At top, Jan Zender, left, gives two third-graders from Aspen Ridge Elementary School, Wyatt Champion, middle, and Cole Nora hands on experience making a birchbark canoe. All this week the Marquette Regional History Center has been presenting Birchbark Canoe Build with traditional artisans Rochelle Dale and Jan Zender, of Big Bay, in the center’s gathering hall. Thanks to a Community Foundation grant the MRHC was able to create a hands-on learning opportunity for both school aged children and the greater community. School groups from across the county visited Zender and Dale to learn about their craft. The public was invited to observe the creation of an authentic birchbark canoe during a demonstration on Wednesday evening and are invited to stop by the MRHC from noon to 5 p.m. the rest of the week for open observation. At left, Dale explains the final stages of canoe construction using a model to Mrs. Morton’s third-grade class from Aspen Ridge Elementary School on Wednesday morning. (Journal photos by Corey Kelly)