DeKALB | The DeKalb Park District will host a six-hour wood carving class on March 12.

Woodcarver George Tolliver will instruct the class.

“I have been seriously carving wood since 2000, but have been doing it all my life,” Tolliver said. “I carve at least half an hour each day.”

The students will be bark carving, which is a certain kind of wood carving. Tolliver uses cottonwood, which is about 200 to 300 years old, for all of his carving.

“Cottonwood built up an immunity to brush fires, so it’s a thicker denser wood,” Tolliver said. “The interior is great to carve.”

The program started several years ago by Colleen Belmont, program director of the DeKalb Park District, when she met Tolliver at a farmer’s market.

“It was something unique to this area,” Belmont said.

Students will make gnome houses during the class.

“The gnome house can be done in several degrees by all levels, so it lends itself easily,” Tolliver said. “The beginners will have a piece of work by the end of the day that looks neat and that they can take home.”

The class is open to anyone 16 years and older. The class fee is $25 for residents and $30 for non-residents, plus a $20 material fee. Lunch is included.

The class will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Haish Gym, 303 S. Ninth St. Pre-registration is required. The last day to register is March 5. For more information, call 815-756-8560.