Adult Earth Skills: Bow Making Weekend (includes optional tent camping)
Description
The traditional wooden longbow is legendary for its power and accuracy. For thousands of years all across the globe, the longbow has built nations, fed families, protected homes and provided sport for people of all descriptions. Today this elemental tool continues to earn its singular place in history as a form of functional art that is just as effective and beautiful now as it was in the hands of our ancestors. 
This weekend workshop will dive deep into the art of wooden bow making. With more than 30 years of experience, our instructors will guide you through the bow making process from identifying and harvesting a good “bow-tree” through final tillering and shooting your finished longbow.

Using traditional techniques and simple hand tools you will craft a custom wooden bow suitable for hunting or target archery. Making arrows, armguards, and finger tabs will also be covered, so you will be leaving with a complete archery set and the knowledge to continue your natural archery journey on your own.  There is really nothing like shooting a beautiful bow that you crafted with gratitude from living wood. Come with us as we follow our ancestors into the adventurous world of natural archery!  

Our Basecamp and main teaching location will be 4-H Acres 418 Lower Creek Rd Ithaca. Tent-camping is available and includes indoor bathrooms, a shower, and an outdoor kitchen with refrigeration. A pre-camp email will give details of where we will meet and what to bring.


Skills Covered:
Making long bows from harvested trees
Learning the basics of archery using the instinctive aiming method
Making willow arrows
Making arm guards and finger tabs
Hand tool use: hatchet, rasp, scraper, carving knives, saws.
Bow string making using the Flemish twist method.

Timing:
Friday May 1st- 5:30-8:30pm
Saturday May 2nd- 9:00am-5:00pm
Sunday May 3rd- 9:00am-5:00pm

Location: Meeting at 4-H Acres 418 Lower Creek Rd Ithaca.
Location:
Primitive Pursuits (PP)
Dates:
5/1/2026 5:30 PM - 5/3/2026 5:00 PM
Time:
Friday May 1, 5:30-8:30 // Saturday May 2, 9:00-5:00 // Sunday May 3, 9:00-5:00
Ages:
Ages 18 and up
Cost:
$325.00
Availability:
This session has openings
Registration will end on 4/23/2026.