Teachers learn paper making

Area teachers will have an opportunity to learn the basics of hand papermaking in a workshop designed especially for them, on Saturday, October 22, 1-5 p.m., in Dalton, Mass.  The workshop will be a part of a conference of the Friends of Dard Hunter, an international group of hand made paper enthusiasts. A $35 fee covers this workshop, and includes refreshments and materials.

Arrangements have been made with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for professional development points for teachers.

This workshop is designed for teachers and others who work with students of all ages.  Lauren Shelton, a Vermont educator, will illustrate ways that hand papermaking can support learning for children of all ages and skill levels. The lecture will be followed by hands-on workshops where participants will prepare pulp, form sheets of paper, and make simple books, collages, and other things with handmade paper.

“Hand papermaking is a magnet, even for the most reluctant students. The transformation of materials is truly magical,” Shelton says. “The skills being developed line up nicely with learning standards, so it is easy for teachers to provide a link to their curriculum.

The fee for the one-half-day course is $35. For more information, contact Laurie Shelton at 802-658-2538

More information about the conference and related Pittsfield events, all being hosted by Crane & Company in Dalton, is here: http://www.friendsofdardhunter.org/northeast_schedule.html

Housatonic Heritage is co-sponsoring this workshop as part of its effort to highlight the industrial heritage of the region.   Paper making was a mainstay of the local economy, beginning in 1801, when Zenas Crane set up his paper mill here in Dalton.  Samuel Church set up his first mill just a few years later in South Lee.  Paper mills at both sites are still running, though most of what was a thriving industry has left.   At the time of Crane and Church, almost the entire paper making process was done by hand.   More information about HH’s educational and industrial heritage programs can be found on its site: www.housatonicheritage.org