2020 Classes
Below you will find the planned class titles for each day of this years event. A more detailed description of each class can be seen by clicking the link below. The classes are subject to change as needed. Sign up each evening to claim your spot. Please note class size and age suggestions by the instructors. There will also be additional classes added for children and youth that may not be finalized until the event starts. Some classes require a sharp knife and others have a small materials fee.
Thurs AM
Hide Tanning (All Day, Week Long Class)
Class Limit: 6
Age 12+
Material fee: $10 – $25
Instructor: Matt Hansen
Making/Using White Ash splints for Basketry (All Day, Thur-Sat)
Class Limit: 8
Age : Adults only
Material fee: $20 (Bring a small sledge hammer if possible)
Instructor: Denton Bragg
Artisan Salve Making for Humans with Skin
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: Free to Listen. Make and Take $5+ or trade
Instructor: Alex Howe
Cordage (making rope/string from fibers) Clinic: basic to advanced
Class Limit: 10
Age 10+
Material fee: n/a (Book available for $10)
Instructor: Jeff Gottleib
Friction Fire (Hand Drill Method)
Class Limit: n/a
Age : all
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: TBD
Intro Blacksmithing
Class Limit: 4
Age 12+
Material fee: $2.00
Instructor: Bob Orcutt
Spoon Carving
Class Limit: 12
Age 10+
Material fee: n/a (bring a sharp knife)
Instructor: Barron Brown
Pottery (All Day – very informal – participants can float in and out)
Class Limit: none
Age All
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Keith Grenoble
Coiled Kudzu (Basketry from Natural Materials)
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Lily Harlin
Cast Iron Cooking 101
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: $20 donation (includes lunch!)
Instructor: Brett Butler
Sloyd Carving- Advanced Knife Skills/Woodcarving
Class Limit: 10
Age 10+
Material fee: n/a bring a sharp knife
Instructor: Kevin McGee
Get Spun: Spin wool on a drop spindle
Class Limit: N/a
Age 12+
Material fee: $5
Instructor: Jamie Sparks
Create your own Simple Paint
Class Limit: 15
Age All
Material fee: $3.00 for pigments and paper
Instructor: Julia Moore
Understanding your emotions
Class Limit: N/a
Age Adult
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: John Handelman
TBA
Class Limit: N/A
Age 12+
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: TBA
Thursday PM
Wild Edibles and Foraging
Class Limit: none
Age all
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Frank Hyman
African Drumming
Class Limit: 10
Age : Adult
Material fee: n/a (bring a drum, some provided)
Instructor: Snowbear Taylor
Intro Blacksmithing
Class Limit: 4
Age 12+
Material fee: $5.00 ** Must have eye protection!!
Instructor: Robert Timberlake
Field Sketching & Botanical Illustration
Class Limit: 10
Age : No limit
Material fee: Free
Instructor: Julia Moore
Pottery (All Day – very informal – participants can float in and out)
Class Limit: none
Age: all
Fee: none
Instructor: Keith Grenoble
FlintKnapping- Stone Tools
Class Limit: 15
Age: all
Fee: $5
Instructor: James Clinkscales
Buckskin Sewing 101 ( Pouch Making)
Age limit: Under 12 bring and adult
Materials fee: $15
Class size 6
Instructor: Rain Hall-Taylor
Celtic Knot Carving
Class Limit: 12
Age 10+
Material fee: n/a, Bring a Sharp Knife or a Utility Knife
Instructor: Barron Brown
Knife and Tool Sharpening (come in dull exit sharp)
Class Limit: n/a
Age 10+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Lily Harlin
Bottle top Rattles:
Class Limit: n/a
Age 10+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Sangoma
TBA
Class Limit: 10
Age : all (Age 10 with an adult)
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Grant
Hybrid Shelters
Class Limit: 12
Age : all (Age 10 with an adult)
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Kevin McGee
Beginner wet felting: Making a felted pouch
Class Limit: 8
Age 12+
Material fee: $15.00
Instructor: Jamie Sparks
Body Reflex Hacking: Speed Healing From New Injuries & Old Accidents
Class Limit: 20
Age : Adult
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Bill Parravano
RiverCane/Bamboo Flute making class
Class Limit: 10
Age 11+ (age 7-10 with adult)
Material fee: $15.00 per person making a flute
Instructor: Hawk Hurst
Knott’s Principles and Practice
Class Limit: N/a
Age : All, Kids under 12 welcome with an adult
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Christopher “Critter” Watts
Riveting 101: Full tang knife Handles w/o glue (includes a hand forged knife)
Class Limit: 5
Age 14+
Material fee: $30 to $60 (trades/haggling welcome)
Instructor Gray Taylor
Pine Needle Basketry
Class Limit: 15
Age 12+
Material fee: $10
Instructor: Nancy Basket
Making a Wooden Maul (most often used campfire tool!)
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: $5
Instructor: Alex Kilgore
Trade Blanket 5PM – Hosted by Jeffrey Gottlieb
Friday AM
Hide Tanning (All Day, Week Long Class)
Class Limit: 6
Age 12+
Material fee: $10 – $25
Instructor: Matt Hansen
Making/Using White Ash splints for Basketry (All Day, Thur-Sat)
Class Limit: 8
Age : Adults only
Material fee: $20 (Bring a small sledge hammer if possible)
Instructor: Denton Bragg
Making and using a friction Fire Bow Drill kit (All Day class)
Class Limit: 12
Age : 14+
Material fee: $8
Instructor: Alex Kilgore
Making Handmade buckskin clothing (All day class) Pants or Buckskin shirt
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: $100 to $150 (depending on what you make) Hides available.
Instructor: Penny Wayne
Pottery (All Day – very informal – participants can float in and out)
Class Limit: none
Age All
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Keith Grenoble
Bowl Carving (wooden bowls- All Day Class!)
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Barron Brown
Woodslore and Useful wild Plants
Class Limit: none
Age all
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Doug Elliot
Coiled Broom Sedge Basket
Class Limit: 15
Age 12+
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Nancy Basket
How to see and hear more in the woods (Sensory Awareness)
Class Limit: 15
Age : 12 +
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Jeffrey Gottlieb
Bring me your tired and holed: A basic mending class
Class Limit: 10
Age All ages (8-10 with adult)
Material fee: $5 to 10 depending on fabric and buttons(will consider barter/trade)
Instructor: Stephanie Davis
Cast Iron Cooking 201
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: $20 (includes lunch!)
Instructor: Bret Butler
Blacksmithing – Small Neck Knives ** 2 part class, 2nd part on Sat AM.
Class Limit: 2
Age 16+
Material fee: $5.00
Instructor: Bob Orcutt
Functional Movement, Breathing & Relaxation
Class Limit: 20
Age 12+
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Bill Parravano
Artisan Salve Making for Humans with Skin
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: Free to Listen. Make and Take $5+ or trade
Instructor: Alex Howe
Beeswax Candle Making
Class Limit: 12
Age : 12+, Under 12 with an adult
Material fee: $2.00(No one turned away for lack of funds)
Instructor: JT Stokes
Sacred Intimacy
Class Limit: N/a
Age Adult
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: John Handelman
Edge Tool Sharpening (come in dull exit sharp)
Class Limit: none
Age All
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Todd Kershaw
TBA- Kids Program
Class Limit: 12
Age : kids 6+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Snowbear
Friday PM
Making Handmade buckskin clothing (Part II) Pants or Buckskin shirt
MUST HAVE COME to AM session.
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: $100 to $150 (depending on what you make) Hides available.
Instructor: Penny Wayne
Making and using a friction Fire Bow Drill kit Part II (All Day class)
Must have Come to the AM session.
Class Limit: 12
Age : 14+
Material fee: N/A to watch
Instructor: Alex Kilgore
Intro Blacksmithing
Class Limit: 4
Age 12+
Material fee: $5.00 ** Must have eye protection!!
Instructor: Robert Timberlake
Wild Walkabout: Nature Spirituality, Sacred Ecology and Intimate Connection with Wildness.
Class Limit: 20
Age : 12+
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Lief Robert Diamant
Bowl Carving (wooden bowls continued)
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Barron Brown
Knife and Tool Sharpening (come in dull exit sharp)
Class Limit: none
Age All
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Lily Harlin
FlintKnapping- Stone Tools
Class Limit: 15
Age: all
Fee: $5
Instructor: James Clinkscales
Finger Weaving
Class Limit: 8
Age 12+
Material fee: $0-5 ($5 if you use hemp or waxed cotton)
Instructor: Joan Candalino
Pottery (All Day – very informal – participants can float in and out)
Class Limit: none
Age All
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Keith Grenoble
Ceremony of Moonlodge: New Moon in Aries
Class Limit: N/A
Age Adult
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Sangoma
Beginner wet felting: Making a felted pouch
Class Limit: 8
Age 12+
Material fee: $15.00
Instructor: Jamie Sparks
Beginners Poi, Flow Arts, and Safety First Fire Dancing
Class Limit: 8
Age 7+
Material fee: $3.00 if using the fuel
Instructor: Alex Howe
Advanced Knots and Rope Foolery
Class Limit: N/a
Age All, under welcome with an adult
Material fee: N/A. (a few dollars if you want to purchase some rope)
Instructor: Christopher “Critter” Watts
RiverCane/Bamboo Flute making class
Class Limit: 10
Age 11+ (age 7-10 with adult)
Material fee: $15.00 per person making a flute
Instructor: Hawk Hurst
Riveting 101: Full tang knife Handles w/o glue (includes a hand forged knife)
Class Limit: 5
Age 14+
Material fee: $30 to $60 (trades/haggling welcome)
Instructor: Gray Taylor
Field Sketching & Botanical Illustration
Class Limit: 10
Age : No limit
Material fee: Free
Instructor: Julia Moore
Mead Making
Class Limit: 15
Age : Adult
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Grant
Saturday AM
Pottery (AM only – very informal – participants can float in and out, Firing Sat PM)
Class Limit: none
Age: All
Material fee: n/a
Instructor Keith Grenoble
Create your own Simple Paint
Class Limit: 15
Age: All
Material fee: $3.00 for pigments and paper
Instructor: Julia Moore
Hide Tanning (All Day, Week Long Class)
Class Limit: 6
Age: 12+
Material fee: $10 – $25
Instructor: Matt Hansen
Starting a land based Community
Class Limit: N/a
Age : Adults
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Jon Handelman
Bamboo Craft
Class Limit: 10
Age: 12+
Material fee: $2.00 per bamboo section
Instructor: Snowbear Taylor
Blacksmithing (continued from Friday AM) – Small Neck Knives
Class Limit: 2
Age: 16+
Material fee: $5.00
Instructor: Bob Orcutt
Buckskin Sewing 101 ( Pouch Making)
Age: 10+
Materials fee: $15 (includes instructor made egg tanned buckskin)
Class size 4
Instructor: Rain Hall-Taylor
Beadwork 101 (edging,lane,applique) Give your bag some swag
Class Limit: 8
Age: 10+
Material fee: (donation)
Instructor: Joan Candalino
Wooden Spoon Carving
Class Limit: 10
Age: 12+
Material fee: n/a, Bring a Sharp Knife
Instructor Barron Brown
Random Free Form Basket Weaving with Natural Materials
Class Limit: 15
Age 12+
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Nancy Basket
Tarp Pitching (Art of making a dry space, learn useful knots along the way)
Class Limit: n/a
Age : All( Under 12 with an adult)
Material Fee: n/a
Instructor: Christopher “Critter” Watts
Weeds, Woodslore, and Useful Wild Plants.. and maybe a song or two
Class Limit: N/a
Age : N/A
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Doug Elliott
Mindfulness / Meditation with Earth Music
Class Limit: N/a
Age: All welcome including children if they can center themselves
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Rabbi Robin Damsky with music provided by Donavon Moran
Hentopia (Hen raising skills and hacks for happy hens)
Class Limit: 15
Age : n/a
Material fee: N/A book will be available for purchase
Instructor : Frank Hyman
Using an Egyptian friction Fire kit
Class Limit: 10
Age : 14+
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Todd Kershaw
Wild Walkabout: Nature Spirituality, Sacred Ecology and Intimate Connection with Wildness.
Class Limit: 20
Age : 12+
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Lief Robert Diamant
Percussion Class- Hand drumming/Middle Eastern Rythms
Class Limit: 20
Age : 7+
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Scott Sullivan (Sully)
Butchering / Processing Large Cuts
Class Limit: 12
Age : Adult
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Grant
Saturday PM
Didgeridoo Making
Class Limit: 12
Age: 13+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Fuz Sanderson
Shibori Dying (Natural Indigo)
Class Limit: 20
Age: 8+ (with and adult)
Material fee: n/a, bring small articles to dye. Limited items for sale as well
Instructor :Stephanie Davis
Riveting 201: Crafting Knife Sheaths with Clasp & Rivets
Class Limit: 5
Age: Adult or 12+ with and adult
Material fee: $30
Instructor: Gray Taylor
Wild Basketry Vine Spoke Basketry
Class Limit: 12
Age: 12+
Material fee: $6
Instructor: Jeffrey Gottlieb
FlintKnapping – Stone Tools
Class Limit: none
Age: ALL
Fee: $5
Instructor: James Clinkscales
Advanced RiverCane/Bamboo Flute making class (different styles from around the world)
Class Limit: 10
Age 14+
Material fee: $15.00 per person making a flute
Instructor: Hawk Hurst
Bamboo Craft
Class Limit: 10
Age: 12+
Material fee: $2.00 per bamboo section
Instructor: Snowbear Taylor
Netted Bags
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: n/a $1-$3
Instructor Barron Brown
Intro Blacksmithing
Class Limit: 4
Age: 12+
Material fee: $5.00 ** Must have eye protections!!
Instructor: Robert Timberlake
Adventures and Explorations in Nature, Culture and Spirit
Class Limit: n/a
Age: ALL
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Sangoma
Medicine Bag Class (specifically for the younger crowd)
Class Limit: 12
Age: +6
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Penny Wayne
Beginner wet felting: Making a felted pouch
Class Limit: 8
Age: 12+
Material fee: $15.00
Instructor: Jamie Sparks
Working out the Kinks: Neck and Shoulders
Class Limit: N/a
Age: Adult
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Bill Parravano
Kudzu Woven pouch(using retted Kudzu)
Class Limit: 15
Age : 12 +
Material fee: n/a
Instructor Nancy Basket
Knife and Tool Sharpening (come in dull exit sharp)
Class Limit: 8
Age 10+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Todd Kershaw
Woodfire Cooking, Barbecue and Smoking
Class Limit: 15
Age : Adult
Material fee: N/A
Instructor: Grant
Trade Blanket 5PM – Hosted by Jeffrey Gottlieb
Sunday AM
Nature Spirituality and Sacred Ecology: Sitting around the fire with Leif
Class Limit: none
Age: ALL
Instructor: Leif Robert Diamant (and hopefully Sangoma)
Get Spun: Spin wool on a drop spindle
Class Limit: N/a
Age: 12+
Material fee: $5
Instructor: Jamie Sparks
Celtic Knot Carving
Class Limit: 8
Age: 10+
Material fee: n/a (bring sharp Knife)
Instructor: Barron Brown
Free Form Basket Weaving with Natural Materials (Kudzu)
Class Limit: 10
Age: 12+
Material fee: $10
Instructor: Lily Harlin
Knott’s Principles and Practice
Class Limit: N/a
Age : All, Kids under 12 welcome with an adult
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Christopher “Critter” Watts
Throwing the Atlatl (ancient hunting stick)
Class Limit: n/a
Age: 10+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: James Clink-scales
Bring me your tired and holed: A basic mending class
Class Limit: 10
Age: Adult or Ages 8-10 with adult
Material fee: $5 to 10 depending on fabric and buttons(will consider barter/trade)
Instructor: Stephanie Davis
Weeds, Woodslore, and Useful Wild Plants
Class Limit: N/a
Age: 12+
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Doug Elliott
Artisan Salve Making for Humans with Skin
Class Limit: 10
Age 12+
Material fee: Free to Listen. Make and Take $5+ or trade
Instructor Alex Howe
Making buttons out of coins
Class Limit: 4
Age 12+
Material fee: $1.00
Instructor: Bob Orcutt
Making a sure fire Campfire
Class Limit: 20
Age 12+
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Jeffrey Gottlieb
Leather Belt Making Class
Class Limit: 15
Age 10+
Material fee: $25 (includes leather strap and handforged buckle).
Instructor: Penny Wayne
Native American-Inspired storytelling/drumming/ Flute Playing Session
Class Limit: 15
Age 11+ (age 7-10 with adult)
Material fee: N/A (bring an instrument)
Instructor: Hawk Hurst
Friction Fire Kit- Bow Drill Method
Class Limit: 12
Age : all
Material fee: $20 (Bring a Sharp Knife)
Instructor Brett Butler
Pattern Making 4 Buckskin Clothing & Accessories
Age limit: Under 12 bring and adult
Materials fee: N/A – small buckskin pcs. available for sale
Class size 6
Instructor: Rain Hall-Taylor
Eat for Two from your Own Organic Garden
Class Limit: 20
Age 12+
Material fee: $15 (come away with organic potting materials and organic seeds ready to plant.)
Instructor: Rabbi Robin Damsky
Sunday at Lunchtime- Making a living with authentic skills/crafts
Class Limit: none
Age 16+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor : Panel of instructors, hosted by Frank Hyman
Sunday PM
Star Stories
Class Limit: n/a
Age: ALL
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Nancy Basket
Finish Projects (Bowls, Spoons, Celtic Carving etc.)
Class Limit: 12
Age: 8+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Barron Brown
Best Darning Class Ever! (Repair wool sweaters and socks)
Class Limit: 8
Age 8+
Material fee: n/a (Needles can be purchased)
Instructor: Stephanie Davis
TIPI living skills (taking down a Tipi)
Class Limit: n/a
Age 10+
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Joan Candalino
Medicine Wheels & Shields to Navigate our Sacred ACTIVISM:
Class Limit: n/a
Age all
Material fee: n/a
Instructor: Sangoma
Sloyd Carving- Advanced Knife Skills/Woodcarving
Class Limit: 10
Age 10+
Material fee: n/a bring a sharp knife
Instructor: Kevin McGee
Mhuti, Medicine Plants, and Mysticism of South Africa. (A taste & smell show and tell).
Class Limit: N/a
Age : All Welcome
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Alex Howe
Developing Your Customized Animal Recovery Strategy:
Class Limit: 20
Age : Adults
Material fee: N/A.
Instructor: Bill Parravano
Intro to “Natural” Beekeeping- Pollinator Habitat, Honeybee Health
Class Limit: none
Age: all
Fee: none
Instructor: Brett Buttler
Processing Deer Antler
Class Limit: 10
Age 8+
Material fee: $3 – $5
Instructor : Alex Kilgore
Leather Wallet Making
Class Limit: 15
Age 10+
Material fee: $10
Instructor : Scott Sullivan (Sully)
Camp site Extras:
Kids Program on the Weekend:
The Piedmont Wildlife Center will be hosting some awesome children’s programming at the Piedmont Earthskills Gathering! While the kids are with us, we will be exploring the surrounding area, playing awareness games, and work on age-appropriate naturalist and bushcrafting skills. Our teaching philosophy follows Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature by Ellen Haas, Evan McGown, and Jon Young. If your child likes to look for critters under rocks, peel bark off of a walking stick, or cover themselves in piles of leaves, your child will probably have a blast spending time with us.
Thursday PM and Saturday PM – Tea and conversation before dinner (For first timers and all) Hosted By Alex Howe and TBA
Thursday/Friday PM -Ancestor Fire (not a class, drop in and talk)
Facilitator : Sangoma and Snowbear
Friday: 4:30 to 7:00 Rapters from the Piedmont Wildlife Center. Upclose encounter with these amazing animals.
Friday and Saturday PM -Music and story telling around the Fire
Age : All are Welcome, Bring and Instrument and share
Facilitator : Doug Elliot, Alex Howe (Fire dancing and Stories)
Thursday and Saturday PM – at 5 PM – Trade Blanket
Age : All are Welcome. Bring something you made or “green backs” to trade.
Facilitator : Jeff Gottlieb
Friday PM – Bardic Circle/Acoustic around Alex Camp, hosted by Jon Handelman and ??
