Classes

The classes are the heart of the Echoes in Time experience. Participants arrive on Sunday and set up their camps. Classes are held Monday through Friday. Saturday people break camp and go home. Many different classes are offered throughout the week. Skills taught by the instructors focus on ancient living techniques but may include the latest in low-impact, appropriate technology.

Workshops range from morning or afternoon classes, to involved week-long projects, to even the impromptu, “Hey, can you show me how to do that?” Classes can include displays, lectures & discussions, demonstrations, and lots of hands-on learning. Registration covers the cost of the classes but instructors may charge a fee for materials depending on the class. Classes offered at Echoes depends on which instructors are present and what they want to teach. The schedule with classes and signups is listed on a bulletin board in the main camp. In addition, instructors list the classes they are teaching that day during morning announcements. Classes vary from year to year, so we don’t know in advance what will be available. If you have a particular field of interest not mentioned here, let us know upon registering and we’ll do our best to accommodate your curiosity. (All raw materials required for classes will be brought to the site; gathering of plant, animal, and mineral resources is not permitted)

Example of Classes and Schedule At Echoes (NOT actual schedule)
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Bow-making Knife-sharpening Wet-felting Kids Atlatl Atlatl Darts Coal Burning Mosquito Spray Traps and Snares Knife-making Finger Weaving Firewood Furniture Wool Moccasins Soapstone Carving Goat milking/husbandry Hand Crochet Bracelets Traveling Museum	Infused Herb Oils Felting Pine Needle Baskets Willow Basketry Cattail Hat Folded Bark Container Plaited Bark Basketry Soft Twined Basketry Wild Fermented Sauerkraut Cheese Making Leather Sling Gourd Working Creating Community Chicken Butchering Coal Burning Flute Making Drum Making Buckskin Neck Bag Beadwork	Wool Booties Yew Atlatl Atlatl Darts Awareness Games Book Binding Herbal Deodorant Coal Burning Finger Weaving Flute Making Soapstone Carving Kids Wet Felting Gourd Working Leather Braiding Skin Bags Animal Tracking	Beaded Earrings Drum Making Felting Gourd Working Plant Walk Finger Weaving Wool Moccasins Book Binding Buckskin Bags	Gourd Working Edible Plant Walk Buckskin Neck Bags Wool Moccasins Book Binding

 

General Information & Guidelines

Village Etiquette

Echoes has always had the mission of being a place for people of all kinds and all backgrounds to come together and form a temporary “village.” In order to make this a reality, we must go beyond simply being respectful of one another, and desire a deeper understanding and connection with one another. This requires more than just censoring language, but an openness and curiosity for learning more and challenging our own assumptions. It might also mean changing some of our habits that we have taken for granted, in order to be more accommodating. We are asking people to come as their best selves, and this means having the willingness to change in ways that make our space more welcoming and diverse. Anyone making prejudice or disparaging remarks about other races, genders, etc. will be asked to leave. If you find that difficult to follow, this is not the right event for you. If this openness and connection inspires you, come on down! Here is a super basic article on the way we like to respect one another: http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Respectful

Location:

Echoes is held at Dicentra Farm & Sanctuary, just south of Monmouth, Oregon on the traditional territory of the Kalapuya. It is about a 1.5 hour drive south from Portland. This private property is part farmland (grass seed) and part woodland. The property is near the intersection of Airlie Rd & Simpson Rd Monmouth, OR 97361. We will have good signage from the intersection to the entrance of the property.

Directions

There is no actual address for this property, but see below for a GPS point and a link to a Google Map. Use a Google Map to get to the intersection of Airlie Road and Simpson Road in Monmouth, and you will see signs pointing you to the entrance from there (however keep in mind that Simpson Rd. is gravel, so if you don’t want to drive on it for a long time than make sure to come around from the Airlie Rd side). The entrance is about 300 yards east from the intersection on Simpson Road. You can see it from the intersection, and it will be marked with Echoes in Time signage. The property is hidden behind a grass seed farm, so the entrance doesn’t look like much, but we’ll have signs to make sure you see it. It is a large grass field, with woodland back behind the grass. Please stay on the designated road as you enter the property. This is very important: DO NOT DRIVE ON THE GRASS.

Basic Directions driving south:

Take 99W south of Monmouth
at Stapleton Rd, turn right;
at Helmick Rd., turn left;
at Elkins Rd, turn right,
at Airlie Rd, turn left.
at Simpson Rd, turn left.
Travel just a few hundred yards and look for the signs.

GPS

44°46’17.6″N 123°20’04.5″W

Google map point: https://goo.gl/maps/813PJhASGLD2

Driving South on I-5:

Google Maps From Portland: https://goo.gl/maps/B48MF4vyRxz

Driving North on I-5:

Google Maps From Eugene: https://goo.gl/maps/pMxX3KPzyUU2

Camping

Echoes camping is limited to certain boundaries within the property, so all campers must check in at the Echoes Registration Booth before setting up camp. There are sensitive wildlife areas with nesting birds, that may look like a place to set up camp, but isn’t. This is why you need to check in at the registration booth. Trailer and RV hookups are not available in the area of the Echoes in Time camp, but there is a trailer/RV camping section in our parking area.

Meals

We provide breakfast and dinner, starting with Sunday evening dinner and ending with Saturday breakfast. Lunches are generally fend for yourself. We have vegetarian and omnivore options. Because of the rise in food sensitivities, most meals are a sort of “build-your-own” with different foods/ingredients being cooked and served separately. The foods are mostly whole foods, with minimal processed food, if at all. We make the meals as friendly as possible to a diverse group of dietary needs. If you have severe food sensitivities such as Celiac, we suggest bringing your own.

Cooking

Cooking is only permitted with portable stoves or in the official fire pit — campfires are not permitted at individual campsites.

Water

We ask that each individual bring their own water (5 gallons per person recommended minimum) for the week. We will have minimal potable water, mostly for hand washing and food prep in our kitchen.

Sanitation

We provide composting toilets for participants. There is no running water or showers on site. The Luckiamute river runs through the property. We have hand washing stations and potable water near the kitchen area, and near the restrooms. For showers you can go to the Dallas Aquatic Center about a 15 minute drive North (We will have directions and times posted at the event).

Waste

Pack it in, pack it out. Please be ready to pack out any garbage or recycling waste that you bring into the property. Food scraps can be composted. Everything else like packaging, glass bottles, and food wrappers must be packed out.

Electricity

There is no electricity on site.

Cell Coverage

There is minimal to no cell coverage on site.

Safety

Below are some further guidelines to ensure that Echoes remains safe and enjoyable:

• No minors are allowed at Echoes without parent or guardians present.
• Campfires are allowed in designated areas only.
• Alcohol consumption must be responsible and discreet.
• No Drugs.
• Smoking must be in the designated smoking areas (next to the fire pits).
• No Firearms.
• No Fireworks.
• No Drones. Raptors hate drones, they are not allowed. We may use our own for filming the event for a short duration on a single day. 
• Children must have a parent or guardian (21 or older) in camp at all times.
• Parents are responsible for their children when the kids aren’t attending classes.
• Some activities at Echoes (such as flintknapping and atlatl-throwing) are potentially dangerous, so be alert and use your common sense.
• No Dogs

No Dogs

There are no dogs allowed at Echoes. This is a general rule for most ancestral skills gatherings. This if for the safety and security of everyone. Some instructors are allowed to bring dogs, but will be relegated to the “dog pound” far from the main camp.

Waiver

Registering implies a waiver and release to hosts, property owners, and sponsors that you will sign upon arrival.

What to Bring

Below is a list of items we suggest you consider bringing to fully enjoy your stay at Echoes:

• Cash for workshop material fees or good purchases. $100-$200 is usually good. Instructors may charge a fee depending on the cost of materials. There are also opportunities to buy amazing craft items that the instructors sell for a living, and buy raffle tickets as well. (All raffle proceeds go to our scholarship program)
• Items for the Trade Blanket (See the trade blanket description for details)

• Food (Remember, we provide breakfast and dinner. You’ll still need lunches and snacks)
• Water (5 gallons per person recommended)
• Water Bottle
• Cooking and eating utensils
• Camp Stove & Kitchen Gear
• First aid kit and other personal items like allergy meds, sting kits, and electrolyte replacements.
• Tent or trailer
• Sleeping bag, ground cloth, pillow
• Toiletries, including sunscreen and insect repellant (there are lots of mosquitoes at night)
• Flashlight/Headlamp
• Camera
• Tools (instructors should provide tools, but basic tools like a good knife will prove convenient)
• Drums and other musical instruments for around the campfire
• Clothes for all weather conditions. Even in July, we have had downpours that can last a couple days.
• Pencil & Notebook
• Camp Chair (a cozy camping chair will go a long way at Echoes)
• Swim Suit and Towel

We recommend checking out this longer, more detailed and general camping list on the REI Website. This is Oregon, so it’s wise to be prepared for rain or sunshine, hot weather or cold. Some years the week has been blazing hot; others, relatively cool, and some even rainy. A coat will serve you well, especially during the nights when it cools off.

Kids Program

We offer a Kids Program for children (ages 5 to 11) in which our young ones will get the chance to learn some of the same skills as their parents. Parent volunteers are always welcome. Kids must have a parent or adult guardian 21 or older in camp at all times. Parents are responsible for their children when the kids aren’t attending classes. Children ages 4 and under should remain with parents unless the kids camp staff approves of their involvement. Ages 12 and up can audit and fully participate in adult classes with the permission of the instructor.

Trade Blanket

The trade blanket is a fun and engaging activity where people trade all kinds of items with one another. For those new to the Trade Blanket, the moderator explains the rules. Participants sit on the edge of the trade blanket. Usually the process goes clockwise. The first person places item(s) on the blanket for trade. No mention is made of monetary value. The moderator points his/her way around the blanket to each participant who can place item(s) for possible trade or wave with their hand to signify “pass.” The person initiating the trade then looks at the items placed on the blanket (greenbacks aka money, can be offered but items are preferred) . They can accept an offer or reject all offers and remove the initial item. If a trade is made, the object(s) is/are traded to each with a handshake. If no offers are made the initial offering is removed. Then the moderator points to the next trader to place something out for trade. This process continues for at least one full round. New traders can enter and others leave the circle. We run a children’s trade blanket and an adult trade blanket. The adult trade blanket usually lasts late into the night and can often end up being like a high stakes poker game with very valuable items. It is best to bring several items of varying “value” to the trade blanket so that you can trade at all levels, or so that you can add smaller items to a large item to “sweeten the deal.” 

Barter Fair

The barter fair happens twice during the week and is the time for instructors to sell their wares. Many of the instructors make a living as makers and this is an opportunity to buy some really amazing hand-crafted items and support local artists.

Costume & Mask Night

Costume & Mask Night is a celebratory night in which participants create fun costumes and masks, play music, and dance around the fire.

Work/Trade Program

Echoes offers a work/trade program in which students may be given a discounted registration fee in exchange for assistance in setting up camp and/or other tasks throughout the week. Work/Trade participants must pre-approve with organizers prior to registration. To apply for the work/trade program please fill out the application on our registration page.

Daily Raffle & Scholarship Program

Every morning we raffle off amazing items donated from the community of teachers and participants. At the end of the week we raffle two full registrations for the following year. The money raised from the raffle goes to our Scholarship Program. For more information on that, see our registration page. 

Schedule

Below is the general schedule for Echoes:

Daily Schedule (Mon-Fri)

8:00am Breakfast

8:30am Morning Meeting/Class Announcements

9:00am Classes Begin

12:00pm Lunch Break

1:00pm Classes Resume

5:00pm Classes conclude for the day

6:00pm Dinner

7:00pm Evening Activities Begin

10:00pm Lights Out/Quiet Time

Saturday – Instructors Camp

Instructors and Workshare students arrive

Sunday

Students may begin arriving at noon.

Camping assignments, registration, and set-up.

Student orientation at 7 PM followed by class previews – instructor samples & sign-ups.

Monday

Monday Night Meet & Greet

Tuesday

Special music from town at night’s campfire.

Kid’s trade blanket in the evening.

Wednesday

Adult trade blanket in the evening.

Thursday

Afternoon: Blanket Fair
Evening: Costume & Mask night.

Friday

Appreciations and Gift-Giving

Classes will end at 5 PM.

Saturday

We must be out of the camp by noon.