What are your interests?

With 14 cultural skills areas of study, there is probably an area for you.

There are also units specifically intended for younger members.

Contact our Cultural Director to learn more or
Go to the Sons of Norway website where you can print the entire activity book for your area of study (You will need your membership number and pasword to gain access to this area of their web site).

Pictured: an item by Vesterheim gold medalist, Rhoda Fritsch, who has participated in our Heritage Fests.

Learn more about rosemaling (Norwegian decorative painting) at the Illinois Norsk Rosemalers Association web site.



OVERVIEW
To participate, you learn/demonstrate your skills in one or more areas of your choosing.  Each area of study has progressively more difficult levels.  Pins are awarded for the successful completion of a track or level as demonstrated by the results of tests, or the submission of documentation, as evidence of completion.

You may wish to team up with other members who are also working in in your area of study.  Contact the lodge's Cultural Skills Director to learn more and then call/write/e-mail Sons of Norway in Minneapolis to obtain the "kit" for your area of study.  Read more about program details and the awards below (including the YOUTH PROGRAM)

THE PROGRAM
The Cultural Skills Program is offered by Sons of Norway to serve a variety of purposes:

• To encourage active participation in Norwegian-North American pursuits, both traditional and contemporary;
• To enrich the lives of members of all ages;
• To provide the basis for special interest clubs within our lodges; and
• To provide new reasons for people to join Sons of Norway

THE AWARDS
Specialist Track:
The Specialist award defines you as an expert in any one subject area.  Example: You prove that you know the basics of rosemaling (for part one), that you can do a larger project (for part two) and that you can create and execute a new rosemaling design (for part three).

Generalist Track:
The generalist track requires diversity and the generalist pin is awarded to any person who demonstrates basic skills in several subject areas.  Example: Cooking (for part one), Genealogy (for part two), and Hardanger Embroidery (for part three).

Mentor Track:
The mentor track is for formal or informal teachers who assist others in earning the specialist or generalist pins.

Master of Cultural Skills:
Any of the three above tracks may lead to a Master's pin.  For each level of the requirements, a practitioner must complete all three levels of three activities, or the basic level of nine activities.  This is an opportunity to really prove your love of the Nordic heritage.

CURRENT ADULT CULTURAL SKILLS ACTIVITIES
1. Traditional Norwegian Cooking
Level 1--Your Favorites
Level 2--Baked Goods and Desserts
Level 3--Meat or Fish Dishes

2. Reading Norwegian and Norwegian-American Authors
Level 1--Your Favorites
Level 2--Fiction
Level 3--Nonfiction

3. Collecting Norwegian and North American Stamps
Level 1--Collect General Norwegian and North American Stamps
Level 2--Specialize Your Stamp Collection
Level 3--Complete a Collection of a Ten-Year Period

4. Norwegian Rosemaling
Level 1--Basic Strokes, Flower Form, and Scroll
Level 2--Completed Design
Level 3--Create an Original Design

5. Genealogy--Family History
Level 1--Complete people (1­7 on a four-generation ancestor chart, etc)..
Level 2--Complete four more people on the ancestor, family group chart, and document
Level 3--Complete all information for 15 people on the charts--document and write an essay

6. Hand Knitting
Level 1--The Basics
Level 2--Knit with Two Colors
Level 3--Create a Two or Multicolored Sweater (Based on Norwegian Designs)

7. Norwegian Language and Culture
Level 1--The Basics of Norwegian Language
Level 2--A Sampling of Norwegian Culture
Level 3--A Topic from Norwegian Language or Norwegian Culture

8. Hardanger Embroidery
Level 1--The Basics
Level 2--Complete a Larger Item
Level 3--Using Your Skills in Creative Ways

9. Figure Carving
Level 1--The Basics
Level 2--Complete a Detailed Carving
Level 3--Complete an Original Carving

10. Weaving
Track I
Level 1--The Basics-Make a Sampler
Level 2--Inkle or Card Weaving or Rigid Heddle--Complete a Project
Level 3--Create an Original Design
Track II--Floor or Table Loom Weaving
Level 1--Produce a Sampler
Level 2--Make a Finished Project
Level 3--Create an Original Design

11. Ornamental Woodcarving
Level 1--The Basics
Level 2--Flatskurd
Level 3--Carve the Acanthus

12. Chip Carving
Level 1--The Basics
Level 2--Carve Borders
Level 3--Carve Rosettes

13. Folk Dancing
Level 1--Easy Dances
Level 2--Intermediate Dances
Level 3--Advanced Dances

14. Music and Musicians of Norway
Level 1--Folk Music: Roots of Norwegian Music
Level 2--The Nineteenth Century: Edvard Grieg & Contemporaries
Level 3--The Twentieth Century: Composers, Performers, Conductors

CURRENT YOUTH CULTURAL SKILLS ACTIVITIES

Following is a list of units specifically for younger members.  The details are found at the Sons of Norway website on the Cultural Skills page.

UNIT	DESCRIPTION
30	Folk Dancing
31	Figure Carving
32	Handknitting
33	Collecting Norwegian and North American Stamps
34	Hardanger Embroidery

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ROSEMÅLING
Some of our members decorate various objects using a style of Norwegian painting referred to as "rosemåling" or flower painting.  One artist,  Vesterheim Gold Medalist -  Rhoda Fritsch, has displayed her work and demonstrated this style of painting at the lodge's Heritage Fest.  Rhoda's work can be viewed at her web site at www.rhodafritsch.com/.  Her site includes explanations of the various styles of Rosemaling and shows examples of each.