Kaniksu Folk School Spring Classes
Whether you're eager to embark on a new adventure or honing existing skills, Kaniksu Folk School is your canvas. Our mission is clear: to foster a vibrant community and a culture of hands-on, locally-rooted education. Through the power of music, the timeless appeal of traditional crafts, and the shared pursuit of knowledge, we invite you to join us in building a stronger, more connected community. At Kaniksu Folk School, the journey of discovery never ends.
The Spring 2024 Line Up includes 12 offerings - some favorites and some brand new!
Women In The Woods
Women in the Woods is a women-centric event that gives women landowners the opportunity to interact with a lineup of all-women forestry experts, creating an atmosphere where forest management training is tailored to female land managers.
There will be two classes offered by the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) and the University of Idaho Extension. The first class, the Women in the Woods Workshop, is a classroom day that focuses on supportive resources and funding opportunities for forest landowners.
The Women in the Woods Workshop will be held Friday, April 5 at the IDL office in Coeur d’Alene from 9 AM to 3 PM. While it is geared toward women, anyone is welcome to attend. There are no prerequisites, and no level of baseline knowledge is required.
The second class, the Women in the Woods Field Day, puts participants out in the woods, rotating through different exercises covering forest assessment, ecology, and forest management.
WOMEN IN THE WOODS FIELD DAY
Friday, May 10
9 AM to 3 PM
Pine Street Woods
$10 registration fee includes lunch, 9 stations, and a t-shirt
Be sure to select the event(s) you want to attend by clicking the drop down menu under “Transaction Item.”
Health Hikes
MAY 2024 TOPIC: Hypertension (high blood pressure) and lifestyle based interventions to improve blood pressure
DOCTOR: Dr. Meg Skibitsky, Lakeshore Health
HEALTH HIKES happen on the first Tuesday of every month to help us get into the habit of getting outside. Doctors recommend spending time in nature, moderate exercise, morning activity, and social interaction as part of a healthy lifestyle. Each month, a local doctor shares expertise on a popular health topic for a few minutes before the group goes out on a 40-minute light cardio hike. Learn the trails at Pine Street Woods while you hike along with a doctor and new friends. Each month, the trail is selected based on the abilities of those present. Health Hikes are free and registration is not required. Show up for the brief health chat and hike with the group, or strike out on your own. Please bring a water bottle and dress for weather changes.
To inquire about access road or trail conditions, join our Pine Street Woods Chat Group.
Hike For Ethan
In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, we are putting our boots to the ground - getting outside for wellness and to support the Ethan Murray Fund.
Join us for a purposeful hike at Pine Street Woods. This event aims to bring our community together, fostering a supportive environment and promoting mental health awareness. Our event, "Hike for Ethan," carries special significance as we endeavor to cultivate a sense of togetherness, compassion, and understanding while strolling through the beauty of nature. In every step, we honor Ethan's legacy, embracing his love for nature and hiking.
In a positive collaboration, we are delighted to share that NAMI Far North, Prummer Foundation, BGH Behavioral Health & Kaniksu Community Health will be present at the event, bringing valuable resources and expertise to enhance mental health awareness in our community.
~ OR ~
bring a picnic and cheer on the hikers
A slideshow featuring Matt and Justine’s photos and video from their recent thru-hikes on the Idaho Centennial Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail will run inside the Outdoor Recreation Center during the event for those who choose not to hike.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, May 19th 1pm - 4pm
Location: Pine Street Woods Upper Lot
Registration: $25 per person (Includes a Nalgene water bottle designed by Cora Murray)
Limited Availability: 150 hikers due to limited parking (carpoolers welcome!)
Schedule:
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Registration and Community Hour
Featuring mental health resource tables, live music, and refreshments.
2:00pm - 4:00pm: Hiking Adventure
Choose from three different pre-marked trails or embark on your own adventure.
Fees and donations go toward EMF’s work of providing support to those experiencing and caring for those who experience mental health crises. The proceeds will directly contribute to providing therapy for teens and adults who may not be able to access health care or face financial constraints. Your participation will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need. Early intervention not only promotes mental well-being but also contributes to the overall health and resilience of our community.
If you followed Matt and Justine Connery on one of their recent thru hikes and wished you could join them, now is your chance! Learn more about their adventures and the touching story of Ethan Murray Fund HERE.
Pairings in the Pines
Make plans to join us for our 4th annual Pairings in the Pines; a progressive tasting event through Pine Street Woods. Enjoy locally crafted food and thoughtfully selected wines while immersed in the sights and sounds of nature at the forest's edge.
Visit this page again in June for this year’s featured winery and selected food artisans.
Tickets go on sale in June. This event sells out quickly! Subscribe to our monthly eNews to be alerted when registration goes live.
IN A LANDSCAPE - Classical Music In The Wild
IN A LANDSCAPE (TM) is an outdoor concert series created by American pianist Hunter Noack. A nine-foot concert grand Steinway piano is set in awe-inspiring natural landscapes instead of the traditional concert hall. The audience is encouraged to wander and explore the surrounding environment while listening to the music through wireless headphones, creating an immersive and intimate experience that fosters connection with the music, nature, and each other.
IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild
Monday, July 29, 2024
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (gate opens at 5 p.m.)
Tickets: $40
Clark Fork Pedal & Farm Tour
Clark Fork River Pedal & Farm Tour: Exploring Agriculture Along the Banks
This inaugural event hosted by KLT and MSU Extension Sanders County takes you through a 30-mile bike tour in Wild Horse Plains, while visiting farms, forests, and river banks in Western Montana.
You will ride through the sunlit shadows of the trees, and along the banks of the Clark Fork River, passing the farm meadows where agriculture has lived for generations.
Along the way are sustainable farms featuring local foods, and a timber mill.
The tour will end at our “last of the best” fairgrounds, where a locally grown and sourced meal awaits.
Bike Tour registration will be $85. The registration fee includes your ride, music, and local food from farms and producers. If you’d like to join us just for lunch the fee will be $40.
Registration opens soon. Check back for the link and additional information.
We are inviting agricultural producers in Sanders County to join us as a vendor at the Sanders County Fairgrounds for lunch. Let us know if you’d like to join us! Contact: Juli Thurston at juli.thurston@montana.edu or 406-827-6934.
Paved Pathways Earth Day Cleanup
Earth Day/Weekend/Week/Month is great for reflecting on the greatest planet humankind has ever known. But, really, it’s a time for showing how much we value it by doing good work, right?
Meet at the KLT office anytime between 8:30 and 11 a.m. to get your assigned area, garbage bags, bites and warm beverages and be on your way to clean up our community. Sign up in advance to help us manage volunteers! (not required, but super helpful for us)
Also…
We are looking for a few good volunteers to help us plant trees in the recently-logged area at Pine Street Woods with western white pine seedlings donated by our lovely logger, John Kinne. There will be an expert planter on hand to give a lesson and support the project.
Friday, April 19 I 9 AM
Come help restore a favorite trail, learn to plant trees, make new friends, and enjoy refreshments in the forest! Please RSVP
Health Hikes
Got friends? Bring ‘em or meet new ones!
Meet at the at the Pine St. Woods upper parking lot at 8:30 a.m. for a 5-ish minute health chat followed by a group hike. Get 45 minutes of nature immersion, light cardio, and quality time with a local doctor, nurse practitioner, or surgical assistant. Experience a new health chat and trail each month. You might even find your new hiking buddy here.
Join us on April 2nd for a mental health chat and hike led by Danielle Kuykendall NP from Kaniksu Community Health. Bring a water bottle and dress in layers for Idaho weather. Free and no need to preregister - just show up.
Btw - if you’re wondering how hard the hike is - we choose our trail based on the ability of those present. Some choose to show up just for the health chat and a short walk on a trail on their own. Others stick with the group and enjoy asking further questions and chatting with the health practitioner. We keep it casual.
Have you joined our WhatsApp group yet? It’s a good place to get updates on trail conditions, etc. before you come up.
Kaniksu Folk School - Intro to Blacksmithing
Learn the basics and make a beautiful and unique bottle opener that you can use when sharing a beverage with your new-found blacksmithing friends, including instructor Nick Belfrey! Practice proper hammer technique and safety, while drawing, tapering, bending, twisting and scrolling hot steel. Cost: $45.
This class is full. Email us to be added to the waitlist and to be notified of upcoming classes taught by Nick Belfrey.
Kaniksu Folk School - Print making
In this introductory relief printing class you will learn the basics of making a single color print using a linocut block. Instructor Amy Stephensen will guide you through the process of designing a draft that is more suitable for printing, techniques for carving, and the process of hand printing. You will take with you your own set of hand-made prints, a solid knowledge base to get you started on your own block printing journey, and the beginning of new friendships! Cost: $ 45 + $15 materials fee.
Kaniksu Folk School - Intro to Sashiko and Visible Mending
Learn this ancient style of Japanese stitching and how to apply this technique to your mending projects in this small community class taught by Hillary DeChecchis. All materials will be provided, just come ready to enjoy the motion of slow stitching and leave with patches ready for your favorite garments. Cost: $40.
This class is full. Email us to be added to the waitlist and to be notified of upcoming classes taught by Hillary DeCheccis.
Health Hikes
Meet at the at the Pine St. Woods upper parking lot at 8:30 a.m. for a 5-ish minute health chat followed by a group hike. Get 45 minutes of nature immersion, light cardio, and quality time with a local doctor, nurse practitioner, or surgical assistant. Experience a new health chat and trail each month. You might even find your new hiking buddy here.
The March health topic is “Longevity” with Dr. Meg Skibitsky of Lakeshore Health. Bring a water bottle and dress in layers for Idaho weather. Free and no need to preregister - just show up.
Have you joined our WhatsApp group yet? It’s a good place to get updates on trail conditions, etc. before you come up.
Kaniksu Folk School - Advanced Spoon Carving
Instructor Matt Honsigner shares his artisan craftsmanship in this small group setting with students having prior experience in woodworking -must have taken a previous wood carving class or have carving experience. Grow your skills and your wood-working circle of friends. Cost: $80.
Kaniksu Folk School - Birchwood Shrink Jars
Learn how to carve a wooden container from a freshly cut birch branch using a saw, hand-powered drill, and a carving knife (tools and supplies provided). The finished product is a unique jar to take home and a community experience to last a lifetime. Prior carving experience not required. Instructor: Shaun Deller. Cost: $60.
This class is full. Email us to be added to the waitlist and to be notified of upcoming classes taught by Shaun Deller.
Healing Herbs for Winter Wellness - Kaniksu Folk School Class
Learn traditional methods to care for seasonal depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder with remedies you will make from nature. Laura Clemmons' expertise and humor will provide you with instruction, a finished product you can use, and a joyful experience of shared community. Cost: $25 + 10 materials fee.
WildCrafting - Craft a Canoe Paddle
WINTER 2024 WILDCRAFTING - CRAFT A CANOE PADDLE
Learn basic wood-working skills and care/sharpening of tools as you craft your own canoe paddle to take home! No experience - no problem. This is a beginner-level class designed to help you get basic knowledge of how to make things with wood. Your completed craft is yours to take home!
WildCrafting is open to participants ages 9 - 17 and is held at The Big Red Shed, 11735 W. Pine St. - at the Pine Street Sled Hill. Cost: $100 for 6 weeks. All equipment and supplies are included. Snacks and water provided each day.
Each class is 6-weeks long:
Mondays -- 3-5 PM. February 19th - March 25th.
~ OR ~ (please choose only one)
Wednesdays -- 2-4 PM. February 21st- March 27th.
NOTE: This class will use a lot of sharp tools: chisels, saws, hand planes, and knives. Students will need to be self-disciplined and capable of working diligently for extended periods of time.
Intro to Timber Framing - Kaniksu Folk School
Learn about the traditional building technique known as timber framing. Timber framing has been used throughout history and is praised for its strength and longevity without the use of nails or screws. Using handsaws, hammers, chisels, and mortising tools, students will learn how to use these tools to build their own mailbox stand frame, which represents one corner of a traditionally built building. Cost: $150 + $50 materials fee.
Health Hikes
Come up to Pine Street Woods for 45 minutes of light cardio, nature immersion, and a brief health chat with a local doctor, nurse practitioner, or surgical assistant. Experience a new health topic and trail each month.
February's topic is cold weather injuries with Dr. Jillian Klauke of Sandpoint Direct Primary Care. Meet at the trailhead at the Pine St. Woods upper parking lot at 8:30 a.m. for a 5 minute health chat then proceed on a group hike. Bring a water bottle and dress for a winter hike, including traction cleats if you have them. Free, fun, and a great way to make friends.
Hiking With Kids!
Friends of Scotchman Peaks and Kaniksu Land Trust are excited to host Rebecca Sanchez for a fabulous Hiking with Kids presentation. You won’t want to miss her stories and insight on hiking with kids in the backcountry or anywhere for that matter! She has lived and worked in some of the most treasured and beautiful landscapes around the country. She is passionate about the outdoors and how it has the potential to shape, serve, and help grow future generations. Her family is truly amazing and look forward to meeting you all! Childcare for younger children will be available.
Join us afterwards for a hike up Munson Creek if you can. Bring a lunch, water, traction devices and a carry pack if you have babies or toddlers. We also have carry packs available.
Event will run from 11am-2pm PST (12pm-3pm MST)
Health Hikes
Show up at Pine Street Woods for 45 minutes of light cardio, nature immersion, and a brief health chat with a local doctor, nurse practitioner, or surgical assistant. Experience a new health topic and trail each month. February's topic is cold weather injuries with Dr. Jillian Klauke of Sandpoint Direct Primary Care. Meet at the trailhead at the Pine St. Woods upper parking lot at 8:30 a.m. for a 5 minute health chat then proceed on a group hike. Bring a water bottle and dress for a winter hike, including traction cleats if you have them.
It’s free, fun, and a great way to make friends. Jump in every month or any month on the first Tuesday.
Winter Fun Days
Snowy days can’t keep us inside! Spend the whole day outside, sledding, playing games, exploring, building snow forts, warming up around a fire, eating smores and drinking hot chocolate.
Come enjoy winter outside with us. Choose one of these two dates:
Friday, January 5th ~ OR ~ Saturday, January 6th (choose only one day, please)
Time: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - meet at the parking lot promptly at 9 AM (or a little before)
Cost: $30 per child
Location: Pine Street Woods
Includes: snacks, drinks and lunch
What to bring:
A sled, if you have one
A small back pack with extra socks, gloves, and a water bottle (with water)
Give us a call with any questions - (208)263-9471 or email Brianna
Health Hikes
Get in a morning hike and find your people at a Health Hike!
Meet at the Pine Street Woods parking lot once a month for a community hike! A doctor, nurse practitioner, or physicians assistant will start us off with a brief chat (about 5 minutes) on a current health topic. Then, we’ll hit the trail for 40-45 minutes of light cardio. Stay with the group and chat as you hike, ask the health care professional your general* health questions, or break from the group to hike at your own pace.
We won’t cancel due to weather, unless conditions are dangerous. To keep up on trail and access road conditions, join our WhatsApp Trails Community.
The January Health Hike topic has not yet been decided. Return here for updates.
*NOTE: Questions about specific health conditions pertaining to you or someone else can not be addressed in this setting. Discussions are limited to general information and not individual healthcare advice or treatment.
Health Hikes
NOTE: Health Hikes are now held on the first TUESDAY of each month (formerly held on the first Monday).
You know the value of making time to get outdoors for your physical and mental health. Health Hikes make it easy to schedule a morning hike in nature with a fun group - just minutes from downtown.
Join us once a month for 45 minutes of light cardio on a nature trail with one of our partner medical professionals followed by a brief group discussion on a current health topic. Learn about a different health subject each month while getting to know a trail, other hikers, and a little bit about KLT!
The December Health Hike doctor and health topic TBD. Stay tuned!
Orchard Public Engagement Meetings
The USFS is collaborating with KLT and SCCD to get public input on how community members would like USFS to manage the 150-acre property known as the Orchard. A series of public meetings in a variety of settings will be held to gather public comment. For more information, visit our NEWS page.
November 29: 6-8 p.m., Thompson Falls Elementary Cafeteria (open house format)
December 1: 8:30-11:30 a.m., Minnie’s Cafe
December 1: Christmas Stroll, 4-6 p.m., Sanders County Ledger
Get Plowed
No snow yet, but don’t fret.
Winter is coming and the access road to Pine Street Woods will get uncomfortably inaccessible if it doesn’t get plowed.
Read into it what you will, but GET PLOWED is the annual town party that supports KLT, SNC, & POP’s efforts to keep the Pine Street Woods road open for winter recreation. This family-friendly event is at Matchwood Brewing this year with their delicious food, craft beverages, and community fun for all. There will be raffles for 3 dazzling gift baskets stocked with fun KLT, SNC, & POP merch that you could take home.
So search your couch, car seats, and laundry jar for change to help raise $6,000+ to cover the plowing and sanding of the Pine Street Woods access road. Together, we can keep the road open this winter!
KFS Fall Class Line Up
Kaniksu Folk School has a new look, a new home, and a new season of courses! Join us at the Sled Barn - the red barn at the sled hill property - for a full schedule of beginner level traditional skills classes for the Fall season; September through November. KFS is a nature education initiative for adults. Youth ages 12-17 are invited to participate with a registered adult.
This will be the site of all classes this year, and having a permanent home means we can expand our programming! Starting with blacksmithing, we will be adding regular timber framing, loom weaving, wool spinning, fine woodworking, pottery and more.
We have also added family friendly programming. These courses are designed for you to experience with your child(ren). We welcome parents or guardians to join with their children age 6 and up; if you have younger children, please reach out as some courses may be appropriate for them as well. All family friendly classes will be marked in green text on our course schedules.
Is there a class you'd like to see? Please reach out through our website, or contact our Folk School Coordinator directly - matt@kaniksu,org
SNC Trail Work Day
Join our Nordic community for a morning of trail work and clean up at Pine Street Woods! Bring rakes, loppers, gloves, and water.
November Health Hike
Join us once a month for 45 minutes of light cardio on a nature trail with one of our partner medical professionals who will will lead a group discussion on a current health topic.
Our November Health Hike topic will be “Eating For Disease Prevention” with Dr. Meg from Lakeshore Health.
Spooky Spirits & Stories
SPOOKY SPIRITS & STORIES
A Magical Walk In The Woods
Experience a magical story brought to life in the dark forest of Pine Street Woods by moonlight. This family-friendly guided walk features an original tale that weaves earthly elements with supernatural frights.
This story comes to life through the efforts of many volunteer actors, costume/make up designers, decorators, service/welcome crew, and breakdown/clean up crew. If you are interested in sharing your super powers in behalf of community fun, hit the button below.
Donations gladly accepted.
SNC Winter Welcome
Love XC skiing? So do we. Here’s your chance to spend time with others like us plus learn more about the club that does so much for the trails at Pine Street Woods and for our community - Sandpoint Nordic Club!
Forest Fest 2023
KIDS ACTIVITIES ~ OUTDOOR SKILLS ~ FOOD!
Forest Fest is all things forest for famlies! Check out horse packing, sawmill, crosscut saw, and woodsman team demos plus ed stations on wildfire, plant/tree ID, wildlife management, pest/disease, and more. There will be a forest tour led by forestry expert Peter Kolb at the Mule Pasture. It’s all free! Please leave the dogs at home and prepare for any kind of weather.
Remember: This event takes place from 2-6 PM MOUNTAIN TIME (and 1-5 PM Pacific)
Health Hikes
Hey, we’re meeting up at the Pine Street Woods trail head on Monday, October 2nd for a hike and a health chat with a doctor. Can you come?
Health Hikes happen every first Monday each month at 8:30 am to get the tone of the day started right! A doctor or other health care provider will lead a short conversation about a current health topic you care about. Then we will do some light cardio hiking for about 45 minutes on one of the trails at Pine Street Woods. Every month is a different experience, but we hope it’ll get you outside to enjoy nature and meet a few others in our community while learning something you can use.
No need to preregister and there is no cost. Just dress for Idaho weather and bring your water bottle. See you there!
Winter Ridge Neighborhood Fair
Spend the day in celebration with us! Winter Ridge’s annual Neighborhood Fair is one of our favorite community events and it probably is yours too! We will host a KLT booth with giveaways, merch, deets on the sled hill and lots more. Also, you can dance to the live band, Starcourt, at our booth.
STEM Trailer at PSW
Come try out all of the library's fun sciency equipment from the STEM trailer and discover more from your community forest!
Brenden, the library’s Exploration Coordinator for Experiential & STEM Learning will be at the upper parking lot at Pine Street Woods with the library’s STEM trailer for citizen science fun! Hit the trails for a hike and collect some organic samples to bring back to the trailer to analyze. Borrow a pair of binoculars from the mobile science station and spot wildlife on the trail, then report your findings on the community board at the trailer.
It’s free and registration is not required. See you there!
CANCELED - September Health Hikes
The September Health Hike has been canceled due to the Labor Day holiday. Please go hiking anyway! We will catch up with you next month at the October Health Hike.
SledFest
Tickets, Sled Auction, Volunteer Information, Sponsor program and line up can be viewed HERE!
SledFest, the one-day regional music festival, is set to take place at the iconic Sled Hill property, with all proceeds dedicated to the acquisition and establishment costs of the Save the Sled Hill Campaign. This exciting event will bring together music enthusiasts, families, and community members for a day filled with live performances, local food vendors, a very special silent auction, and a vibrant atmosphere of celebration. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of regional music while supporting a worthy cause that aims to preserve the cherished winter recreation area for future generations. SledFest promises to be an unforgettable experience, uniting our community in a shared love for music, outdoor activities, and the preservation of our unique local heritage.
Check out the first round of musicians to be announced HERE. More to come!
Questions? Find all of the details HERE.
Our amazing community has raised $1.44M of the $2.1M needed for acquisition and establishment costs. We need to raise the full amount by December 2023.
If you would like to make a donation to the campaign visit: www.kaniksu.org/donate