Treat your Mom (or yourself) to a natural coiled basket made from locally gathered marsh grass with an oyster shell base.  The technique is similar to that used to construct Native American style pine needle baskets.

Students will receive a pre-made basket start which is an oyster shell surrounded by several rows of long leaf pine needles. Synthetic sinew and a #1 darning needle will be provided to sew coils of Spartina grass forming the oval basket. The completed basket will be about 6”diam. x 4”diam. X 1 1/2” depth oval. Sizes are approximate and may vary according to the desires of the participant and the irregular shape of oyster shells.

The class takes places at the canoe launch area at Belle Isle State Park on Saturday, May 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (In case of rain the class will be moved indoors.)  Participants will need to bring lunch, a small pair of needle nose pliers, and scissors for cutting thread.  After lunch students will take a short walk along a wetland area bordering Mulberry Creek to study marsh grass.  The trail is on an accessible wooden board walk. Students can then finish their baskets with the instructor or take them home to finish.

Part of the boardwalk where the marsh will be explored.

Instructor Jean Koon leads basket making classes in state parks throughout Virginia and uses local materials to make each basket a treasured keepsake of the park.  Baskets will be unique to the style and interests of the students.

Cost for the class is $55 made payable to Jean Koon.  A $25 deposit and reservations are required.  Call the park at (804) 462-5030 for more information.

LOCATION: Lancaster County on the Rappahannock River. From Warsaw, take State Route 3 East to SR 354. Turn right and follow for three miles. Turn right onto SR 683 at Somers to the park entrance. From Kilmarnock, take Route 3 West to Lively, then left on SR 201 for three miles, then right on SR 354 for three miles and left onto 683 to the park entrance.
Drive Time: Northern Virginia: two hours; Richmond: two hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach: two hours; Roanoke: five hours

Click here for a Google map. Latitude, 37.774414. Longitude: -76.599364.

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES: Bel Air Overnight Area (Bel Air house and guest house) and camping. For information on availability of campsites, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online. The Bel Air overnight area can be reserved only by calling 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for details on reservation and cancelation policies.