Earthen Exposure has given presentations and taught primitive skills to virtually all age groups, in classrooms and the outdoors... for public schools, primitive skills groups, Boy Scouts, the College of Southern Idaho's Herrett Center for Arts and Science, and others. Highly interactive, these programs engage the audience in varying aspects of history, biology, composition, and awareness that can be applied to everyday life. Wearing replicated garb draws the attention in further making it a particularly fun learning experience for young students, cultivating their curiosity to learn more. Very adaptive, these programs can be tailored to fit any age from ten years and up, and last from little more than an hour to all day.

"Thank you so much for the wonderful experience you shared with the students of the Three Creek School. I was very impressed by your entertaining and down-to-earth manner with the children. The content of your presentation is fascinating and engaging: It’s clear you are very familiar with your subject and have experimented with it, which makes it real for the students. In addition, your ways of relating keep the audience’s attention and invite participation as in a free-flowing dialogue. You’ve a bit of the actor that you used to spice up the day with moments of drama. I also noticed that you could feel when attention was flagging and, with an impeccable sense of timing, immediately changed the pace or called for a break that allowed the excitement of the students to build again with the next experience. Of course, shooting primitive bows and arrows or making fire by rubbing sticks to spark a “nest” of kindling fuel is practically magic to young ones. And, everyone enjoyed your being in costume as well as having the opportunity to examine and explore the many replicas that you brought with you. We’re already discussing having you back for a series of workshops that will allow our students to absorb more of the subject matter while learning hands-on skills." -Beverly deGero, Ranch Kids Facilitator, Three Creek School, ID (read more about Earthen Exposure paleotechnics here)

Presentations: An artful display of prehistoric replicas such as basketry, bows and arrows, quivers, a sleeping mat, figurines, duck decoys, fish trap, harpoon, etc along with various materials in their raw form, and much more. Many of the implements and materials can be passed around for investigation, at the same time engaging the audience in a dialogue about their anthropological context. A minimum recommended time is 1 1/4 hours.

Demonstrations: Figure making (see photo below), fire, archery, and cordage making. Sometimes combined with presentations, demonstrations can also be interactive, giving for instance, each individual a chance to feel for themselves what it feels like to shoot the type of bow shot a thousand years ago. Interactive archery is best for groups of 12 or less. Otherwise, any group size works for watching a demonstration. Allowing time for questions and answers, a minimum recommended time to watch each subject is 1/2 hour.

Workshops: Toy cattail ducks and dolls, animal figurines from from split tule or willow, fire-making, and cordage. Everyone takes home what they make! Supplies provided. Can be as short as 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. With 4th grade through middle school, a group size of less than 25 is preferable.

Private instruction is also available for individuals or small groups. In addition to the above workshop lessons, this can also include bow making, wild plant identification, and more. Instruction is tailor fit.

Popular with all age groups, this Cattail doll, split Tule figurine, and Cattail duck was enthusiastically made by a 4th grader. A class of twenty five 4th graders can be taught all three in two hours (the duck alone in ~15 minutes). In the process, the students learn about the environments in which the materials grow, the history behind the figures, the varying ways these plants were used by the Native Americans, and how they are used today in environmental remediation.

• Available for public and private schools (4th grade to university), home school groups, parties, and public events within a 300 mile radius of Twin Falls, Idaho. If you are outside this area, but within the Western U.S., please inquire. Depending on location, it may still work.
• Programs can vary between a simple 1.25 hour mini presentation, or workshop, to an all day presentation/demo/workshop combination. A multi-day event may also be possible.
• Rates begin at $100 and are reasonable thereafter. Please contact for private instruction rates.

archery • misc implements