Hessel School House

Intro to Foraging Wild Mushrooms
2023-09-07 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Hessel School House – Avery Arts & Nature Learning Center, 3206 West Cedar Street, Hessel, MI, 49745, United States
Mushroom foraging is a becoming a popular pursuit in Michigan. Come learn about the biology and key features of mushrooms and what to look for when identifying these friendly fungi. Avid mushroom enthusiast Bonni Thoresen will cover the many edible mushrooms commonly found in Michigan so you can feel more confident in identifying wild mushrooms you might come across on a hike, in your own backyard, or at your favorite farmers market. Participants are encouraged to bring fungi specimens. Please harvest the entire mushroom, dug out of soil, duff or wood. Transport them in paper bags or loosely wrapped in waxed paper—do not use plastic bags that promote rotting.
Bonni will present a colorful PowerPoint on mushrooms of Northern Michigan including many edible species. However, she advises no one should eat any fungus that does not have solid identification verified by an expert. This program is a starting point and serious foragers would have to put in a lot time and study to really know the kingdom of fungi!
Class size is limited. To register, call 906-484-1333 or register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/675964426797
About the Presenter
Bonni Thoresen joined San Diego Mycological Society 25 years ago after becoming fascinated by fungi in the mountains of northern Baja California, Mexico. SDMS offered a lot of educational opportunities but the region is very arid and mushrooming can be limited. The greatest factor in furthering interest in mycology was inheriting her mother’s cottage near DeTour. She spent 5 months there studying EUP fungi in 2003 followed by annual visits since then. Bonni retired from 40 years of nursing in 2018.

CREATING the Northern Lights
2023-09-08 18:00 - 20:00
The Northern Lights have captured the imaginations of cultures for generation. To catch a sight of the lights is to witness something so surreal, so beautiful that it seems to border on the supernatural. Come celebrate this magnificent phenomenon in art, observation and photography during the Northern Lights Weekend, September 8 & 9, 2023 at the Hessel School House in Hessel, Michigan.
CREATE the Northern Lights with Pastels
Friday, September 8 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The northern lights (aurora borealis) are a breathtaking atmospheric phenomenon that people travel great distances to witness. The beautiful dancing lights have captivated people for millennia. In this evening art event, participants will create their own version of the majestic lights using pastels on black paper. Karen Mazzoline will provide instruction on creating this magical work of art in pastels. No prior experience with pastels is required.
Seating for the art class is limited. Cost is $40 per student and includes all materials, instruction, and light refreshments.
TO REGISTER, call 906-484-1333 or register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/666110252697

Cancelled-Fall Forest Bathing
2023-09-09 10:30 - 12:00
Come experience the transformative energy and beauty of fall with the practice of forest bathing. Different then other nature connection experiences such as hiking and birdwatching, forest bathing follows the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku which invites you to slow down and mindfully connect with nature through all of your senses. Give your body and mind a chance to rest and restore while taking in the subtleties and wonder of nature. Your experience will include a guided sensory awakening meditation followed by a series of explorational invitations and conclude with time for sharing around a campfire and tea.
The walk will take place outside in nature so please dress appropriately for the conditions. Participants are encouraged to bring their own portable chair or stool to sit on during the meditation. Class Fee: $35.00.

Botanical Printing Class (Shawl)
2023-09-09 11:00 - 15:00
Learn the beautiful art of botanical printing! In this four-hour workshop led by instructor Diane Keighley, you’ll gain an understanding of how to work with foraged leaves as you explore the process of bundle printing. Each student will leave with a printed shawl (approx.24 x 76″) and the know-how to design and create more pieces on your own.
Class fee of $55 includes instruction and all the necessary supplies and materials. No prior experience necessary – beginners welcome!
Class size is limited. Register early.
REGISTER ONLINE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/596031244497

CHASING the Northern Lights
2023-09-09 18:00 - 19:30
The Northern Lights have captured the imaginations of cultures for generation. To catch a sight of the lights is to witness something so surreal, so beautiful that it seems to border on the supernatural. Come celebrate this magnificent phenomenon in art, observation and photography during the Northern Lights Weekend, September 8 & 9, 2023 at the Hessel School House in Hessel, Michigan.
CHASING the Northern Lights
Saturday, September 9 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Join Melissa F. Kaelin, the founder of the Michigan Aurora Chasers and author of “Below the 45th Parallel,” to discover what it takes to view the Northern Lights in the Great Lakes region. This program will explain how Aurora is created and the best methods for predicting an Aurora display, while sharing tools and techniques you can use to realize your dream of catching the Northern Lights. Registration fee is $25.
TO REGISTER call 906-484-1333 or register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/666110252697

PRESENTER BIO:
Melissa F. Kaelin is a writer, artist, and stargazer who finds inspiration in the Northern Lights. A published journalist and science communications writer, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She is native to rural Ohio, and she spent her formative years with nonfiction and creative writing in Minnesota, where she lived for 11 years. She moved to Michigan in 2018. She loves dogs, nature and adventure, and she devotes her time to chasing the Aurora.
In 2021, Melissa founded the Michigan Aurora Chasers, a group devoted to catching the Northern Lights that has grown to over 70,000 members since its inception. She has helped hundreds of people catch the Aurora for the first time, inspiring many others along the way. She is also one of the co-founders of the Aurora Summit: Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science and Photography of the Northern Lights. Melissa has been a featured presenter on the Northern Lights at many venues including the Upper Peninsula Dark Sky festival in 2023.

CAPTURING the Northern Lights
2023-09-09 20:00 - 21:30
The Northern Lights have captured the imaginations of cultures for generation. To catch a sight of the lights is to witness something so surreal, so beautiful that it seems to border on the supernatural. Come celebrate this magnificent phenomenon in art, observation and photography during the Northern Lights Weekend, September 8 & 9, 2023 at the Hessel School House in Hessel, Michigan.
CAPTURE the Northern Lights – Night sky photography workshop

Saturday, September 9 from 8:00 – 9:30 PM
During this workshop, noted photographer and educator Nate Bett will teach you how to capture the beauty of the northern lights and the night sky on camera. The workshop is geared toward those who would like to learn about night sky photography techniques, however is open to all skill levels. Participants will leave the workshop with a better understanding of the basics of getting artistic, well-exposed night photographs of northern lights and the milky way. Topics include equipment needed, camera settings, and the ideal locations for capturing the night sky. With the information garnered from the workshop, it will make stargazing more enjoyable. Following the presentation, participants are invited to go outside, weather permitting, for hands-on experience.
Workshop fee is $35 per person. Space is limited so register early.
TO REGISTER, call 906-484-1333 or register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/666110252697

About the presenter
Nate Bett is a photographer and educator in Hancock, Michigan. Although originally from Marquette, Michigan, Nathan recently relocated to Hancock from New York City, where he taught at the City University Of New York, and represented a major camera manufacturer as a technical specialist in photography. He now spends his time indulging in the over abundance of natural beauty in his native UP and spending excesses of time outdoors with his family. Nate maintains a passion for photography and the outdoors that he delights in sharing with students. His work can be viewed at nathanbett.com and @natebett and @artmonstermedia on Instagram.

Photo by Nate Bett.
