Hear the soft thump-thump of a black-ash log being “pounded” into silky splints, smell fresh cedar drifting on the Dells breeze, and picture your crew gathered under a shady tent just minutes from your Bonanza campsite. This is traditional Ho-Chunk basket weaving—part living history, part hands-on craft, and 100% screen-free story fodder for the ride home.
Key Takeaways
• Watch Ho-Chunk artists turn black ash wood into baskets just minutes from your campsite.
• Kids and grown-ups can join easy, 3-4 hour classes and weave their own market basket.
• Bring comfy clothes, a water bottle, and a tote to carry damp splints home.
• Buy and burn local firewood, clean your boots, and toss scraps in bins to protect the trees.
• Always ask before taking photos and pay the listed price to honor the artist’s work.
• Museum demos, studio drop-ins, and trails are all less than a 15-minute drive from Bonanza RV Park.
• Group rates start at 10 people; chairs, shade, and kid-safe tools are provided.
• Finished baskets need 24 hours to air-dry and should ride upright in your RV.
• Dust your basket monthly and reshape loose splints with a light mist of water.
• Leave with a handmade souvenir and new stories about Wisconsin Dells heritage.
Stay with us and you’ll learn where to watch master weavers in action, how your kids (or your Instagram feed) can get in on the fun, and what it takes to carry a piece of Wisconsin heritage back to your RV without a single splint snapping.
Keep reading if you want to…
• Hand your 10-year-old a weaving tool instead of a tablet.
• Snap the shot that proves you found the real, non-touristy Dells.
• Sit comfortably, ask thoughtful questions, and hear answers straight from a Ho-Chunk artisan.
• Check “cultural enrichment” off your youth-group checklist.
• Pack raw reeds—yes, sustainably harvested—for tomorrow’s campfire crafting session.
Ready to weave new memories? Let’s dive in.
A Living Art Form in Motion
Basket weaving has thrived here since the early 1800s, when, according to oral history, a Ho-Chunk woman received a vision that guided her to turn black ash into graceful, durable baskets. Within a generation the skill became both spiritual calling and economic lifeline for families who traded their work along river routes and early wagon roads. Travelers prized the lightweight pieces, and the Dells earned a new reputation—not just for sandstone cliffs but for finely woven utility.
By the late 19th century Highway 12 glittered with roadside stands, each booth lined with feather baskets, picnic hampers, and sewing kits in berry reds and root browns. More than fifty documented styles emerged, every pattern a clue to clan stories or seasonal needs. Today, the threat of emerald ash borer adds urgency, but exhibits like the Weaving a Legacy exhibit and public workshops keep the tradition alive, ensuring you can still hear that rhythmic pounding echo through the pines.
From Forest to Splint: Meet Black Ash
Black ash trees flourish in cool, wet lowlands around Wisconsin Dells, growing growth rings that separate cleanly when struck. Artisans fell only mature trees, then pound the logs until the annual rings pop free as silky ribbons—strong enough to haul garden produce yet flexible enough to coil tight corners. Natural dyes follow: blueberries for dusky indigo, iron-rich river mud for earthy gray, and bloodroot for a rusty orange that glows at sunset.
Campers play a role in protecting this resource. Moving untreated firewood across county lines is a prime way emerald ash borer hitchhikes, so Bonanza’s “burn it where you buy it” policy isn’t just a rule—it’s a frontline defense. Clean hiking boots before hitting the trail, and you’ll keep invasive spores and larvae from piggybacking into sensitive cedar and tamarack wetlands that nurture the next generation of black ash.
Craft Your Own Itinerary
Morning people can roll out of the RV, grab campground coffee, and reach a 9 a.m. demonstration at a local museum in less than twelve minutes. Climate-controlled seating, interpretive signage, and an easy parking lot make it perfect for families and retirees. After an hour of weaving, swing back to Bonanza for a swim break or midday nap before the day heats up.
Chasing golden-hour photos instead? Plan a 2 p.m. studio drop-in followed by RiverWalk selfies as the cliffs blush pink. Hashtag lovers can queue up #HoChunkHeritage and #DellsDesign for posts that feel miles away from water-slide crowds. If the weather turns, artists-in-residence offer indoor demo space with reliable Wi-Fi—ideal for youth-group livestreams or digital nomads eager to share real-time clips with followers.
Roll Up Your Sleeves: Workshop Guide
Beginner sessions typically last three to four hours and focus on a classic market basket—you’ll leave with sturdy side handles and newfound grip strength. Kids eight and older get pint-size tools, while instructors happily prep pre-split kits for anyone who prefers seated weaving. Finger stretches, shared in a quick warm-up, help ward off mid-row cramps.
Bring a reusable water bottle, comfortable clothes you don’t mind splashing, and a canvas tote for damp splints. Fees average the cost of a family pizza night, and some organizers extend a modest discount to Bonanza guests if you mention your site number at sign-up. Pack snacks, schedule a late check-out, and you’ll have time to weave the rim by lantern light back at camp.
Respect the Culture, Support the Artist
Photography is welcome—after you ask. Certain stages, like finishing the base or blessing the materials, hold spiritual weight; always wait for a nod before clicking. Payment is straightforward: the price tag reflects hours of tree scouting, log hauling, dye mixing, and weaving.
Looking for authenticity? Makers who are enrolled Ho-Chunk members usually display tribal ID cards or branded story tags. Ask what purpose the basket once served—was it for gathering medicinal plants or carrying river fish? The question sparks conversation without prying into sacred symbolism, and if you plan to exhibit the piece back home, offer to credit the artisan by name.
Camp Sustainably, Weave Responsibly
Bonanza’s camp store sells state-approved firewood; resist the temptation to haul logs from your backyard, even if they look pest-free. The same rule applies to leftover weaving scraps: toss shavings into designated bins instead of the fire ring, where ember-carried insects can spread.
Before biking the Dells trail network, brush mud off tires and stow baskets securely so splints don’t snag invasive seeds. If your timing aligns, join a community tree-planting day—volunteers tuck white cedar and tamarack seedlings beside ash saplings, creating the mixed wetland canopy black ash needs to thrive.
Keep Your Basket Beautiful for Decades
Freshly woven baskets hold moisture, so let them air-dry for twenty-four hours under your awning. When it’s time to roll out, line a cardboard box with towels, stand the basket upright, and resist stacking coolers on top. During long drives a cracked rim is usually traced to luggage shift, not highway bumps.
Once home, find a spot away from furnace vents and bright windows. Monthly dusting with a soft, dry paintbrush keeps fibers supple, and if a splint loosens, mist it lightly, reshape by hand, and press it under a hardcover book until dry. Between seasonal décor swaps, nest pieces loosely in acid-free tissue inside a breathable cotton bag, and critters will look elsewhere for chew toys.
Quick Answers for Every Traveler
Memory-Making Moms will appreciate that instructors weave safety tips into every step, provide kid-sized tools, and keep messy dyes contained to tabletop tubs. Adventure Couples can drop by between bluff hikes, snag sumac-dyed limited editions for photo pops that need no filter, and still make their dinner reservation in town. Retiree History Buffs won’t strain backs or voices thanks to folding chairs, shade tarps, and amplified narration that leaves plenty of energy for post-demo chats about tribal forestry and regional lore.
Youth Group Coordinators enjoy group rates that kick in at ten participants, pre-trip supply lists sent two weeks out, and lesson plans aligned to Wisconsin standards so administrators sign off quickly. Digital Nomad Crafters can count on strong Wi-Fi for livestreaming, buy raw splints by the pound to stash flat under an RV mattress, and keep leashed dogs curled at their feet as long as paws stay clear of dye buckets. No matter the traveler type, every participant leaves with a finished basket, a deeper respect for Ho-Chunk heritage, and practical tips for keeping both trees and traditions alive.
Let the rhythmic thump of black ash, the scent of cedar, and the hush of pine needles be the soundtrack to your next getaway. Secure your campsite at Bonanza Camping Resort today, and you’ll be steps from master artisans, sunset RiverWalks, and a campfire ready for woven show-and-tell. Book now, roll in, and watch every basket—and every memory—hold tight for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do my kids actually get to weave or will they just watch adults work?
A: Children eight and up are invited to weave their own small market basket right alongside the instructor, using kid-sized tools and pre-split splints, while younger siblings can help soak reeds or sort dyed colors so everyone stays engaged without handling sharp blades.
Q: How messy is the activity and what should my family wear?
A: The process stays remarkably tidy because water tubs catch drips and natural dyes rinse out easily; shorts, a comfy T-shirt, and closed-toe shoes are perfect, and the organizers provide aprons plus table towels so you can head straight to the campground pool afterward without a wardrobe change.
Q: What will a beginner session cost my family of four?
A: Plan on a fee comparable to a pizza-night splurge—about $25 per adult and $15 per child—which covers instruction, tools, splints, and a take-home basket; Bonanza guests who mention their site number usually receive a small loyalty discount at checkout.
Q: Is the demonstration truly led by Ho-Chunk artisans?
A: Yes, every public demo and workshop is taught or co-taught by enrolled Ho-Chunk members who share personal stories and cultural context, so your experience directly supports tribal artists rather than a second-hand interpreter.
Q: Can I purchase a finished basket or raw splints to use back at my RV site?
A: Finished pieces, starter kits, and bundles of untreated black-ash splints are available for sale after each session, and they slide flat under a mattress or fit upright in a laundry basket for the ride home without cracking.
Q: May I take photos or livestream for Instagram and YouTube?
A: Photography and short live clips are welcomed as long as you ask the artisan first; they might request a pause during blessing moments, but most enjoy tagging and will even suggest angles that highlight the indigo or sumac-dyed weaves.
Q: How close is the studio to Bonanza and nearby hiking trails?
A: The main studio sits less than a ten-minute drive from Bonanza Camping Resort and three minutes from the south bluff trailhead, making it easy to slot a morning weave before an afternoon hike or vice versa.
Q: Are there chairs, shade, and accommodations for limited mobility?
A: Folding chairs with back support, large shade canopies, and a level, paved entry are standard at every demo, and portable sound systems ensure you can hear without crowding, while staff happily reserve front-row seating if you email ahead.
Q: How do artisans ensure black ash is harvested sustainably?
A: Weavers work under tribal forestry guidelines that limit cuts to mature trees, replant mixed wetland species, and time harvests outside nesting season, and they partner with state agencies to monitor emerald ash borer to keep the resource healthy for future generations.
Q: Does the program meet school or scout learning standards and offer group pricing?
A: The curriculum aligns with Wisconsin social-studies and environmental-science standards, counts toward many tribal culture badges, and unlocks a group rate once you reach ten paid participants, making it budget-friendly for classrooms and youth groups.
Q: What is the maximum group size and required chaperone ratio?
A: One artisan can comfortably guide up to twenty students, so larger groups are split into simultaneous stations, and organizers ask for one adult chaperone per five youths to keep hands safe and questions flowing.
Q: Which supplies should we bring, and what is provided on-site?
A: Just pack a refillable water bottle and a canvas tote for damp pieces; the studio supplies all tools, splints, dyes, aprons, and even fingertip bandages so you can travel light and still finish a sturdy basket.
Q: Is Wi-Fi strong enough for a livestream, and can I keep my leashed dog nearby?
A: Reliable high-speed Wi-Fi blankets the indoor demo space for smooth streaming, and well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome to curl up beside you as long as they stay clear of dye buckets and wood shavings.
Q: What happens if it rains or storms during our scheduled session?
A: Workshops move into a climate-controlled gallery just steps from the outdoor tent, so your time slot stays intact and your deposit is safe, with the added bonus of museum exhibits to browse while the clouds pass.
Q: How do I protect my new basket during the rest of the camping trip and the drive home?
A: Let it air-dry under your awning overnight, then stand it upright in a towel-lined cardboard box away from coolers or firewood, and once you’re rolling simply avoid stacking heavy gear on top so the rims stay round and splints stay snug.
