Skills Workshops

2025 Workshops

We are excited to announce our 2025 workshop schedule! We have a full line up of courses, everything from an incredible bowmaking workshop with visiting master bowyer Correy Hawk to a full spectrum of willow basketry. For those wanting to dive into the world of Primitive Skills, check out our Primitive Living Skills Foundations later in the summer. To register for workshops, please email programs@laughingcoyoteproject.org. We look forward to seeing you!

Community Archery Shoot

When: April 27 1-4pm 

Where: Fire Willow Farm (Longmont)

Cost: free, donations accepted

Who: open to all, children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult

Instructor: Isaac Coffin

Come join us to practice the iconic art of archery! This Community Shoot is open to traditional bow shooters. We will have a range set up with targets, as well as our rustic 3D/Stump shooting course. Please bring your bows and arrows to practice, there will be a couple of bows available to borrow, first come first serve. All shooters will learn range safety so we can have a fun, safe learning environment.

Bow and Arrowmaking with the Organic Archer

When: May 28-June 1

Cost: $1800

Where: Fire Willow Farm (Longmont)

Who: adults 18 and up (or parent/child teams, child min age of 10)

Instructor: Correy Hawk of Organic Archery

Dive deep into the ancient art of bowmaking with master instructor Correy Hawk. Participants will craft a longbow beginning with a stave split from a tree, and with simple hand tools create a beautiful, functional bow. The final day will be an optional arrowmaking day, each participant will have the opportunity to make a set of arrows to match their bow. Time spent shooting will be included in this course. One hearty lunch provided each day, along with snacks and coffee. Participants are welcome to camp on site to immerse themselves in this experience, campsites and an outdoor kitchen will be available. 

Correy Hawk of Organic Archery has been a passionate maker of archery equipment and full time bowyer since 2018. A Marine Corps veteran, he has also been featured on Alone and Ultimate Marksman. 

Scandinavian Stacker Knives

When: June 7-8

Cost: $300 plus $25 materials

Who: open to participants 16 and up

Instructor: Isaac Coffin

Knives are iconic, and the beautifully crafted knives of Scandinavia are well respected in the carving world. In this two day class participants will take a knife blade, and learn the traditional art of “stacking” the handle, to make an heirloom quality knife. Simple leather sheath making will be included as well. 

Foundations of Willow Basketry 1

When: June 28-29

Where: Fire Willow Farm (Longmont)

Cost: $300 plus $25 materials

Who: open to participants 18 and up

Instructor: Gelsey Malferrari

This class is designed to give you a solid introduction into weaving your first willow basket. You will learn to weave a round base, several weaving patterns to build the walls of your basket, and a border to finish it. Students will go home with a completed basket and possibly some extra bases to weave baskets at home. Students will also learn about gathering, processing, storing and preparing willow for weaving. Basket-making remains one of the quintessential human crafts, practiced by cultures around the world. 

Foundations of Willow Basketry 1 at Dharma’s Garden

When: July 26-27

Where: Dharma’s Garden

Who: open to participants 18 and up

Instructor: Gelsey Malferrari

This class is designed to give you a solid introduction into weaving your first willow basket. You will learn to weave a round base, several weaving patterns to build the walls of your basket, and a border to finish it. Students will go home with a completed basket and possibly some extra bases to weave baskets at home. Students will also learn about gathering, processing, storing and preparing willow for weaving. Basket-making remains one of the quintessential human crafts, practiced by cultures around the world. Please register through Dharma’s Garden Website.

Spoon Social 

When: July 26 9-1pm 

Cost: free, donations accepted

Who: open to all, children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult

Instructor: Isaac Coffin

Spoon carving is a fun craft to create something functional while expressing artistry, and is a great social activity. Come out and join us for an afternoon of spoon carving and conversation. Wood and tools will be available, but feel free to bring along your own project, knife, spoon knife and hatchet. This is an informal gathering, beginners are welcome to bring questions to learn.

Primitive Living Skills Foundations

When: August 23-24

Where: Fire Willow Farm (Longmont)

Cost: $350

Who: open to participants 18 and up

Instructor: Gelsey Malferrari and Neal Ritter

Come join us to dive into the world of primitive skills. In this course we will focus on the Big Three: Cutting Edge, Fire and Cordage. We will cover knife skills and safety, bowdrill fire, and cordage from natural fibers. Participants are encouraged to camp on site, and in the evenings we will add in other outdoor living skills such as cooking on the fire and containers. 

Foundations Of Willow Basketry 2 at Dharma’s Garden

When: September 6-7

Where: Dharma’s Garden

Who: open to participants 18 and up

Instructor: Gelsey Malferrari

This class is designed to give you a solid introduction into weaving your first willow basket. You will learn to weave a round base, several weaving patterns to build the walls of your basket, and a border to finish it. This will feature a different basket style from our Foundations 1 class and will be a more challenging project. We recommend taking Foundations 1 first, however this course is open to first time weavers. Students will go home with a completed basket and possibly some extra bases to weave baskets at home. Students will also learn about gathering, processing, storing and preparing willow for weaving. Please register through Dharma’s Garden Website.

Board Bows

When: September 6-7 9am-5pm each day

Cost: $300 plus $25 materials

Who: open to participants 16 and up

Instructor: Isaac Coffin

The beauty and simplicity of the wooden long bow has captured the mind of people since the dawn of archery. Its simple and efficient design and ease of construction makes it one of the most widely used bows in the world.

Get your foot in the door of the bowyer’s craft and learn to use woodworking tools and bow making techniques to shape an effective bow. Come prepared to work hard with your hands and mind, and walk away with a beautiful functioning bow!

Harvesting basket at Dharma’s Garden

When: September 13-14

Where: Dharma’s Garden

Who: open to participants 18 and up

Instructor: Gelsey Malferrari

For those wishing to take their willow basketry skills to the next level, in this class we will be working with an oval base, and make a harvesting basket. Students will have the opportunity to incorporate more patterns into their baskets. Prerequisite: Foundations of Willow Basketry 1 or 2, or previous weaving experience with Gelsey. Please register through Dharma’s Garden Website.