Tag Archives: workshops

Atlatl & Dart Kit Building- great winter time activity

Atlatl and dart building workshops are a great way to spend your winter hours! Thunderbird Atlatl offers several types of atlatl and dart kits in our online catalog.

With kits, you are able to save money and finish your own atlatl the way you want. You can put your own personal imprint or design on an atlatl you made. Fletching darts can be a little tricky but we offer videos on both finishing our atlatl kits and fletching

Kits can be purchased individually or if you have a group of five or more, we offer bulk rates for kits. Give us a call at 1-800-836-4520 or email us at contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com for more information.

In the pictures below, Interpretive Naturalist Kelley Morgan offers an atlatl & dart building workshop at Mounds State Park in Anderson, Indiana. Thank you Kelley for the pictures and for leading the workshops. More information about programs offered by the Indiana department of Natural Resources-Division of State Parks can be found on their webpage.

Join us at the Vermont Atlatl Workshop September 18; Contest September 19

Bob Berg leading an atlatl workshop at Chimney Point
Bob Berg leading an atlatl workshop at Chimney Point
Workshop Participants try out atlatls
Atlatl Workshop Participants trying out atlatls
Come to Vermont, enjoy the beauty of the fall in New England and build your own atlatl and darts!

Bob Berg of Thunderbird Atlatl will offer our annual Atlatl Workshop at the Chimney Point Historic Site. September 18 from noon to 5 p.m. The program is hosted by the Vermont State Historic site. The Chimney Point State Historic Site borders Lake Champlain at 7305 Vt Route 125, West Addison, Vermont.

Bob will teach traditional and modern 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. Bob’s been here each of the 20 years of this event! $65 includes instruction and materials. Pre-registration required. Call 802-759-2412 to register. After making your own atlatl and darts, consider competing in the annual atlatl competition the next day!

20th Annual Northeast Open Atlatl Championship
Participate in or watch this annual championship. The sport of atlatl throwing is based on the ancient hunting technique of using the atlatl or spear thrower. Demonstrations and workshops on flint knapping, Woodland pottery, and other crafts and skills. Vermont Archaeology Month program. Saturday, September 19

The museum opens at 9:30 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be ancient craft demonstartions on the museum lawn and porch. Bob and Cheryll Berg, hafting points and atlatl-making; Charlie Paquin, Woodland pottery (hands-on!), and Barry Keegan, flint-knapping.

The atlatl competitions start at 11 a.m. with the International Standard Accuracy Competition. The schedule is as follows:
10:30 – 12:30 Atlatl Championship registration
10:30 – 11:00 ISAC Practice Time
11:00 International Standard Accuracy Competition
11:00-12:00 Master coaching: Try the atlatl with expert guidance.
Look for signs in competition area.
11:30 – 12:30 Warm-up and Practice for Open Championship
11:30 Food and snacks on & near Museum porch while it lasts.
12:30 Celebratory Flight: Join the mass spear throw to commemorate our 2Oth year!
Bob Berg, Introduction to the Atlatl at Target Zone
Open Championship events begin. Accuracy & Distance for Men, Women, Girls, and Boys
Approx. 3:00 Award ceremony on Museum front lawn
Grand Champion Shoot-Out between top finishers & Grand Championship Award ceremony
After awards 20th Anniversary Celebration: Enjoy cake & ice cream!
History Mystery Scavenger Hunt prizes awarded
5:30 Museum closes

Sunday, September 20

9:30 Museum Opens
10:00 International Standard Accuracy Competition

Get Away From the Winter Chill; Warm Up With Atlatl Fever

It’s cold in upstate New York but you can warm up at the indoor Spencer-VE Sportsman Club Day in Spencer, NY on Saturday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thunderbird Atlatl will be one of the many exhibitors. The school is providing an indoor range if you want to try the atlatl indoors away from the minus degree weather outside. Bob Berg will also be offering informational sessions on flintknapping and building atlatls and darts next to our exhibit. We will be working next to the Primitive Pursuits program from Tompkins County Cornell Extension.

Bob Berg fletches a dart at a workshop. Our workshops have proven very popular.  We will be offering free workshops tomorrow, Feb. 7, in Spencer, NY  with Primitive Pursuits. We also plan several workshops in Florida. See the information below. If you would like to inquire about a workshop, give us a call or contact us by email.
Bob Berg fletches a dart at a workshop. Our workshops have proven very popular. We will be offering free workshops tomorrow, Feb. 7, in Spencer, NY with Primitive Pursuits. We also plan several workshops in Florida. See the information below. If you would like to inquire about a workshop, give us a call or contact us by email.

Looking to get away from the winter weather, Thunderbird Atlatl will be at two Florida events in February. Bob Berg will be offering workshops at both events. You can sign up for the workshops by contacting us at our 800 number – 800-836-4520 or email us at contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com Information about the events and workshops are below:

SILVER RIVER KNAP-IN AND STONE AGE ARTS FESTIVAL

The annual SILVER RIVER KNAP-IN AND STONE AGE ARTS FESTIVAL will be held at the Silver Springs State Park on February 20th, 21st, and 22nd (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Expert flint knappers, archaeologists, potters, hide tanners, bow makers and other specialists in prehistoric skills will gather from across the eastern U.S. to demonstrate and sell their arts. Vendors will offer reproduction stone tools, raw stone, flint knapping tools, unique crafts, food and more.

There will be archery, tomahawk and atlatl dart throwing demonstrations each day. A flint knapping competition and on-going prehistoric skills demonstrations will also take place. Besides the knap-in, visitors can explore the Silver River Museum, hike or bike the trails of the state park, take a tram ride through the woods, or canoe and kayak on the pristine Silver River. Please note: Friday is a student day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The program is open on Saturday and Sunday to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

International Standard Accuracy Competitions will be held at 4 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the atlatl range. All are welcome.

Thunderbird Atlatl will hold two workshops on Thursday, February 19, at the museum. Information is below:

Event Title: Atlatl (Spear Throwing) Morning Workshop.
Event Date: Thursday, February 19, 2015
Presented by: Bob Berg of Thunderbird Atlatls
Details: Atlatl Workshops at the Silver River Museum Morning Workshop: Make a modern atlatl and three darts from Thunderbird Atlatl kits with Atlatl Expert Bob Berg from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, February 19, at the Silver River Museum in Ocala, Florida. The goal of this workshop is for each participant to finish an atlatl and 3 darts. Participants will learn how to straighten and fletch darts. This is a great way to get into the sport. Students may choose from four different Thunderbird Atlatl Kit styles. Other benefits of taking Bob’s workshop are the background information he passes along, as well as teaching you how to use atlatls. It is a great way to have all your questions about the atlatl answered. The workshop fee is $65 per participant and is limited to 10 participants. For further information and to register contact: Thunderbird Atlatl at 800-836-4520 or contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com.

Event Title: Atlatl (Spear Throwing) Afternoon Workshop
Event Date: Thursday, February 19, 2015
Presented by: Bob Berg of Thunderbird Atlatls
Details: Atlatl Workshops at the Silver River Museum Afternoon Workshop: Make a primitive atlatl and three stone pointed darts from natural materials. Atlatl expert Bob Berg will lead participants in making their own atlatls and darts from a variety of locally available materials. Bob will bring bamboo dart blanks. The goal of this workshop is for participants to take home a traditional or primitive atlatl and three stone pointed darts. They will learn how to use stone tools in making the atlatls and darts, natural fiber cordage, fletching, the use of hafting resins and more. Materials will be provided. The workshop will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Silver River Museum in Ocala, Florida. The workshop fee is $65 per participant. (Take both workshops for $110). The workshop is limited to 10 participants. For further information and to register contact: Thunderbird Atlatl at 800-836-4520 or contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com.

Can’t make it to the Silver River program or just want to continue enjoying the atlatl/flintknapping experience, then come to the The Stone Age and Primitive Arts Festival at Ochlockonee River State Park, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 27, 28 and March 1, 2015 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

This is the 8th Annual Stone Age and Primitive Arts Festival. Come and enjoy bow, atlatl and flintknapping competitions, demonstrations and how-to workshops. New at this year’s festival is a dugout canoe display and hands-on demonstration. There will be a lot to do, see and participate in at this year’s festival. Free with regular park admission.More Information:Park Services Specialist Jason Vickery, 850-962-2771, jason.vickery@dep.state.fl.us Located in the Northwest region at: Ochlockonee River State Park, 429 State Park Road, Sopchoppy, FL 32358

Bob Berg of Thunderbird Atlatl will be offering workshops on Thursday, Feb. 25, prior to the event.