Our team taught 2 classes in the morning and 2 workshops in the afternoon.
A matching game made up the morning class where teams assembled;
- a toy animal
- a fact sheet covering information about the animal's leather / fur
- the matching pelt / fur / wool
- a finished product from the animal's leather or fur
Kuddos go to Schleich, Fred Meyer & www.toyanimalshop.com for their generous donations!
In addition to the 60 unique animals in the matching game, another 60+ animal pelts / skins and finished products were on display, with most accompanied by a toy, picture or fact card. All visitors were encouraged to learn about the various animals at their own pace through reading and handling the various pieces.
18 different pieces - totally new to the collection were added this year including gemsbok leather gloves, a fish leather belt, black impala, pig leather baseball mitt, alpaca wool/fur gloves, wildebeest, and cape buffalo rawhide mallet. A number of companies generously donated - see the "Thank you Donors!" page.
Prizes from Cabela's were chosen by participants who completed a related word search.
In the afternoon workshops participants crafted a leather pouch including;
- cow leather or deer hide with fur on
- a leather or deer antler button
- button tie off to secure the flap closed
- optional decor pieces from animals including bobcat, sheepskin, rattlesnake, bighorn sheep, coyote, dall sheep, and beaver
- optional leather nametag
Steps to create the pouches included; design, stamping, punching, sewing and stitching.
Several people also dropped by to get some custom help on their leather projects.
Paracord bracelets from Cabela's were earned by participants who completed a word search.
Deer hide bag with rabbit trim
Deer hide bag with coyote fur decorDeer hide bag with antler buttons
Deer hide bag with coyote fur decor and deer antler button
Deer hide bag with rabbit fur decor
Leather sheath for hand made axe
Deer hide bag with rabbit trim
Deer hide with winter coyote fur decor and leather buttonDeer hide bag with bobcat pelt decor
Cow leather bag with deer antler button
Here are a few of the comments we received this year - we always solicit feedback in an effort to understand our audience and improve our presentations. Special recogniztion to Brian, Stan, Bob, Eric & Chuck for making these classes possible!
Saturday's AMAZING dinner was potlatch - patterned after the fur trapper / Native American Indian dinners at rendez vous gatherings. Wild rice, cornbread, brussel sprouts, elk meatloaf, wild boar chunks and apple cider comprised the dinner.
- Unusual furs & great fun!
- This class was really fun. I would take it again.
- Great and fun class! It is so cool learning about different animal hides and why we need to protect the species!
- FUN and interesting
- I really did enjoy learning, looking and touching all the different hides - I would take the class again
- Thank you for the class - very interactive, which makes it fun!
- I really enjoyed seeing all the cool and unique pelts (especially stingray!). I also loved seeing some of the products made from them!
- Great class with awesome activities for all ages. I learn something new everytime. Keep it up.
- Interesting / enjoyable / educational
- This class is really cool because you get to learn cool facts about animals.
- Great class, very interesting, has a lot of info that I would not have otherwise known.
- Fun / easy to follow
- Good class, learned more walking around than just getting talked to
- Had lots of fun, learned a lot, would do again
- Really fun, found it very interesting to see all the different kinds of animals. thank you for hosting this class, it was great.
Saturday's AMAZING dinner was potlatch - patterned after the fur trapper / Native American Indian dinners at rendez vous gatherings. Wild rice, cornbread, brussel sprouts, elk meatloaf, wild boar chunks and apple cider comprised the dinner.