To register for classes call Becca at 218-935-0417 Ext 314 or Rebecca.dallinger@wetcc.org . All classes are first come first serve.

Braided Wool Rugs

Friday, February 3^rd, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, February 4^th, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,  Sunday, February 5^th, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: $60.00  Limit: 8 participants

Looking for ways to add a bit of homespun warmth to your home?  Join us to learn the techniques to how to make a handcrafted wool, braided rug.  The registration fee of $60.00 includes the blanket-weight wool, braiding tools, and lacer.  (This fee may be reduced if you bring your own wool.)  The small, oval rug you will be creating (2’x3’) requires approximately 3 pounds of (blanket-weight) wool. We ask participants to provide their own scissors, sewing needles, straight pins, and clip-type clothing pins. Class at Opichi Room, at Wadiswan building, New campus building at WETCC, 2250 College Road

Extension Coordinator, Tammy Bellanger, is the instructor for this workshop.  She enjoys most everything creative, which gives her a chance to express her artistic side.  A few of her favorite hobbies include baking, drawing, gardening, traditional crafts, and architectural design.

Susan's Eye By Alyssa Olson

Congratulations to 2011 students winners of Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge Nature Photo contest!!!!!

19 students from the summer Nature of Technology Camps submitted to the contest this year. These photos represent 2 days of shooting at the Refuge.

5^th-8th grade students participated in the Nature of Techology camps, July 11-14 at Waubun High school and July 18-22 at Mahnomen High School.

This program is sponsored by the Center for College Readiness at Minnesota State Technical College and Extension Service at the White Earth Tribal and Community College in Mahnomen, MN and 4-H of University of Minnesota.

The Tamarac Photo Contest recognizes outstanding amateur nature photography that showcases the wildlife, plant life, and natural beauty of the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. Student work was entered in all categories regardless of age as well and in two newly added categories of “Youth: 12 years and younger” and “Youth: 13 to 17 Years Old”.

• Plant Life

-Third Place: Susan’s Eye, Alyssa Olson, 8^th, Mahnomen High School

Clear Water and Leaf By Meya Rojas

• Youth: 12 years and Old and Younger

-First Place: Clear Water and Leaf, Meya Rojas, 7^th grade, Waubun High School

-Second Place: Things are Looking Up, Tessa Zima, 7th grade, Waubun High School

-Third Place: Pearly Everlasting Fuzz,  Anna Donner, 7^th grade, Waubun High School

• Youth: 13-17 Years Old

-Second Place: Susan’s Eye, Alyssa Olson, Mahnomen High School

-Third Place: Just Hanging Out, Justine Haugo, Mahnomen High School

M.Rojas, T. Zima, and A. Donner

Honorable Mentions

Waubun High School: Zoe Allen, 6^th grade, Anna Donner, 7th grade, and Reba Lego, 9^th grade

Mahnomen High School: Wyatt Benedickson, 6th grade, Josie Defoe, 7^th grade, and Alyssa Olson, 8th grade

Trackers revive, teach old skill for finding lost people

by Dan Gunderson, Minnesota Public Radio

October 28, 2011

Naytahwaush, Minn. — In the vast forests and open spaces of Minnesota, finding missing people can be expensive and time consuming.

When someone is lost in the north woods, searching for them often requires airplanes, helicopters and dozens of people.

To make such searches more efficient, White Earth tribal conservation officers are learning an ancient skill called man tracking.

Learning to follow the tracks people leave behind can save time and money, said Al Fox, the tribe’s chief conservation officer. But to do so, searchers must crouch low to the ground to read signs an untrained observer would miss, like footprints buried beneath pine needles and leaves.

“If you get down in here you can actually see little details,” Fox said of clues left in the forest during a training exercise earlier this month. “Like right here. See that imprint right there? That would be the heel strike. That would be the back of the boot.”  -more on MPRNews website

By Kaitlyn Murray, Waubun

Twenty-nine students in grades six through eight participated in the Nature of Technology Camps held July 12-15 at Waubun High School and July 19-22 at Mahnomen High School. Students were given intensive training in Nature Photography and an introduction to GPS, throughout the camp and especially on the day trip to the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.

“I liked being able to be in the bird blinds and take pictures (while at the Tamarac),” said Hattie Dorman.

Students also learned how to use a telescope as a camera called digi-scoping,  how to use an online editing and enhancing program  called Picasa as well as basic how to create a photography show. The student’s work was celebrated by staff and family in a closing photography show.

“I learned how to take lots of cool pictures and how to take them at different angels.” Said 8^th grader Laura Lindsay.

The Waubun and Mahnomen Nature of Technology camps were made possible by a grant from the Minnesota State Community and Technical College awarded to the Extension office of the White Earth Tribal and Community College in partnership with the University of Minnesota, 4-H. To see some of the  Waubun student’s work go to www.waubun.k12.mn.us.

Waubun Camp (Left to right) Front row: Steve Maanum, Hannah Lanoue, Murphy Cammisuli, Ethan Benson, Reba Lego, Hattie Dorman, Megan Fairbanks, Heyley Lehmann, Josie Bellanger, Matt Fairbanks and Rebecca Dallinger 2nd Row: Steve Dahlberg, Laura Lindsay, Zach Beaupre, Alexis Belland, Kaitlyn Murray, Lara Hanks, Miya Rojas, Tanner Bellanger, Hunter Boudreau Photo by Pam Lehmann

Mahnomen camp (Left to right ) Front row: Steve Dahlberg, Extension WETCC Director, Katahna Bosley, Whitney Granger, Alyssa Olson, Rebecca Dallinger (Camp Coordinator &Photographer), and Photographer Steve Maanum 2nd row, Joe Courneya (U of MN 4-H), Skye Arriola, Angela Amberg, Keshawn Goodwin, Ashley Johnson, Michael Larson, Justine Haugo, Debbie Dixon and Javonnis Knox Photo by Pam Lehmann