Post-Apocalyptic Prep School

While schools are taking a break for the holidays, Sassafras Earth Education in Aquinnah is not. The innovative outdoor teaching center is offering a unique set of learning opportunities in the final days of December, beginning this Monday, Dec. 28 with a deerhide-tanning and crafting workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. Learn how to rack, scrape and craft from fresh deerhides, donated to Sassafras by Island hunters. Prepare skins both raw and brain-tanned for different usages and applications. Children aged six to eight must be accompanied by an adult. Cost for this workshop is $30 per person, or $50 for a child-adult pair.

On that same Monday from 4 to 6 p.m., Sassafras hosts a Girls’ and Women’s Circle. Take a place around the fire and join a discussion of the things that are important to young women and girls growing up in today’s world. Within the circle, honesty and compassion allow participants to listen with their hearts and speak from a place of inner wisdom. The circle is restricted to women ages 9 to 119, so come with your mom, your grandma, your auntie or your best friend. Suggested donation for this program is $10 per woman.

The next two days, Tuesday, Dec. 29 and Wednesday, Dec. 30 from 1 to 4 p.m., Sassafras will hold a two part bow-making workshop. Learn how to shape staves pre-cut from woods indigenous to Aquinnah, such as oak, maple, beech and yes, even sassafras, into functional hunting bows. During the process, learn about the hunter’s etiquette and what it truly means to take the life of another animal. All tools and materials will be provided. Cost for this workshop is $75 per bow stave, and again, ages six to ten must be accompanied by an adult.

The last Sassafras class in 2009 is also on Wednesday, Dec. 30 from 1 to 4 p.m., and will provide instruction on the many techniques available for making baskets out of locally-sourced materials. Make baskets from pine needles, grasses, vines and other materials found in abundance on the Island. Several basketry styles will be covered. This activity is ideal for children and a grandparent to participate in together. Cost is $30 per person, or $50 for an adult-child pair.

Due to the intimacy required for these very hands-on programs, space is limited, and demand will undoubtedly be high, so early signup is recommended. For more information or to register, call 508-645-2008, e-mail sassafrasmvy@mac.com or visit sassafrasmvy.org.