This course by request will have us crafting with leather in many ways. We will seek to “brain tan” a deer hide in small groups so that we understand the process, depending on group size and the availability of hides we will seek to tan enough for every one to come away with between 1/2 and 1/4 of a hide. We may use other natural tanning agents other than brains for this process.

We will also learn some raw hide work and make moccasin from commercially tanned leather. There will be an opportunity to craft knife and axe sheaths from veg tanned leather too.

We encourage full participation with all activities and ask for some assistance with basic food preparation and camp duties.

Some of the skills covered:
Flint knapping making hand axes, knife blades & Celts
Primitive food preparation
Hand drill fire method
Bow making
Green wood working
Working with raw hide
Bark baskets including water carrying basket
Working with pine pitch
Bone work