How to Operate and Maintenance a Chainsaw: Safety Dos and Don’ts – with Paul Christopher

Learn the essentials of safe and effective chainsaw use in this hands-on class. We’ll cover proper operation techniques, routine maintenance, and key safety practices—plus the dos and don’ts every operator should know to prevent accidents and keep your saw running smoothly.

AR Survival (Always Ready) – with Paul Christopher

A practical, hands-on course designed to equip you with essential survival skills, mindset, and preparedness strategies for any situation.

My Time On ALONE – with Isiah Tuck

A skilled outdoorsman and fish and wildlife officer is more well known as one of the ten contestants on “Alone” season 11. He will share his experiences and give some insight on how he was picked to be on the show, his experiences while filming the show and things he learned during the contest. 

Wilderness First Aid – with Becky Christopher

Have you ever wondered what to do if you face an emergency or injury while in the outdoors? Come learn basic first aid skills and how to care for yourself as well as others. Becky has 23 years experience in Emergency Medicine as well as being Certified in Wilderness First Aid. She will teach you about Burns, how to stop the bleeding, hypothermia, hyperthermia, as well as other injuries you might face in the wilderness and how to handle them.

Trail Cooking: Food, Gear, Tips & Tricks – with Wendall Adams

Join Wendell Adams, the Prepared Wanderer, for an immersive class on Trail Cooking: Food, Gear, Tips & Tricks. Learn how to plan and prepare delicious meals in the great outdoors using efficient gear and simple techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or new to bushcraft, Wendell will share practical insights on meal planning, cooking methods, and essential tools to elevate your trail-side dining experience. Get ready to fuel your adventures with confidence and creativity!

Spring Snare & Squirrel Pole Snare – with Wanda Priday

In this hands-on class, students will learn how to set both the spring snare and the squirrel pole snare. These simple yet effective trapping methods are essential for catching small game in a survival situation. Knife usage and carving are required to build the spring snare, so participants should come prepared with a knife and be ready to practice carving. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of small game trapping and the skills to create these snares in a wilderness setting.

Blacksmithing Demonstration – with Gene of No 8 Forge

Experience the art of traditional blacksmithing in this live demonstration, where you’ll witness metal being forged, shaped, and crafted using age-old techniques.

Fire Starting Round Table – with The Pathfinder School

Several of The Pathfinder instructors will be teaching a variety of fire starting techniques in a round table fashion. A few of the skills to be demonstrated are ferro rod, bow drill and hand drill.

Emergency Preparedness 360 – with Ty Barker

This comprehensive class is your all-in-one introduction to practical self-reliance in uncertain times. Emergency Preparedness 360 covers the essential skills and gear needed to protect yourself and your family before, during, and after a crisis.

Topics Covered:

• Get Home Bags – Learn how to build a reliable kit to get you from work or travel back home safely.
• What to Stockpile – Understand what items matter most in a crisis and how to prioritize essentials.
• Water Storage & Disinfection – Discover safe, scalable ways to store water and how to purify it using multiple methods.
• Food Preservation & Storage – Explore long-term food options including dehydration, canning, freeze-drying, and bulk storage.
• Gas Masks & Chemical Suits – Get hands-on with protective gear and learn when and how to use it effectively.
• Medical Storage – Learn how to assemble and safely store a practical, well-rounded medical supply kit.

Whether you’re just starting out or refining your emergency plan, this class will give you a full-circle foundation for confident preparedness.

Homestead: When Do I Bugout? – with John Galloway

Learn about situational awareness. Sharing my experiences in Hurricane Helene rescue efforts, and lessons I learned for my homestead and survival preparedness.

Homestead Gardening Hacks – with John Galloway

In this class learn tips for unique raised beds, supports for climbing vegetables and much more by utilizing what you probably already have on your homestead. You will learn from all my grand mistakes.

Bamboo Basketry & Joinery – with Nathan “Bigfoot” Jenkins

The bamboo class will cover how to harvest and process bamboo into materials for basketry, we will also cover joinery using bamboo. The class will be held at my booth. Everyone will be able to have a chance to experiment with the bamboo and should the class feel this is worth it we can build a chair or a table using the techniques shown in the class.

Movement and Exercises – with Joshua Ankley

Get ready GATHERTHING ATTENDEES… GET READY TOO MOVE!!! Nothing like a good morning low impact minimal skill level stretch. That is a beautiful way to start the day by getting the blood flowing and the body ready for life’s daily activities. This can be done by anyone, anywhere. It’s lovely. Poor weather do it in doors. Great weather do it your garden or wherever you please. My goal is too teach you how to make it yours. Make it enjoyable. Make it a part of every day life. While consuming as a male about 128 oz of  EARTH JUICE (water) and 100oz as a female. Stay hydrated, stay fit, stay focused. STAY SAFE! SEE YINZ ALL SOON!

Tarp Shelters & Ridgelines – with Chad Redding

Discover the versatility of tarp shelters and how to adapt them to any environment. We’ll cover essential rigging, ridgelines, and multiple tarp configurations to keep you dry, shaded, and comfortable in the outdoors. Perfect for campers, preppers, and anyone who wants to boost their outdoor skills.

Custom Leather Axe & Hatchet Sheath Workshop – with John Niggl

Join Just a Nazarene Leather Co. for a hands-on leather crafting experience where you’ll create a custom leather sheath for your own axe or hatchet! This “make and take” workshop is perfect for all outdoor enthusiasts and anyone interested in learning leather working skills.

Simply bring your axe and/or hatchet – we provide all premium materials and professional tools needed. Under expert guidance, you’ll master essential techniques while crafting a durable, heirloom-quality sheath that will protect your tool for years. Leave with your finished custom sheath and newfound leather working confidence!

Pricing: $25 per axe sheath, $20 per hatchet sheath – materials and instruction included. Cash only.

GatherThing Swap Meet

For 2025 we will be holding a “swap meet” style trade blanket on Saturday evening. All are welcome to meet in the pavilion with their gear to offer up for trade and barter. All relevant wares are welcome from store bought to hand crafts, vintage to brand new.

Survival Challenges (Youth & Adult)

Join in our daily survival challenges for a chance to win big!

Friday and Saturday Evening we’ll hold a youth & adult survival challenge.

Tracks in the Shadows: Ghost Stories – with Chad Redding

Step into the world of mystery and legend with storyteller Chad Redding, as he shares engaging campfire tales of ghosts, Bigfoot, and other paranormal phenomena from both faraway lands and closer to home. We’ll explore intriguing lore, discuss possible explanations, and swap personal stories — leaving plenty of room for you to share your own spooky encounters. Whether you’re a skeptic, a believer, or simply curious, you’ll leave with chills… and maybe more questions than answers.

Camp Coffee Challenge

Brew your best camp coffee for a chance to win a prize pack for the best camp brew. This challenge will take place Saturday during our lunch break.

To participate:
Brew up your best camp coffee in the time allotted.

Must be brought to the judging station in a pourable vessel, enough for 3 tasting cups.