Get in touch
(940) 440-8382
april@camptonkawa.org
Learn to construct a beautiful, natural, earth-friendly, and energy-efficient building! We need plenty of helping hands for this 3-day workshop where we will build a load-bearing straw bale structure from the foundation up.
labor day weekend
Sat, Sun, Mon
expert leaders
Master carpenters
$300 total
Work-trade available!
hands-on build
Foundation to roof
labor day weekend:
workshop cost: $300
work-trade discount opportunities!
Discounted prices can be earned by soliciting donations for building materials or food for the workshop, PLUS working weekends prior to the workshop doing foundation and other prep work. Call April to coordinate!
In this massive undertaking, families and groups are welcome as we need plenty of helping hands to complete the structure within the timeframe of the workshop!
the "nebraska style"
We will be teaching the Nebraska Style of Straw Bale building, which is also termed "Load-bearing". Everything from foundation, walls, windows, framing, and roof construction will be taught.
robin foote
Head Instructor
Owner of Whitehawk Construction Co. He is a Green Builder, master carpenter, and master painter who has built many earth-sheltered homes. He is an expert on ferro-cement, thin shell cement systems, and solar/wind generation.
mark blessing
consultant
Has built four Straw Bale buildings (both Post & Beam and Nebraska-Style) and worked on numerous others. His background is in engineering, designing alternative off-grid energy systems, and he enjoys putting an artistic finish into a building using stucco.
randy scism
assistant
Owner of Craiggs County Repair. A master carpenter, heating/air specialist, and general problem solver. He worked on the finishing aspects of Camp Tonkawa's first straw bale structure (flooring, final stucco, roofing).
april holtzman
Director of Camp Tonkawa. Learned Straw Bale construction in 2004 with "Earth Knack" Stone Age Living Skills in Colorado, and built the camp's first structure.
meals & mess kit
camping logistics
We have outdoor showers and a swim pond available to cool off after a long day of building!
