This is the 3rd summer our club hosted an adventure sports activity. We are blessed to have this wonderful facility available to us - thanks to a donation from Wittenberg Hunting Club. We hold this at the Wittenberg School Forest on Hwy 45 just north of Birnamwood.
We had 2 conservation teachers who came to teach us about archery (shooting sports) and trapping. We split the kids into 3 groups and rotated. Anna and I did craft projects.
The girls were pretty good...
Two of the boys here already trap. I didn't know anything about trapping and I actually learned a lot.
I had no idea how to set a trap...now I do. Mr. Miller is the conservation teacher at D.C. Everest. I asked him how much some pelts were worth. He said that a gentlemen in the Pike Lake area, recently sold his muskrat pelts for an unheard of price (really high) of $12 per pelt. He said the fur industry is strong in Russia and that they buy many pelts from Wisconsin...so thanks Russia! This isn't a venue for nay sayers about the fur industry, please...the fact is that some critters are plentiful here, market is high and it is an extra way to make money. I know one of the boys will sell his pelts and save for college.
Anna did a macrame' project and I did a faux agate pendant project. I saw this faux agate idea on the Martha Stewart show. Both projects fit in with our nature sports craft ideas.
To make the faux stone, you use Sculpy Clay. Freeze a white and contrasting tan clay. Grate the tan on the small side and the white on a large one.
Once the 2 colors are mixed, roll the ball into a cylinder or tube shape. Then you pick your other colors of the stone's interior. Roll them out between 2 pieces of wax paper so that the clay will roll around the cylinder one time. Do this as many times as you want layers. End with a black or brown for the exterior side of the rock.
Once you have your layers, cut off a slab of the tube. Roll this flat to about about 1/8" or so... don't forget to use a straw to make a hole for the pendant. Bake in 275 oven for 15 - 20 minutes. After they are cooled, spray with polyurethane to give it the polished look of a stone.
The day was fun and educational. Which is what 4-H is all about.
Blessings from Wisconsin.
We had 2 conservation teachers who came to teach us about archery (shooting sports) and trapping. We split the kids into 3 groups and rotated. Anna and I did craft projects.
The girls were pretty good...
Two of the boys here already trap. I didn't know anything about trapping and I actually learned a lot.
I had no idea how to set a trap...now I do. Mr. Miller is the conservation teacher at D.C. Everest. I asked him how much some pelts were worth. He said that a gentlemen in the Pike Lake area, recently sold his muskrat pelts for an unheard of price (really high) of $12 per pelt. He said the fur industry is strong in Russia and that they buy many pelts from Wisconsin...so thanks Russia! This isn't a venue for nay sayers about the fur industry, please...the fact is that some critters are plentiful here, market is high and it is an extra way to make money. I know one of the boys will sell his pelts and save for college.
Anna did a macrame' project and I did a faux agate pendant project. I saw this faux agate idea on the Martha Stewart show. Both projects fit in with our nature sports craft ideas.
To make the faux stone, you use Sculpy Clay. Freeze a white and contrasting tan clay. Grate the tan on the small side and the white on a large one.
Once the 2 colors are mixed, roll the ball into a cylinder or tube shape. Then you pick your other colors of the stone's interior. Roll them out between 2 pieces of wax paper so that the clay will roll around the cylinder one time. Do this as many times as you want layers. End with a black or brown for the exterior side of the rock.
Once you have your layers, cut off a slab of the tube. Roll this flat to about about 1/8" or so... don't forget to use a straw to make a hole for the pendant. Bake in 275 oven for 15 - 20 minutes. After they are cooled, spray with polyurethane to give it the polished look of a stone.
The day was fun and educational. Which is what 4-H is all about.
Blessings from Wisconsin.
the whole thing is a great idea! great education and creativity, too!
ReplyDeleteLove the agate project! (faux agate!) Not so sure about the trapping, but I must have 100 muskrats eating in my henyard at night.... I never thought they might be money in the bag!
ReplyDeletefun! Jesse's was a huge trapper up in Kotzabue Alaska and we have MANY animal furs around the house :)
ReplyDeleteLove the agate project! Looks like you guys had a fun time.