ROOTS Rendezvous

Dates: September 5-7, 2026

Hours: Saturday 10am – Monday 4pm

Tuition: $250 For 14 yrs & Up.

$75 for 7-13 yr olds

Early Bird Discount: $225 before 1-15-26

Ages: All Ages

Roots Rendezvous

A gathering of people. A huge variety of workshops and skills to choose from. Bring family and friends to come have a great time with others who share a passion for the natural world. Leave knowing more about the beautiful world which we inhabit.

This gathering is grounded in the idea that we as people can become more conscious, stronger, effective, and capable stewards of the land by learning new and old skills of interacting with the natural world. These three days have multiple workshop blocks, ongoing demonstrations, and night time celebration.

Three Days of Workshops

People of all skill levels are welcome to come and participate! Come learn, share in the good times with like-minded folks, and camp under the stars.

The Rendezvous features three days of workshops offered by a diverse group of experienced teachers from all over the country.

There are a wide array of topics.

This is an all ages event of primarily adult classes. There are multiple class offerings that happen at the same time so you get to choose your own adventure. Some classes are limited in size, to which people sign up at a designated time the day of if on Saturday and the day before for Sunday and Monday. You will put your name on a list, and I will generate the class list via a random number generator and post those names. If you don’t make it onto the list for the class you want, we see it as an opportunity for you to explore something else, perhaps new to you that you may discover interest in. Come learn, share in the good times with like minded folks, and camp under the stars!

Kids workshops! There will be kids workshops morning and afternoon for ages 7-13. With experienced educators, there will be skills and games to learn.

Teens Teens 14 and older can attend adult workshops unless noted. Classes are geared towards adults and teens should come prepared to learn as one.

Youth need to be supervised at all times.

Limited attendance! We will have open rolling registration until we reach maximum capacity. Register soon! We won’t be selling single or two day tickets unless we don’t sell out two weeks prior.

Camping and Food

Camping

Camping is included in the cost of admission and is limited to tents and tarps. Please practice Leave No Trace Camping. There is a field and limited forested spots that are well marked and have plenty of space for you to lay out your tent/tarp/bivy. You are camping at your own responsibility and risk. The camping is five-to-ten-minute walk on a mostly flat logging road so pack accordingly. There is access to portable toilets and clean drinkable water in camp. There are no showers, but there is a private space to bring hot water and wash down and a river to dip into at your own risk. You are welcome to come the night before to camp (and we recommend it! get here before dark though) and camp the night after attending for ease of travel.

Please note that upon online registration you will receive an automatic reply that wrongly states that there is no camping, but rest assured there is.

Food

Meals are not included in the cost of the program. Students should bring their own food. The outdoor kitchen and fridge are limited to classes, instructors and volunteers. Folks will be slinging some delicious meals and/or treats during the weekend! They will be available Saturday lunch and dinner, Sunday lunch and dinner. Cash.

No Dogs. We love dogs! Please don’t bring yours though as it adds a layer of complexity that we need to avoid.

2026 Schedule TBA

Here is a list of classes to expect!

Take a look at the 2025 schedule below to get a sense of how the weekend is organized.

Basswood; pound and peel post peeling season Barry Keegan

Pottery, Hand building Conrad Simas

Ninjutsu Ben Goodrich

Medicinal Plant Walk Betzy Bancroft

Green Wood Bending Kerry Lambertson

Fire from the Landscape Bill Kazor

Community Song Workshop Erica Martenson

Cattail, a Deep Dive Elliot Cluba

Tree Identification Micah Bernat

Rawhide Containers Nick Neddo

Leather Knife Sheath Making Coleen Butler

Steam Pit Eric Stone

Birch Bark Birds Penny Hewitt

Plant ID and Ecology Dan Farrell

Mead Making Caleb O’Conner Genereaux

Herbal Medicine Making Betzy Bancroft

Pine Needle Coil Basketry Stephanie Niles

Pottery, Hand building Conrad Simas

Acorn Processing Workshop Ellie Fuller

Cheese Making; Alpine Kalyn Campbell

Broom Making, Cobwebber Hannah Mitchell

Twined Cattail Baskets Penny Hewitt

Tarp Shelter Joshua Zaloga

Basswood Bark Weaving Barry Keegan

Get a Handle on it! Hang a Hammer/Maul Chris Knapp

Pine Bark Rattles John Hunt

Rawhide Containers Nick Neddo

Pine Needle Coil Basketry Stephanie Niles

Basswood Rope Scogin

Tree Identification Micah Bernat

Knife Sharpening Lucian Avery

Leather Knife Sheath Making Coleen Butler

Broom making; full size Hannah Mitchel

Waxed Canvas and Leather fanny packs Caleb O’Conner Genereaux

Bark Tan Rabbit Hides Emily Vinson

Black Ash Foraging Basket with Leather flap Penny Hewitt

Tree Medicine Jamie Maloof

Knots and lashings Joshua Zaloga

We-Drill; Fire by Friction Eric Stone

Pine Needle Coil Hair Pins Stephanie Niles

Get a Handle on it! Axes Chris Knapp

Bark Tanning Fish Skins Ellie Fuller

Blacksmithing Introduction Katie Morse-Gagne

Blacksmithing Intermediate Katie Morse-Gagne

Pottery, Firing Conrad Simas

Fire: Flint & Steel Jamie Maloof

Bundle Bows and quick arrows Eric Stone

Green Wood Bending Kerry Lambertson

Fire; Hand drill Nick Neddo

Herbal Alchemy Elliot Cluba

Whittling; Carve a Bear Erica Martenson

Fire by Friction; Bow Drill Bill Kaczor

Flint knapping; Rhyolite and heat treatments Barry Keegan

Tree ID Walk: Trees as Living Stories Micah Bernat

Birding Introduction Amasa Fiske White

Stone Tools Brad Salon

Saturday

Morning Circle 9:00

Morning 9:30-12:30

Youth! Games! Sam Bower (age 7 and up)

Acorn Processing Workshop Ellie Fuller (14 and up)

Cheese Making; Alpine Kalyn Campbell

Pottery, Hand building Conrad Simas

Basswood Bark Preperation w/ Potash Scogin

Japanese Knotweed: Edible, Medicinal & Utilitarian Jamie Maloof

Ninjutsu Ben Goodrich

Mushroom Walk Dave Muska (30)

Tracking Jonathan Shapiro (16/13 and up)

Steam Pit Eric Stone (12/$10)

Carving; Wooden Propellers Luke Boushee (10/ages 10 and up)

Afternoon 2:00-5:00/6:00

Fungi and Fire Dave Muska (20)

Plant ID and Ecology Dan Farrell

Mead Making Caleb O’Conner Genereaux

Herb Walk Betzy Bancroft

Pottery, Hand building Conrad Simas

Cattail – Deep dive Elliot Cluba

Pine Needle Coil Hair Pins Stephanie Niles (10 /$10 )

Acorn Processing Workshop Ellie Fuller (14 and up)

Broom Making, Cobwebber Hannah Mitchell (10/$30)

Willow Bark Basket Penny Hewitt (10/$30/till 6)

Deadfall Traps Luke Boushee (10/ages 10 and up)

Herbal Elixir Making Grace Krupkowski (15/$15)

Cyanotype Ezra Distlier ($10/ages 12 and up)

Saturday Evening Activities

There will be a fire going, fireside chats, and music to celebrate! There will be a Home Brew Circle! Bring out your home-brewed concoctions and celebrate with others.

Sunday

Morning Circle 9:00

Morning 9:30-12:30

Youth! Games! Sam Bower (age 7 and up)

Ninjutsu Ben Goodrich

Fire: Flint & Steel & Charcloth making Jamie Maloof (12/$5)

Medicinal Plant Walk Betzy Bancroft

Spinning and Roping Basswood Scogin

Coal burning Zach Fisher (20/age 16 and up)

Pine Bark Rattles John Hunt (ages 10 and up)

Tracking Jonathan Shapiro (16/13 and up)

Cyanotype Ezra Distlier ($10/ages 12 and up)

Rawhide Containers Nick Neddo ($ per square ft.)

Beginner Black Ash Basket Penny Hewitt (10/$30)

Pine Needle Coil Basketry Stephanie Niles ( 10/$10 )

Goldenrod, A Whole in Itself. Part 1; Medicinal uses and walk Alex Radoaca (15/$6)

Afternoon 2:00-5:00/6:00

Plant ID and Ecology Dan Farrell

Herbal Alchemy Elliot Cluba

Paint from Rocks Nick Neddo

Knife Sharpening Lucian Avery (8/Bring a blade)

Advanced knife carving Grant Hawkes (10)

Herbal First Aid from Kit and Field Alex Klein (20/all ages welcome, geared towards adults)

Knots and lashings Joshua Zaloga (15/all ages, under 10 with a parent)

Book Making Caleb O’Conner Genereaux (10/$15)

Balsam and Pine Resin Salve Making Grace Krupkowski (15/$15)

We-Drill; Fire by Friction Eric Stone (20/$5)

Bark Tanning Fish Skins Ellie Fuller (12/$10/14 and up)

Goldenrod, A Whole in Itself. Part 2; Utilitarian uses and Dye Alex Radoaca (15/$6)

Sunday Night
Trade Blanket! – Caleb
Music by FolkTree
Fire

Monday

Morning Circle 9:00

Morning 9:30-12:30

Youth! Fire Skills! Elliot (age 7 and up)

Bow Drill and Beyond Brad Salon

Ninjutsu Ben Goodrich

Pottery, Firing Conrad Simas

Spinning and Roping Basswood Scogin

Knife Sharpening Grant Hawkes (10)

Tarp Shelter Joshua Zaloga (20/12 and older)

Stone tipped hand drills Zach Fisher (12)

Ulu; ground slate and wood Eric Stone ($5/20)

Bark Medicine and tincture Alex Radoaca (20/$4)

Pine Needle Coil Basketry Stephanie Niles ( 10/$10 )

Beginner Black Ash Basket Penny Hewitt (10/$30)

Afternoon 2:00- 4:00

Fire; Hand drill Nick Neddo

Spoon carving Grant Hawkes (10/$10)

Birch Bark Birds Penny Hewitt (10/$15)

Plant Walk; Wild food and Medicine Alex Klein

Open Craft time. There will be a number of experienced teachers working on skills and happy to chat about
different crafts and the project you are working on. Bring your skill(s)! Lets learn from and work in the
company of others.

Clean up and fare well!

Sunday Evening Activities

The Trade. Bring a blanket and a few things to trade. There are no limitations here, just guidelines. Nothing is too big or too small, we have seen bags of acorns to canoes. Trade for something unexpected and great. This will be a time where you can put your goods out, walk around to check out other goods, and barter in a light-hearted natural manner. This is easiest working in small groups. Raw materials are wonderful, wild edibles and medicine are fantastic, baskets are a plus, hides are always desirable, and really anything handmade is stellar …but leave that scratched cd that you found on the way here under the car seat where it was discovered though. For youth there is a trade blanket in the block beforehand. For this evening’s trade we are going to limit kids to initiating a trade, but they are welcome to put something out in response to someone else’s trade offered.

There will be Music! FolkTree will be playing!

There will be Fire!