Pop-up winter village animal processing camp.
Can you feel the cold kiss on your skin? Do you hear the Raven’s cacophony and the sounds of camp livening up the valley? Do you see yourself there in the rugged Montana winter, amongst the wild elk, deer, buffalo, and wolves and all the gifts they give?
Good! Because Winter Camp 2026 is officially ON. So mark your calendars and get your thick wool and warmest fur outfits together.
Come join canvas camp in the snow speckled valley north of Yellowstone. We love that land, the roadkill, the river, the animals, the locals, and each other - and will gather in our popup village once more!
This five day immersion will be focused on winter camping and all things meaty.
Skills covered:
off grid, long-term winter camp setup and systems
roadkill deer and elk processing (very likely) OR domestic sheep/goat processing
nose to tail: use of every part of the animal including bladders, heart bags, intestines, poop, testicles, eyeballs, spleen, and more!
Meat Magick - an animistic approach to everything meaty: practical butchery, off grid meat preservation, brining, salt curing, smoking, grinding, jerky making, family traditions
culture making through material skills
collaborative ritual song, story, and ceremony
hide tanning
sewing and craft projects using hides
running woodstoves/chopping wood
camp kitchen witchery
bone and stone tool use
knife sharpening techniques
Montana winter weather is beautiful and often unpredictable. It can plummet to 30 below one week, then warm up to the 50's the next week. We prepare for weather of every fashion (the gear list will help!)
THIS IS NOT GLAMPING. Be prepared for cold nights with potential wind gusts up to 40 mph that could pull the stove pipe out of the woodstove. Tents will be wood fire heated to keep warm, but canvas can only hold so much heat.
Class includes:
Five days of hands-on instruction with Harmony, Karissa, Epona, Fern, Matt, Erik, and more of the home crew
All meals provided (a great opportunity to learn our favorite recipes, tips, and tricks!)
Communal camping. Be ready to pack into bell tents to keep warm and share hearty meals and many stories
Sliding Scale $1500-1950
Non-refundable deposit of $500 required.
venmo: @erik-knudsen-30
Limited spots available.
Please email gatheringwaysschool@gmail.com for information or to register.