and that 5 magical days of craft and learning and storytelling and sharing and camping and sleeping create a soulful magic that melts the time away.
Be shocked at the arrival of Wednesday afternoon, signalling that you’ll actually have to return to normal life.
Share your appreciations, say your goodbyes, pack your gear and your new forest treasures, and head back to town.
Go straight to the airport, or extend your trip with any number of Alaskan adventures, such as a visit to Denali National Park, two hours away by road and one of the most spectacular natural preserves in the world.