Wild Beings Ancestral Skills Gathering

Join us in the January 2022 school holidays as we delve into skills and ways of being that our Ancestors have practiced for 99% of human history!

Wild Beings are back for our 2nd official Family Ancestral Skills Gathering at a new location nestled within Ourimbah state forest.

We create spaces on land for humans to be.. humans!

In a culture where so little of our physiological, mental, or emotional needs are met… we create spaces for humans to partake in activities that bring them back into connection with the natural world.

This gathering will be a four-day, three-night campout, enabling participants to develop a relationship with themselves and the land through land based living practices.

The days will look a little like this:

Kids' adventures and activities each morning and afternoon running simultaneously with workshops for the adults.

Lunch breaks and free time

Fireside dinner and stories

Free time to explore the bush

Cultural dance and story shared by local Indigenous folk

Over the four days, we will be delving into a range of ancestral skills and crafts while operating in a village-like environment.

We will have some incredible facilitators offering the following:

Basketry

Fire by Friction

Wild Foraging

Stone tools

Cordage making

Toolmaking

Shelter Building

All of these while learning about the local land and ways we can live in connection with it.

All are Welcome! Solo adults, couples, families, goats! etc

Where?

40 Acres Property in Ourimbah State Forest

This event is camping only

Whether that is in a tent, van, swag, under the stars is up to you, there is plenty of space on the property for everyone

What else to bring?

Own camping gear + bedding etc

Warm clothes

Water bottle

Mess Kit (own eating utensils, we have cooking utensils that will be available in the communal kitchen)

Food and snacks (we do not supply snacks or breakfast or lunch; aside from what we forage and the meat we process, we do encourage everyone to bring a little extra to contribute to the communal dinners)

Headlamp/torch

Knife (we recommend a Scandi Grind knife such as the Mora Companion, available cheaply online, or contact us to order a handmade one before the event)

Bushcraft tools (if there are specific tools you would like to bring)

Foraging Basket

Musical Instruments!

Trade Blanket 2.0

The trade blanket is returning with a bang!

For those of you who are unaware of the trade-blanket, read carefully!

The mystifying Trade Blanket will be set up, waiting for the trade-offs to begin

It is wise to be prepared with your most valuable items to trade as you never know what kind of rare treasures may be up for trading

Absolutely anything goes on the trade blanket- you can trade a woven basket or a massage or leaf.

Our advice is to think big and prepare your trading items as some pretty wondrous items were up for trade last time!

NO CHEMICALS PLEASE This land is based alongside Ourimbah creek, so we ask participants to take responsibility for ensuring no chemicals enter the waterways or the soils.

Please do not bring:

chemical based insect sprays or sunscreen

chemical free sunscreen & sprays welcome

We like to ensure the best treatment of the clean creek & micro-organism ecosystems!

ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE EVENT (unless it is home-brewed honey mead!)

LEAVE NO TRACE please take all rubbish with you

Facilities: This is not a catered event; However, we encourage and LOVE community meals; we will be providing a communal dinner every night, so if you feel to bring extra food to contribute in this way, please do.

Otherwise participants are to be self-sufficient with their food for breakfast and lunch

This land is a bush block with no kitchen; we will have an outdoor kitchen & tea station set up but please BYO esky and cooking utensils

There is a huge newly built shower, and toilet block onsite

NO PHONE RECEPTION, you can drive 25 minutes to the end of the road if you need reception

Arrival Thursday 6th January 3 pm

Finish up Sunday 9th 1 pm

Pricing: Single ticket $370 You and a friend/partner $620 Family ticket (two adults two children) $820

Volunteer tickets are available; get in touch to be a part of the team! More ticket options on website

Any questions or inquiries at all, email wearewildbeings@gmail.com or contact Wild Beings Facebook page.

We are very keen to share this weekend and many others like it with you!

We hold the original Darkinjung and Kurin-Gai custodians of these lands in deep respect and wish to honour the old ways by respecting the land we are gathering on and the wisdom of Indigenous lifeways.