News Articles from October 2007.
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October 22, 2007
Fall Update!
Thunderbird Atlatl is getting busy for the upcoming holiday season. We finished the last of our travels and we are looking forward to home and workshop time in Candor, NY.
Our shop is open for a visit if you happen to be in the area, 20 miles south of Ithaca, New York or just 15 minutes off of Route 17/I-86 between Binghamton and Elmira, New York. Give our 800 number a call if you are planning on stopping in 1-800-836-4520.
We are setting up next year’s schedules and shows. If you are interested in having Thunderbird Atlatl at a workshop in 2008, give us a call and we will see if we can make arrangements.
There are still a few atlatl events scheduled for the remainder of the year, check out the World Atlatl Association and International Atlatl Society web pages for updated schedule.

Posted by thunder
October 12, 2007

Thunderbird Atlatl will be close to home this weekend, Saturday Oct. 6 and Sunday, Oct. 7, as we will host atlatl contests and demonstrations during the 10th annual Candor Fall Festival in Candor, New York. Candor, our homebase, is located about 20 miles south of Ithaca, New York. The contests will take place at the Side Hill Acres Goat Dairy on Route 96/Spencer Road in Candor. Follow signs to Spencer as you leave the Village of Candor. The Goat Dairy will be less than mile outside the Village of Candor on your left.
Along with the atlatl demonstrations including ISACS and IAS contests, there will be tours of the goat farm and other vendors at Side Hill Acres. In other parts of the Village and Town of Candor, there will be the annual Woodcarvers Show, Quilt Display and more. The event will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at Side Hill Acres.
The following weekend, Oct. 12 to 14, Thunderbird Atlatl will be a the Maine Primitive Gathering in Bowdoin, Maine. The program begins at 8 p.m. Oct. 12 and concludes Sunday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m.
Bob Berg of Thunderbird Atlatl will present two workshops over the weekend. On Saturday afternoon, Bob will host a Primitive Fishing Class. There is a $2 fee for the class for materials.
On Sunday morning, Bob will present an atlatl making workshop. There is a $35 materials fee for the class. Students will make an atlatl and three darts.
To find out more about the Maine Primitive School, its programs and other events scheduled for the weekend, check out the school’s web page at http://maineprimitivegathering.blogspot.com Directions and more information are available at the web site.

There will be an Atlatl Day and Knap-In in Connecticut this Saturday, Sept. 29, from noon to 4 p.m. The rain date is Sept. 30.
The program is sponsored by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History/Connecticut Archaeology Center on the Uconn Storrs Campus, Horsebarn Hill Road. There will be an ISAC at 1 p.m. For further information contact Gary Nolf at 860-883-6137 or gnolf@comcast.net
Thunderbird Atlatl has just returned from two great weekends in New England, the first at Chimney Point Historic Site in Vermont and the second at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead. Our thanks to the sponsors for their hospitality and a thanks to all who participated for a great time. In mid-October Thunderbird Atlatl will be at a primitive skills school in Maine. More on that soon.

Thunderbird Atlatl will be at the 5th ANNUAL MASSACHUSETTS ATLATL
FIELD DAYS & I.S.A.C. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22 and 23 from 10 a/m. to 4 p.m.
The event takes places at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, 149 Pine Street, Danvers, Mass. (www.rebeccanurse.org) The event coordinator is Glenn Mairo, 978-580-9437 or gmairo@hotmail.com
The event will feature atlatl throwing for all ages, the Aztec Atlatl Battle Field Game, ISAC accuracy competition. Along with Thunderbird Atlatl, other guest craftspeople and resources will include Richard Parker’s Lithic Axe Factory; Trapper Jon Enos’ workshops and sales; Wasicun Knives and the Boston Museum of Science.
Hosts are the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology – Phillips Academy, Massachusetts Archaeological Society – Northeast Chapter and the Rebecca Nurse Homestead and Glenn Mairo.
Thunderbird Atlatl will be offering a atlatl and dart building workshop on Saturday. The cost is $60 for the four hour class. You will leave with a finished atlatl and three darts. Contact Glenn Mairo at the above numbers for more information.

Thunderbird Atlatl will be in Vermont this week for Twelfth Annual Northeastern Open Atlatl Championship & Second Chimney Point Knap-In at the Chimney Point Historic Site in Vergennes, Vt.
On Friday, Sept. 14, there will be an atlatl workshop. The workshop will include modern and traditional techniques of atlatl and dart construction, flint knapping, hafting stone points, and cordage making. Enjoy atlatl lore and coaching on the use of your new atlatl from Bob Berg of Thunderbird Atlatl. Pre-registration required. Noon – 5:00 PM Contact: ChimneyPoint@HistoricVermont.org
On September 15, the Twelfth Annual Northeastern Open Atlatl Championship & Second Chimney Point Knap-In will be held. Participate in or watch this annual championship, part of the Festival of Nations with the Crown Point, NY, State Historic Site. Co-sponsored by Vermont Archaeological Society. Vermont Archeology Month program. Time: 10:30 – 3:30 PM.
On September 16, there will be a second day of atlatl competition with ISAC. Knap-in continues. After ISAC, master class/coaching for boys and girls. Time: 10:00 AM.
Where: Chimney Point State Historic Site, Addison directions
Contact: ChimneyPoint@HistoricVermont.org

Thunderbird Atlatl is proud of the many custom made atlatl and dart systems we reproduce for museums and collectors each year. Master Atlatl Builder Bob Berg recently completed a custom atlatl based on atlatl pieces he examined at the Peabody Museum at Harvard. The pieces were found in a Mayan well in South America. The snake shaped atlatl built of mesquite and inlaid with jade is a sight to behold. Hand carving much of the atlatl Bob was able to recreate an interpretation of the original atlatl. The atlatl will soon be part of the museum’s permanent collection.

Just back from the Ohio Atlatl Association events at Flint Ridge, Ohio! The Ohio Atlatl Association is marking its tenth anniversary. The Flint Ridge Knapin continues to grow every year as does the Stonetool Technology Show at Letchworth State Park in New York.
We spent some time trying to piece together the history of the Flint Ridge Knapin with its beginnings at Mason’s Campground this weekend. It looks like the Knapin began in 1987 through a lot of efforts of Carl Fry. The knapin moved to the Flint Ridge State Park around 1997. Meanwhile, the Stonetool Technology Show started as a one day event on Labor Day in Kenny Wallace’s backyard. It later moved to the Castile Village Park and then to Letchworth. The Genesee Valley Flintknappers decided it was a good idea to move their knapin to the weekend before Labor Day so knappers could get to both New York and Ohio. The two knapins and their accompanying atlatl events have been growing ever since!
Our next show is in Vermont followed by Massachusetts. Check out our events page.
We were honored to received the President’s Award from the World Atlatl Association and an award from the New York Atlatl Association for contributions to the atlatl community. Thanks to everyone.