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Mid-Atlantic Primitive Skills Group

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Event

Title:: Oregon Ridge Primitive Technology Weekend
When:: 01 May 2010 - 02 May 2010 09:00 AM - 17:00 PM
Where:: Oregon Ridge Nature Center - Cockeysville
Category:: Volunteer Opportunity

Description

Each year since 1988 professional and avocational flintknappers, living history practitioners, traditional archers, and archaeologists have gathered together with the visiting public during the first weekend in May to share knowledge and hands-on experience in replicating items composed of stone, bone, wood, and natural fibers. MAPS has been a part of this since 1997 and continues to participate annually.

Volunteer

We are looking for volunteers who want to attend the two day event and help MAPS Group grow by engaging with the public and signing up new members. There will be a MAPS table set up during the event with MAPS information, examples of members primitive crafts and possibly demonstrations of select skills.

Volunteer by sending an email!

While you are representing MAPS you can stroll through the work area you will see knappers using hammerstones or other percussion tools to flake away or sculpt a stone tool such as an arrowhead, spear point, or scraper. Shaping stones through this process was one of primitive man's earliest skills and has become an art form today. IYou might observe someone scraping the fur off a wet deer hide, the end result being a smooth, soft buckskin for making moccasins, bags, gloves, dresses or anything that we make with fabric today.

Additionally each year there are a variety of other primitive skill demonstrations including pottery, basket making, blade and axe production, bead making and much more. And before you leave, try your hand at shooting a bow and arrow or throwing a spear using a primitive device known as an atlatl.

Each year they honor a special guest speaker who gives a presentation on Saturday evening at 8:00 PM. Further, Dr. Errett Callahan, a world-renowned expert in Primitive Technological skills, and other informative guest speakers will lecture during the weekend.

Additionally, on Sunday morning at 8:00 AM there is a Traditional Bow Shoot for anyone bringing a traditional bow, target arrows, flu-flu arrows with judo point, and rubber blunts. Field shooting will feature rolling inner tubes, discs tossed into the air, and rising balloons. Those wanting to continue can enter the forest range for 24 woodland targets.

More Primitive Technology info from Oregon Ridge Nature Center.

Venue

Place:: Oregon Ridge Nature Center - Website
Street:: 13555 Beaver Dam Road
ZIP:: 21030
City:: Cockeysville
State:: Maryland
Country:

Description

Constructed in 1983, the Nature Center structure houses wildlife and nature displays to delight all ages, as well as the library, gift shop, and an auditorium for classes, meetings and colloquia. There are miles of nature and hiking trails just outside the nature center.

The Nature Center offers a variety of exhibits explaining the history, wildlife, and natural environment of the Park. There are exhibits of the local fauna and flora and displays of our archaeological findings inside the Nature Center. Their wildlife exhibits include live snakes, fish, amphibians, honeybees, and other creatures. They have many programs throughout the year including the annual Primitive Technology Weekend as well as canoeing, hiking, nature weekends, maple sugaring, and much more.

Directions to Oregon Ridge Nature Center

From Baltimore Beltway

Take 695 to 83 North to Exit 20B (Shawan Road West). Follow Shawan Road to the first light, Beaver Dam Road, and turn left. Immediately after making the left onto Beaver Dam Road, there will be a fork in the road. Take the right fork. Follow the driveway to the parking lot. The Nature Center is located a short walk up the rest of the driveway, at the top of the hill.

From Points North

Take 83 South to Exit 20B (Shawan Road West). Follow Shawan Road to the first light, Beaver Dam Road, and turn left. Immediately after making the left onto Beaver Dam Road, there will be a fork in the road. Take the right fork. Follow the driveway to the parking lot. The Nature Center is located a short walk up the rest of the driveway, at the top of the hill.