Adult Field Course: Appalachian Woodcraft

The hardy settlers who made these mountains home were resourceful and made what they needed from the abundant supply of wood surrounding them. The course will examine the types of things Appalachian people have made for themselves from the forest, as well as the tools they used to make them. After taking a walk through the forest to identify trees and some of their uses, participants will focus on a hands-on project.
Instructor Jason Lonon is a craftsman and teacher living and working in the same valley his ancestors have called home since the 1840s.  Lonon completed an apprenticeship in traditional woodworking, while also blacksmithing as a teenager in the late 1990s. Today, Lonon and a team of highly skilled craftsmen produce a line of specialty carving tools for traditional woodworkers.
The event is part of Grandfather Mountain’s Adult Field Course series, which offers participants the chance to explore the mountain like never before. Students examine specific aspects of the park ecosystem through fun, hands-on field excursions. The course leaders are experts in their fields and include professors, naturalists, scientists and acclaimed photographers, writers, historians and artists.
Cost is $60 per person (or $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club program), with registration required in advance. Click here to register.