Meadowlark Hearth Ancestral Skills Gathering and Archaeology Fair

August 8-11, 2026

Registration is now Open! Register Here

We invite you to join us for sharing skills and learning new ones. Shared meals, social time, music, storytelling, folk dancing and more! Skill instruction may include:

  • Ancient fire-making skills
  • Flint knapping, arrowheads and tools
  • Atlatl making and throwing
  • Cordage: Harvesting fiber from natural materials, and making cord & string
  • Ropes and knots
  • Hide work and bead work
  • Willow structures and basketry
  • Knife safety skills and notching techniques
  • Ancestral Scales: Music intervals and singing in and with Nature
  • Planetary Rhythms: Sky map study prior to stargazing evenings
  • Wild plant walks: Id, uses and harvest
  • Felting and drop spindle spinning
  • Check back for updates on more!
  • There will also be other sessions and spontaneous activities offered throughout the Gathering. Bring your own interests and announce possibilities at the 8:30am announcement time! If you can come and teach skills and/or help with setting up, daily tasks, take down, etc. inquire about work exchange. Contact us at meadowlarkhearth@gmail.com.
  • Some of the skills may take multiple sessions to complete your projects. The instructors will have guidelines on this. If classes are full, most instructors welcome people coming to watch, but this is up to the instructors. Some things like flint knapping will be ongoing throughout the time.

Full Schedule:

  • August 7
    • 1pm-5pm: Arrival for instructors and those coming from a distance and/or camping.
      Sign in, meet-and-greet, campground setup, instructor setup, class signup.
    • 6pm evening meal and planning session with instructors.
  • August 8
    • On this Saturday, our instructors, along with other presenters, will be teaching and presenting at the Archaeology Fair at the nearby Legacy of the Plains Museum. This is an open day, free for the general public and sponsored by the Meadowlark Hearth Living Environment Foundation the Legacy of the Plains Museum, and is supported by a grant from Humanities Nebraska. This is a chance to help the Fair’s presenters and instructors and share the skills you have learned with others.
  • August 8 Schedule:
    • 6am walking tour of the Nature Preserve on trails to North Platte River and ponds.
    • 8am-8:30am: Sign-in for people who didn’t sign in Friday evening.
    • 8:30am: Morning greeting and orientation.
    • 9:00am: Setting up for Archaeology Fair at Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering, NE, 15 minutes from Gathering Campsite. This will involve the instructors and presenters at the Fair. Volunteer help with this would be very much appreciated!
    • 10am-3pm Archaeology Fair at the Museum. This is a free event for the public. The Ancestral Skills Gathering Booth will be reaching out for day attendees on Sunday and have a sign-up sheet for the classes on Monday and Tuesday.
    • 3pm-5pm: Take down from Archaeology Fair and instructor set-up at Ancestral gathering site. Volunteer help with this would be very much appreciated!
  • August 9
    • 8:30am: Opening ceremony, announcements, instructor introductions, final class signup.
    • 9am-5pm: Open day for general public. Roving hands-on instruction and/or demonstration of skills offered. Day Attendees will pay $5 per Carload.
    • 2pm-4pm: Craft and Trade Blanket Fair. Bring what you want to sell or trade. Also a chance to inform people of projects, events or organizations you are connected with.
    • 5:30pm-6:30pm: Potluck meal. Share what you have. Meadowlark Hearth will be bringing something like soup or grain and salad for all.
    • 6:30pm-9pm: Campsite social time, storytelling, music and folk dancing, stargazing, planets and constellations (if the night is clear).
  • August 10 and August 11
    • 6am-7am (for early risers): Birding, plants, landscape and ecology walk in the wildlands along the North Platte River.
    • 8am: Orientation, announcements, and instructors sharing about their classes.
    • 9am-12pm & 1pm-5pm: Skills class sessions mornings and afternoons. Some of these will have limited space so be sure to sign-up ahead of time.
    • 5:30pm-6:30pm: Potluck meal. Share what you have. Meadowlark Hearth will be brining something like soup or grain and salad for all.
    • 6:30pm-9pm: On Monday Campsite social time, storytelling, music and folk dancing, stargazing, planets and constellations (if the night is clear).
    • On Tuesday: Closing ceremony and sharing our experiences of the time. Children especially can show and tell about what they have done and made.
  • August 12
    For those camping Tuesday night and leaving Wednesday morning, please have campsite cleared and be ready to leave by 10am.

There will also be other sessions offered throughout the Gathering, and spontaneous activities as well, such as singing and working with ancient scales. Bring your own interests as well and announce possibilities at the 8:30am announcement time!  

See the Ancestral Skills Gathering in action!

2026 Registration Information for Meadowlark Hearth Ancestral Skills Gathering

Dates: Aug. 8-11 at Meadowlark Hearth. Archaeology Fair Aug. 8 at legacy of the Plains museum. The Archaeology Fair is free and open to the public, so it does not require registration. Only the 3 day Ancestral Skills Gathering at Meadowlark Hearth requires registration. Camping Fees will be separate from registration fees. To Reserve Camping for the Ancestral Skills Gathering sign up through Hip Camp.

Fee Breakdown for 3 day Participants:

  • For Camping fees go to the Meadowlark Hearth hip camp page here.
  • Archaeology Fair Saturday, Aug 8 At Legacy of the plains Museum in Gering, NE: Free.
  • Sunday Activities and Trade Fair At Gathering Site at Meadowlark Hearth Farm: $5.00
  • Monday and Tuesday morning and afternoon classes. $40.00 per person
  • 13 to 18 year olds $20.00 per person
  • Fees to be paid on arrival

Registration for Day attendees:

Register to receive updates, but pay on arrival. Cash or check, NO plastic.

  • Archaeology Fair At Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering, NE: Free
  • Sunday activities and Trade Fair: $5 per carload
  • Monday and Tuesday Classes, 4 sessions from 8-12pm & 1-5pm: $10 for each session

There will be someone to meet you for check-in, collecting and signing waivers, and signing-up and collecting additional fees for classes. 

These fees help with general costs, instructor travel and materials. We are trying to make this affordable for all, but we have many costs which are not covered by the fees. Please consider donating more to help us continue this in the future. You can donate here.

Directions to Campsite:

  • Directions from the west:
    From Scottsbluff take US HWY 26 for 3 miles to CTY RD 26. From I-80 take HWY 71 North from Kimball, NE to HWY 26, then 2 miles East to CTY RD 26. At CTY RD 26 Turn South onto Private Road. Cross the RR tracks. Follow signs to parking area. 
  • Directions from the east:
    Take HWY 26 4 miles west from Minatare NE to CTY RD 26. From I80 take HWY 26 exit at Ogallala. Go 1166 miles to CTY RD 26 four miles east of Minatare, NE. At CTY RD 26 Turn South onto Private Road. Cross the RR tracks. Follow signs to parking area.

A waiver will need to be signed for all attendees. Fill it out, sign it and bring it with you, or sign when you arrive. 

Click HERE for Guidelines and Tips for a Successful Ancestral Skills Gathering!

See the map of Meadowlark Hearth Farm on our Contact page.

Download the 2026 Registration Information Here. 

Contact Meadowlark Hearth Living Environment Foundation for any questions about special needs, accommodations, discount, work trade, or other questions and concerns. 

Registration is now Open!

To Register please fill out the form below. If you prefer to download our Registration Form and mail it to us with a check, along with your Waiver, please click here.

Sign up for camping with Hip Camp here!

 

DOWNLOAD YOUR WAIVER HERE