For thousands of years, people have cherished fire and all it provided. And one of the prevalent methods of creating those uncountable fires around the world was the 'bow-drill': a well-shaped rod of soft wood spun in a bow with a cord, which generates enough heat in its spinning against the hearth board to create a powdery, smoldering ember. This small ember, when cradled in shredded fiber, can be blown into fire and provide for our human needs of warmth, comfort and creativity as it long has. We will craft our own bow drill sets from local materials, some we gather and some already procured, and then start working at gaining the form and strength to run it well enough to make our first coals. Our day will also include learning the trees that give the necessary parts to our sets, sourcing tinder and other materials, solid practice sessions, fire-building and skillful use of fire, and splitting out some blanks for replacement spindles and boards.
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Lunch will be provided.
Ages: Adults, and 14+ accompanied by a participating adult
Location: La Farge, WI area
Instructions: Dress for being outside throughout the day. A sharp knife will be necessary, so bring oone if you have your own. Nicholas will have good ones for sale and some lenders, too. Cut gloves are optional if concerned with cutting yourself.
Sliding Scale Course Fee Guidelines
Supporter Level Ticket: $125
If you move through the world with financial ease and the means to fulfill many of your wants as well as your needs – you are able to eat out when you want, abundantly meet your needs through employment or can comfortably not work, have access to family wealth, own property, etc. – consider paying at this level, which will help us ensure the long term sustainability of our programs while keeping our offerings accessible to those with access to fewer resources.
Sustainer Level Ticket: $100
If you are able to meet your needs with relative ease while budgeting your educational and entertainment spending – for instance, you are able to take classes and eat out occasionally as long as you are mindful – consider paying at this level, which will help sustain the work of the Folk School at a modest level.
Supported Level Ticket: $75
If you struggle to fund your basic needs and have limited access to resources in your family and community, or if you would not be able to access this offering without a discounted payment option, consider paying at this level. We value your presence and contributions to our community and do not want any economic circumstances to be a barrier to attendance!
Instructor Bio
Nicholas WazeeGale is a lifelong student of the natural world, traditional cultures, and sustainability. His life is intricately tied to the Driftless landscape through foraging plant and fungi foods, hunting and fishing, tanning skins, making traditional handcraft, and obsessively observing and tracking the myriad unfoldings of the living landscape. He is a long time instructor with the Driftless Folks School and other outdoor education institutions, contracts as a professional wildlife tracker with the Wisconsin DNR, and teaches at the Kickapoo Valley Forest School. He is a certified Wilderness Guide through a year long wilderness living immersion course and holds both a Professional and Specialist Certification in track and sign via Tracker Certification North America.