Middle Ground
This year MiddleGround will be having some of the same fun activities and crafts that everyone enjoyed last year and a few new ones. They will posted as soon as the information is available
Each year MiddleGround has a new sign-up sheet schedule. People who have volunteered in the past are not automatically put on the schedule. If you wish to volunteer for the 2012 Wheatland festival, in MiddleGround, the volunteer sign up will be Monday, May 7th. Please call 989-967-8879 to sign up.
Please note: If you have friends or you know of people who do not have access to the internet and they are interested in volunteering in MiddleGround, please let them know the date and phone number of the sign up.
What is MiddleGround?
MiddleGround was created to provide a place where young people could have fun and learn the ancient art of volunteering. Look for the red tie-dyed Wheatland t-shirt to identify MiddleGround volunteers.
What will MiddleGround do?
We are sponsoring traditional activities and crafts for those who have outgrown Kid’s Hill. MiddleGround encourages mentoring to pass skills to one another and it’s staffed primarily by young volunteers. We also provide opportunity for emerging musicians to perform at WMO in styles that interest young people. Late night Friday and Saturday at Centennial Stage bands perform that are ‘geared’ toward the younger crowd. MiddleGround has also set up many activitets and programs throughout the weekend.
Where will MiddleGround be?
Follow the ”MiddleGround feet” to find us, just west of the Gladys Wernette Building, across from the Drumming Tent
HENNA with ROBIN HENDRICKS
People have been using henna for centuries to decorate themselves and now you can too. We will have a limited supply of henna paste available for you to experiment with or, if you prefer, volunteer henna artists will be available to apply a variety of designs. Attention parents: henna may last up to 4 weeks. If you have concerns please talk to your children.
HEMP JEWELRY WITH SARAH MOLENAAR and GRACE CRAWFORD
Make your own hemp necklaces, bracelets, hatbands and more. The art of hemp jewelry making is an inexpensive hobby that you can take away from this workshop and continue to make jewelry for yourself and others.
HEAD WREATHS with KRISTINA WARD
Unleash your creativity and make a beautiful head wreath made from herbs, dried flowers, ribbon and lace.
WIRE WRAPPED STONES with EDIE MORELAND
Learn to wrap stones with wire to create a decorative bead that can be put on a chain, woven into a necklace or used on a key chain.
JUGGLING with BRYAN BENTON
Do you know how to juggle? Would you like to? Experienced jugglers will be on hand to turn normal people into jugglers by teaching tricks from simple juggling to complex multiple juggler patterns.
HACKY SACK with BRYAN TREVASKIS
Learn how to play Hacky Sack, a solo or group game that resembles juggling with your feet!
TIE-DYE with AMANDA & MATT JONES
Come and enjoy the art of tie dying. Choose a S,M,L,or XL t-shirt, which is provided for you. First come, first served. Come prepared to wait in line, making amends for the weather conditions. Look for the tie-dyed banner!
FELTING with ANNE BLANKENHORN
Learn to create a piece of beautiful felt from carded wool using soap and water. You will shape, stitch and embellish your felt into fun and useful items such as bracelets, hatbands, purses, cell phone covers, eyeglass cases, can cozies and bracelets.
OPEN MIC with CHRIS HUNTOON
“Your daytime chance to perform on stage” This open mic stage is set up for complete bands or individuals and has the ability to photograph & record your performance. Because there is not a set time limit for performances, this stage gives you the opportunity to perform complete sets of music. Anyone interested in performing on stage is welcome. The stage is next to the Gladys Wernette building in MiddleGround.
NO SEW BANDANA TOTE BAG with CHRISTINE STECKLER
No sewing, just cut and knot. This tote bag made with bandanas will be your new favorite bag.
DISC GOLF with NICK HANSEN
Disc Golf is a sport in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or sometimes at a target. Learn how to play this popular game. Volunteer will help you get started and explain the rules of the game.
HULA HOOPS with BEN DUSSEAU
Twirled around the waist, limbs, or neck the hula hoop is a fun way to exercise. Make your own hoop and learn the art & techniques of using the hula hoop for fun and exercise.
AROMATHERAPY BATH SALTS with ADA RIVES
Learn to sew your own organza bag and decorate it with a variety of colorful beads & ribbons. Then create your own homemade aromatherapy bath salts to put in the beautiful bag you have created.
HANDMADE FLOWER PINS with JESSI BAILEY
Floral pins are easy to make accessories that add a bit of decoration to your outfit. This activity will allow you to create a unique pin from a variety of fabric art supplies.
DEVIL STIX with JOSH WALTER
Devil Stix is a form of gyroscopic juggling, and is generally considered to be one of the ‘circus arts’. Sometimes called “devil-sticking” other terms often used are: “twirling”, “sticking” and “stick juggling”. Learn the art of how to juggle and twirl with stix.
HIPPY HEADBANDS with LEE ANN CREAGER
Create a one of a kind, fun, festive head wreath by tying various lengths of fabric on a headband. No sewing involved, just a few knots, strategically placed, will create your headband. The free flowing head wreath will make you want to dance in the moonlight.
DROP SPINDLE with BRIDGET PATRICK
Learn to spin wool into yarn with an old-fashioned drop spindle. This class will teach you how to take a tuft of wool, draw out fibers, hook them onto a spindle, draft the fibers—and with a whirl and some twist – you will create yarn out of wool. Because of the complexity of the activity, this class is for students over the age of 13. You get one-on-one instruction, so we ask for only eight students at a time. Plan on spending an hour at this workshop. By the end of the workshop, you should have enough yarn to braid into a wristband or use as an accent to an existing knitted accessory.
RUBBER BAND BRACELETS with ANNELIESE STECKLER
Different color rubber bands are used to weave this bracelet. The simple design makes it easy to make more than one bracelet for a colorful combination or just one bracelet of different colors.
FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS with JUDY FOGLE
There are many types of friendship bracelets but they all have one common purpose. They are all symbols of friendship you have with a best friend. Learn to hand weave these bracelets using embroidery thread to create a bracelet for yourself or a friend.
DRUMMING with RYAN EDWARDS and CAROLYN KOEBLER
Instruction and participation for drumming is being offered in the drumming area adjacent to MiddleGround Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well as an open drumming session for all to participate in from 8:00 to 10:00 Saturday night. Various different types of drumming including Djembe, Taiko, body percussion and frame drumming will be offered. Feel free to join or watch the fascinating world of percussion with Ryan and Carolyn.
FRIDAY 3:00 – 6:00
Head Wreaths ~ No Sew Bandana Tote Bag ~ Wire Wrapped Stones
Felting ~ Hacky Sac ~ Juggling ~ Hula Hoops
Disc Golf ~ Rubber Band Bracelets ~ Devil Stix
SATURDAY 12:00 – 3:00
Tie Dye ~ Friendship Bracelets ~ Hemp Jewelry ~ Juggling
Open Mic ~ Felting ~ Aromatherapy/Bath Salts ~ Flower Pins
Drumming -Body Percussion ~ Drumming-Frame Drumming
SATURDAY 3:00 – 6:00
Henna ~ Rubber Band Bracelets ~ Hemp Jewelry
Hula Hoops ~ Drop Spindle ~ Juggling ~ Devil Stix
Hacky Sac ~ Hippy Headbands ~ Drumming-Djembe
SUNDAY 12:00 – 3:00
Friendship Bracelets ~ Henna ~ Wire Wrapped Stones ~ Juggling
Hemp Jewelry ~ Open Mic ~ Disc Golf ~ Flower Pins
Aromatherapy/Bath Salts ~ Hippy Headbands