About
the Gathering
In 2005, BOSS created a primitive skills rendezvous called the Slickrock
Gathering at its field school in Boulder, Utah. The 5th Annual Slickrock
Gathering takes place on BOSS’s 41 acres of land in beautiful Boulder,
Utah from May 10 - 16, 2009.
Course Content - Slickrock Pathways
At the Slickrock Gathering,
BOSS offers distinct "Pathways" for learning, giving you the
opportunity to focus on a specific interest under the guidance of expert
instruction. Our hope is that this makes your time with us more valuable,
as you can truly learn something in depth during your week. Pathways are "A
to Z"
in nature, offering a complete course in each subject from start to finish.
So each student will be able to collect the raw materials (when feasible),
process them into finished materials and then produce usable tools, clothing
or food by the end of the Pathway.
Throughout the process,
each student will be producing tools pertinent to his or her particular
pathway. For example, a student in the Pottery will begin with harvesting
the clay, then learning about shape and design, finally moving on to firing
their creation. It's a complete lesson in the skill, requiring no prerequisite
other than the desire to be completely immersed in the process during the
Gathering.
Pathways will change
with each Gathering, offering you the opportunity to refine and build
on your skills each year – so we hope you will keep coming back for
this event.
2009
PATHWAYS INCLUDE:
Code:
G5-FK |
FLINTKNAPPING |
| |
Instructor: Greg
Nunn |
| |
Class
Limit: 10 Students |
|
The Flintknapping Pathway explores the making of cutting
edges from stone. Students will learn how to find quality usable
stone, how to treat the stone, how to knap the stone and finally how
to haft the blade. Students will also make their own set of tools
necessary for flintknapping. Once useable tools have been made,
we will learn how these blades work and the different ways of using
these tools when compared to steel blades. |
|
|
Code:
G5-PP |
PRIMITIVE POTTERY |
| |
Instructor: John
Olsen |
| |
Class Limit:
10 Students |
|
The Primitive Pottery Pathway
teaches teaches the various aspects of pottery, from collecting the
raw clay, to processing the clay, to making clay vessels, to firing
them in an open fire. Pre-processed clay will be available for each
student to work while the raw clay is being prepared for use. Two firings
will be done, one instructor-guided and one student-guided. Each student
will complete the Pathway with the tools necessary for producing pottery
and products from the two firings. |
| |
|
|
HIDETANNING
(BRAINTANNING BUCKSKIN) |
| |
Instructor: Doug
"Digger" Crist |
|
Class
Limit: 10 Students |
|
The
Hidetanning Pathway teaches brain-tanning buckskin and making rawhide.
The tools each student may make include hide scrapers and bone awls.
Each student will use his or her finished buckskin to then produce
a piece of clothing, moccasins or a pouch. The rawhide will be used
for any of a variety of rawhide projects. Sewing will be done with
lacing and/or sinew. The goal is to learn how to turn animal hides
into functional (and possibly fashionable) clothing or accessory
items. |
| |
|
Code:
G5-MI |
PRIMITIVE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS |
| |
Instructor: David
Holladay |
| |
Class Limit:
10 Students |
|
The Primitive Musical
Instruments Pathway explores one of the most central aspects of many
primitive cultures: music. Whether
it was picking up a stick to pound on a hollow log or stretching a
hide over a hollowed stump to make a drum or using reeds to make wind
instruments, music was
everywhere. In many cultures music was not only the evening’s
entertainment, music was what bound the culture together. Students
on this Pathway will gather as many natural materials as possible and
then turn these raw materials into instruments, learn to play the instruments
and, with a bit of practice, learn to play in concert with
the other students. |
|
|
Code:
G5-MP |
MEDICINAL
USES OF PLANTS |
| |
Instructor: Cat
Farneman |
| |
Class
Limit: 10 Students |
|
|
The Medicinal Uses of Plants
Pathway teaches both the medicinal and spiritual uses of plants,
which we will gather from the wild and from gardens in town. Each
student will learn how to identify plants, how to gather materials
responsibly (and during the proper time of year), how to know which
parts of the plants to use, and how to preserve
your medicinal plant harvest. Students will learn how to use certain
plants on the spot for first aid as well as how to create medicinal
aids that can be carried with you for future use, including topical
salves, herbal tinctures, and herbal poultice powders.
At the end of
the Pathway,each student will take home his or her completed herbal
products as well as recipes for herbal remedies and instructions
for producing and using them. Self sufficiency and self empowerment
are just two of the benefits many students enjoy from knowing how
nature provides the medicines we need. |
Registration
If you are interested in joining
us for the 4th Annnual Slickrock Gathering, or you would like more information
sent to you via e-mail, please contact Jenny
Stein
or call (800) 335-7404 / (303) 444-9779.
Evening
Entertainment
Evenings will provide
many opportunities for music, storytelling, trade-blankets, games and other
activities. We encourage people to bring instruments, trade items, and unique
talents to the Gathering.
2009
Dates & Prices
Tuition includes all
instruction and materials, camping on property (bring your own tent),
and two meals per day (breakfast and dinner). No RV campers are allowed
on the property, water
& electricity hook-ups are available at an RV parking lot just a few
minutes walk from the property (additional fee required).
Course dates and prices
are subject to change. Space is limited on each course, and registrations
are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Please go to the Registration
page for more information.