Smoke-tanned Buckskin | June 28 - July 1, 2024

This is a four-day, in-person, hands-on immersion that is part course and part community gathering. You receive a fresh hide salvaged from waste during hunting season, learn to tan it yourself with a partner, and take home your transformed creation at the end. You will have personal + direct guidance on each step of the tanning process + you’ll part of co-creating the community space, as we’ll share dinners, set-up and take-down camp together each day, and rely on each other through the hard work of tanning.

Our natural tanning method is Smoke-tanning, also known as brain-tanning. Smoke-tanning is the most ancient method of hide tanning (and textile creation) in the world: Hide. Fat. Smoke.  Combined together, these ingredients transform a skin into fabric, and it is forever changed.

Buckskin is the material creation of this method, a velvety soft fabric similar to linen, but as strong as leather. Your buckskin cloth can be used at home as a throw, blanket, alter cloth, adornment, and backing for beading; it can be turned into clothing, tote bags, and purses. It is a material that will last a lifetime. 

Notes on hide camp life

• Hide tanning asks a lot of our physical strength + attention + time

• We each need to be present from start to finish each day; there are no ins/outs throughout the weekend.

• Take good care of your self in body + spirit leading up to camp and make space for integration after wards.

• All tools, equipment, and hides are provided. Please keep tools off the ground and clean + dry them after use.

• We will clean up our tanning area together at the end of each day.

Financial contribution

This hide camp is on a pay-what-you can basis. The true cost is $425 per person ($325 for hide tanning + $100 to go toward dinners). Any extra funds received will be re-routed for future hide camps and scholarships.

To register: (1) Click “Add to cart.” (2) Fill in the brief form (3) Click the shopping cart icon + check-out.

Schedule:

Friday

9am: Opening circle

10am: Hide tanning begins

1pm-ish: lunch break (35 min)

4pm-ish: Closing

Saturday

10am: Hide tanning begins

1pm-ish: lunch break (35 min)

5:30-ish: Closing

Sunday

10am: Hide tanning begins

1pm-ish: lunch break (35 min)

4pm-ish: Closing

Monday

10am: Hide tanning begins

1pm-ish: lunch break (35 min)

4pm-ish: Closing