brain-tanned hides, arrowheads, & bows
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Primitive Creations-1 dayCreativity is the focal point of this camp as participants learn about bark baskets, stone tools and pottery making. Participants will construct a piece of pottery, an arrowhead, or a bark basket to take home. Fishing techniques will be introduced When not creating, participants can practice their archery skills on the archery practice range (with bows made by the instructor!).Ages: 8 – adult
One of our workshops was reported in the Winchester Star in 2000, http://www.winchesterstar.com/
TheWinchesterStar/001013/Area_survival.asp,
Hide Tanning Workshop- 4 daysLearn how to transform your deer hides into leather the same way the Indians did. The process they utilized created a leather superior to any commercially produced leather. It's ideally suited for clothing because it breathes, rather than trapping moisture. It's machine washable, and if you find yourself out in the woods with no food, you can actually eat it. One of the greatest advantages of their method is that the deer has everything you need to accompish the tanning of the hide. Plus, it only takes about 4 days to take the hide from the animal to the finished product. Each participant will leave with a finished hide. Check out these photos of the hide process.
Flintknapping Workshop-- 1 dayThis is an introductory class with the main focus on pressure flaking. Pressure flaking greatly reduces the variables associated with flintkapping, making it easier to interpret what the flint has to teach you. Percussion flaking will also be discussed and demonstrated. Participants will leave with at least one finished tool and the ablility to make a knife almost any time one is needed.
Bow-making--4 daysParticipants make their own bows that meet their personal draw length and weight specs. Construction variables such as stave selection, how design affects performance, and tillering will be covered. Class also includes archery physics, finishing and care for bows.