Fish Skin Tanning

Fish skin has been transformed into useful and beautiful material by people around the world for generations. Often overlooked or discarded today, fish skins can be processed into a surprisingly strong, flexible medium with applications ranging from clothing and accessories to art. 

Join us for a hands-on day of fish skin tanning as we explore this skill and discover new ways to work with the materials nature provides. Through the process of transforming fish skins into a usable resource, we’ll connect with ancient craft practices, deepen our appreciation for the lives that sustain us, and explore what it means to use an animal with care and intention. Fish Skin Tanning is an opportunity for both experienced bushcraft adventurers and first-time crafters to learn, create, and connect.

During this hands-on class, you will:

• Learn the process of preparing and bark tanning fish skins
• Practice hands-on techniques for transforming fish skins into a useful material
• Explore the properties and potential uses of tanned fish leather
• Learn about various types of hide tanning methods
• Experience the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands
• Take home a finished bark-tanned fish skin to craft with! 

Whether you’re drawn to wilderness skills, ancestral practices, or simply the joy of learning something new, you’re welcome here!

Program Logistics

Class will take place at our school’s 60-acre property from 9am-5pm. The program will take place outdoors; we’ll have rain shelters and warm fires, but please dress appropriately for being outside all day. Participants should be comfortable moving across uneven ground, or contact us to see if we can accommodate your needs. No food or accommodations will be provided.

Camping is available Saturday night on our campus if you are registered for both Bone Craft (Feb 6, 2027) and Fish Skin Tanning (Feb 7, 2027). To register, select “Optional Camping” under the Additional Options section during the registration process. Camping is at your own risk and available only for Saturday. Potable water and bathroom access are provided. More details are provided in the Program Details.

Be prepared to work with fish skins and their natural oils, scales, and other remnants. We’ll practice safe and clean techniques throughout the class, but expect to get your hands dirty!

Meet Your Instructor:

Jeni Ronald

Jeni grew up on the lands of the Lakota peoples on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. She has always had a deep passion for wildlife conservation, naturalist skills and crafts, and nature photography.

She studied Marine and Conservation Biology at Seattle University and had the opportunity to research Great White Sharks in South Africa and study biology in Greece. After earning her Bachelor’s degree, Jeni found herself at Wilderness Awareness School, teaching youth at Summer Camps. This led her to The Immersion at WAS, and after graduating, she also completed the Adult Nature Instructor Training Program.

Jeni is our Marketing Coordinator, in charge of WAS social media, photography and videography, and Immersion Admissions. She is also a Core Instructor at The Immersion program. Jeni leads Wild Women’s Weekend, Bone Craft Weekend, Sheep Skin Tanning, and teaches other Adult Weekend Programs and Youth Summer Camps as well. In her free time, she is a freelance photographer and hide-tanning mentor, and she loves botany, singing, and natural crafting!