Earthskills Rendezvous

An Earthskills Rendezvous History

Earthskills Rendezvous was founded in 1985 by Robert Slack, Jr., Stephen "Snow Bear" Taylor and Darry Wood. The idea was conceived as way to preserve and promote indigenous primitive skills like making white oak baskets, foraging for wild foods, starting fire by friction and tanning deer skins with brains and smoke. The three founders eventually invited their Cherokee friends to come share their living traditions of baskets and pottery, weapons and music. From these elders we learned many wonderful things, not the least of which is about being both humble and good-humored. Some of these people are now gone from the Earth; we are grateful they passed our way, and we cherish their memory.

Our week-end experience evolved into a week-long event, as a succession of notorious characters and charismatic teachers flowed through our expanding community.

These and other skilled instructors have showed us many ways to make fire, which is the basic tool we use to light and heat our camp, cook our deer, harden our clay pots, straighten our blowguns and a long list of essential things. We have made incredibly functional and beautiful tools, from stone & bone, wood and steel; shelters and musical instruments; cordage and felt; traps and snares; atlatls and spears; bows and arrows. We have practiced stalking and tracking skills, primitive fishing, native fiber arts, belly dancing and so much more.

For many years now, in the spring and the fall, we have convened this modern village, with people coming from all across the United States and other countries as well. The percentage of children grows ever larger, which most of us think is just dandy. During each day, one may wander the camp and find over a dozen instructional sessions going at once; then at night, there are glorious campfires, with story telling, singing and dancing. We have had a very fine time of it, and the quality of our program has earned widespread recognition: Bob Jr. received several awards for his contributions to environmental education in Georgia, and our Rivercane and Falling Leaves Rendezvous have been featured in numerous magazine and newspaper articles, as well as on two documentary programs in the PBS "Folkways" series.

For more information, please email or call us at 866-787-2263 (866-RVRCANE).