Loppet Outdoor Art

Singing in Nature: Hike and Sing leader, Nathan Bird, has crafted a hiking route and paired songs to take you on a journey through Theodore Wirth Park like never before.  Participants can expect a fun, invigorating hike, with predetermined places to pause at regular intervals and experience singing together in nature.  Come sing simple, familiar songs that inspire us to hike, as our hike inspires us to sing.  All levels and voices are welcome.  Navigating uneven terrain and unpaved trails is required.

Times/Dates: Friday, August 9, 5:00-7:30p, Saturday, August 10, 10:00-11:30a, Tuesday, August 13, 5:00-7:30p

Location: Wirth Beach

Cost: $130

Join the Loppet Foundation and Garden Naturalists from the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden this September for a four class program series integrating creativity, movement and nature at Theodore Wirth Park. Inspired by the approaching autumn and changes in the natural world, we’ll explore readings of nature writers, play with new forms of content, and experiment with various styles of poetry via prompts and exercises. This is an inclusive, generative class, and will be complemented with two naturalists who can share their knowledge of what is happening in nature during the time together as well.

Dates/Times: Wednesdays, Sept 4, 11, 18, 25 – 10:00-11:30a

Location: Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

Cost: $150

Lead Instructor: Sarah Clark

Registration opens August 1, 2024

Join Heather Cummins and a Garden Naturalist for an introduction to the art of nature journaling at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary. Come alone or with a group, and take the opportunity to pause, connect with nature, build a sense of place, and set off on a journey of discovery. We’ll explore observations in the different areas of the garden: woodland, wetland, and meadow. Take time for creating and reflecting back together in a positive, supportive, generative environment.

“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” – Mary Oliver

Nature journaling is the regular recording of observations, perceptions, and feelings about the natural world. This can be done through writing, drawing or painting, photography, and more. All you need to get started is some paper and a pencil or pen. Basic materials provided.

Dates/Times: Sundays, Sep 8, 15, 22 – 1:00-2:30p

Cost: $120, capped at 12 people, ages 18+

Materials: Please bring anything you would like to journal with. We will provide some supplies and sitting pads.

Registration opens August 1, 2024

Based in Theodore Wirth Park, this hands-on, outdoor class will explore how to make practical items out of natural materials, using a variety of skills and tools. We’ll learn to carve wood, make natural cordage, sew, tie knots and lashings, build fires and more. Projects include making A-frame packs, cooking over a fire, and burning wooden bowls. Emphasis is on safety, creativity, problem-solving, community and fun! This gently-paced class welcomes makers of all skill levels, and is intended for intergenerational partners: children and their parents,  grandparents or other special adults.

This four-session series is designed for kids ages 8-14 and an accompanying grown-up. One adult per child registrant. (let’s build a combined registration)

Materials:

• Comfortable shoes
• Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
• Water bottle

Dates/Times: Tuesdays, Oct 1, 8, 22, 29 – 6:00-8:00p

Location: Trailhead building: 1221 Theodore Wirth Pkwy

Cost: $200 per pair. This is a intergenerational – Family program. 6 pairs max

Lead Instructor: Anna Sharratt

Anna Sharratt is the founder of Twin Cities Makers Circle and Free Forest School, and believes in the power of experiential learning, intergenerational community, and nature connection. 

Facilitator: Allie Rykken – loves creating programs with all of her favorite things: playing outside and creative things!

Registration opens August 1, 2024

Join this playful and generative class by immersing yourself in the natural world, learning various embroidery techniques, and crafting together multiple projects into a final product that can remind you of the park you were inspired by. 

““Most things I’ve done in my life are because of my love of stories and storytelling. I have found a few threads of string that can tell many stories!” – Shalee Dunaski Palmquist

Materials:

• Comfortable shoes
• Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
• Water bottle

Times/Dates: Wednesdays, 6-8 pm, July 17, 24, 31 (3 weeks)

Location: Wirth Beach

Cost: $145

Ages 18+, 15 people max

Lead Instructors: Ericha Gudmastad & Shalee Dunaski Palmquist

Facilitator: Allie Rykken is delighted to combine playing outside with creativity.

Physical expectations: Participants will be asked to hike 1-2 miles around uneven and hilly terrain. If anyone would like to participate in the class but have physical limitations, please contact rykken@loppet.org to make arrangements as best as we can.

Weather Protocols

Scholarships: If finances are a barrier, please reach out to rykken@loppet.org to discuss. We’d love for you to join us!

Handcrafts in the Woods

Based in Theodore Wirth Park, this hands-on class will combine nature exploration and green wood carving, a traditional Scandinavian handcraft. Emphasizing sustainability, you’ll gain skills to transform a common local material from its raw form into items of your choice such as butter spreaders, magic wands, game pieces, beads and more. This gently-paced class welcomes makers of all skill levels, and is intended for intergenerational partners: children and their parents or grandparents or special adults. 

Come learn the basics of green wood carving in an outdoor environment. You’ll learn about carving knives and grips, wood species and carving safety. Above all, we’ll have fun together and go home with the confidence to keep carving at home.

This three-session series is designed for kids ages 8-14 and an accompanying grown-up. One adult per child registrant. 

Hike & Print

Join the Loppet this March in a new three-class program integrating nature, movement and print-making at Theodore Wirth Park. Starting with a hike, this class will center ourselves in nature and our bodies, followed by indoor background and instruction in the art of print-making.  We will be using carving blocks, and all materials will be included in the program. Beginners welcome! It will inspire and refresh you artistically and personally!

Betsy Hsiao is a printmaker inspired by the prairie, the wetlands, the lakes and the woods. She loves the challenge of putting the beauty that surrounds her in Minnesota into a woodcut.

Hike & Write

Join the Loppet this November in a four class program series integrating creativity, movement and nature at Theodore Wirth Park. Inspired by the deep autumn, we’ll explore readings of nature writers, keep nature journals and experiment with creative writing via prompts and exercises.

Hike & Watercolor

Join the Loppet this Fall in a new three-class pilot program series integrating creativity, art, movement and nature at Theodore Wirth Park. Starting and finishing with a hike, this class will take place outdoors in a special pocket of the park, with a lesson from a lead artist, time designated for painting, a regrouping for snacks and sharing, with the intention of building connection to the outdoors, ourselves and each other. It will inspire and refresh you artistically and personally!

The Loppet will issue a full refund of the program fee minus the original processing fee up until 4 weeks before the program starts.  Between 4 and 3 weeks from the program start date, a 50% refund will be issued. There are no refunds for any cancellations within less than 3 weeks of the start of a program.