Charles Lamica

I am an outdoor and primitive skills enthusiast living in a rural area of north east Washington state. 

In 1979 I took a job with the Young Adult Conservation Corps and was stationed on a remote island north of Sitka, Alaska. Here I worked with other young adults to build trails, log
cabins, and other outdoor recreational projects.

In 1981 I became an Alaska State Trooper and was stationed all over Alaska for the next 22 years. In addition
to normal patrol duties, I served as a “Bush Trooper,” a member of the Special Emergency Response Team, a member of the Tactical Dive Unit, an instructor at Alaska’sDepartment of Public Safety Training Academy, held the position of State Wide Search and RescueCoordinator, a wilderness survival instructor, and the deputy commander of the Training Academy. I retired in 2003 and moved to northeast Washington.  

I have always had a special interest in traditional crafts. In 2007 I served a five-month apprenticeship with an experienced saddle maker who taught me how to make western style saddles and I often dreamed about someday owning my own custom leather shop.

In 2012 I began work with the Washington Department of Natural Resources as a Forest Warden. 

My dream of owning a leather shop came true in 2015 when I opened Boulder Creek Saddle Shop in Kettle Falls, Washington. I built saddles, gun holsters, belts, knife sheaths, and other outdoor gear. During this time, I was able to pursue my other passion, which is teaching outdoor skills.

 

I started the “1804 Club” in 2018. The 1804 Club is a youth program for kids 11 to 18 years of age who are interested in outdoor activities. The “1804” is in reference to the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806. The kids in our club study the practices, technology, and skills that contributed to the success of the
Lewis and Clark Expedition. 

I retired and closed my leather shop at the end of 2021. I now concentrates on my youth program and teaching old fashioned skills to kids and adults at the BreadHaus in Kettle Falls in collaboration with Bread Encounters Nonprofit. Check out our workshop calendar here.