June 23-25, 2023
Workshop Schedule
IT IS FREE UNLESS THERE IS A “$” BESIDE IT.
23
June 2023
3:00pm – 7:00pm
Daily Workshop Schedule
3:00pm –
4:00pm – Buckeye Trails – Brent Watson (Tentative)
5:00pm – Basic Dowsing – Teresa Mahan, Great Serpent Mound Dowsers
6:00pm – Chainsaw Safety Class (1.5 hours) – Dan Loch, Stihl Trainer
24
June 2023
10:00am – 7:00pm
Daily Workshop Schedule
10:00am – Morning Yoga – Joanie Boyle & Bird Hike – Scioto Valley Bird and Nature Club
11:00am – Invasive Species Identification & Removal – Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry
12:00pm – Amanda Pratt – Herbal Workshop
1:00pm – Grafting Pawpaw Trees – Ron Powell
2:00pm – Buck the Magic Cowboy – Shawn Grey
3:00pm – The Use of Important Items in Ceremonial and Daily Life – Catherine McNabb
4:00pm – Sound Healing & Meditation – Joanie Boyle
5:00pm – Family Fishing Workshop – Kenny Grooms, FOSM Volunteer
25
June 2023
10:00am – 7:00pm (vendors may start taking down after 5pm)
Daily Workshop Schedule
9:00am – Kayak Tour on Brush Creek (Free if you bring your own Kayak, $ to rent one.)
10:00am – Morning Yoga – Joanie Boyle
11:00am – Group Prayer Ceremony – Kevin Reilman & Benjamin Colliver
12:00pm – How to Measure a Champion Tree – Rural Action Sustainable Forestry
1:00pm – Removing Invasive Species & Pollinator Establishment – Seth Rankin
2:00pm – Turkey Calling – Kenny Grooms, FOSM Volunteer
3:00pm – Buck the Magic Cowboy – Shawn Grey
4:00pm – Loom Beading Demonstration – Dierdre Chandler
5:00pm – Family Fishing Workshop – Kenny Grooms, FOSM Volunteer
Festival activities
Join us, June 23-25, 2023, as we celebrate the first few days of summer among the foothills of the Appalachia mountains.
Our annual festival highlights the area’s history, heritage, ecology, as well as the multitude of aspects associated with the Serpent Mound Park. The Great Serpent Mound effigy, built by the Ancient Indigenous Peoples, incorporates alignments to the rising and setting of the sun and moon on the solstices and equinoxes. The summer solstice sunset alignment is through the open jaws and across the oval.
There are many theories, stories, ancient knowledge, and unknowns with Serpent Mound. The Friends of Serpent Mound started this festival as a way for the public to share and learn about the many facets of Serpent Mound. Our presenters vary from locals, historians, Indigenous Americans, Scientists, Spiritualist, Musicians, and more. Learn about Serpent Mound and the surrounding area’s history, uniqueness, wildlife, and ecology, along with some fun family friendly summer activities!
Event Rules
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- This is a family friendly event – there is to be NO alcohol, drugs, guns, or nudity!
- Children are welcome and must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
- There is no smoking in the Main Tents, in the port-o-lets, or within the group hikes. There are proper places to put one’s cigarette butts, so please do not throw them on the ground.
- Dogs are permitted, but must be leashed at all times, next to owner, and must be cleaned up after.
- The back gate to the Serpent Mound Park is closed. One can use the Buckeye Trail to access the park during park hours.
Lot of Educational Booths to visit!
Ohio Atlatl Association
Come out and try your hand or arm at throwing an Atlatl! Learn about the ancient art of the hunting device, the Atlatl. Or watch as the club members compete.
Rural Action – Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry
The Sustainable Agriculture Program at Rural Action has spent two decades strengthening the local food system by increasing production and equitable access to local food through a strategy of processing, aggregation, distribution, and education. Our work with beginning and established farmers centers on peer-to-peer education and mentorship to build a strong community of farmers.
United Plant Savers
They will be selling UpS swag, herbal medicines, art prints, and books relative to our mission.
Artifacts & Antique toys Display
Local collectors, Allen Journey and John Barnheart from two different Chapters of The Archaeological Society of Ohio, will have 6 tables of items on display.
Arts & Crafters
Many of our vendors work on their arts and crafts at their booths and are always willing to demonstrate and answer questions one might have. Here are some things you will find – beading, Gourd crafts, broom making, jewelry making, and magic tricks.
Pioneer Ways
We have a few vendors that Will be staying in more primitive tents and will be demonstrating from their booths things like tomahawk throwing, quilting, Dutch over cooking over open fire, primitive lighting, gun safety, and flint knapping.
FOSM’s Booths
We will have 2 booths this year. One goes along with the Family Fishing Workshop – Learn and Practice Casting different types of fishing rods. Make your line land in the target and win some fishing gear!
Also, stop at the main FOSM Booth and get information on our Photograph Nature Scavenger Hunt. We started this last year, the children and their parents/guardians really enjoyed themselves. Especially, the children when they showed us their images and told us the stories associated with each one. Each child got to choice a prize, but the actual price was the fun experience they had in exploring nature.
Friday Workshop Schedule
The views and opinions of the presenters are their own and not that of the Friends of Serpent Mound’s.
This is a Tentative Schedule and will not be complete until closer to the event.
4:00 – 5:00
Brent Watson
Buckeye Trails Chair Person of the Appalachia Chapter
Buckeye Trails
Learn more about the Buckeye Trails through the area.
5:00 – 6:00
Teresa Mahan
Great Serpent Mound Dowsers
Basic Dowsing
Learn to dowse, or look for water, with L-rods or Y-rods.
6:00 – 7:00
Dan Loch
Stihl Field Applications Specialist
Stihl Chainsaw Safety & Maintenance Training
Sponsored by West Union Mower Service. Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the downed trees from this winter and spring? Whether you’re a seasoned chainsaw user or brand new, this is for you. The class is 1.5 hours long.
Learn About:
• Worksite Safety & Preparedness
• PPE
• Stihl Chainsaw Features & Benefits
• Proper Tree Felling techniques
• Stihl Chainsaw Maintenance
Saturday Workshop Schedule
The views and opinions of the presenters are their own and not that of the Friends of Serpent Mound’s.
This is a Tentative Schedule and will not be complete until closer to the event.
10:00 – 11:00
Joanie Boyle
Morning Yoga
Get your day started with some outdoor yoga. Be guided through a gentle but invigorating morning stretch that is restorative in nature, suitable for all levels of experience.
10:00 – 11:00
Gary and Debby McFadden
Scioto Valley Bird and Nature Club
Bird and Nature Hike
Walk through several ecosystems – Woodland, Meadow, and Creek Edge. See if you can spy the breeding pair of Eagles!
11:00 – 12:00
Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry
Invasive Species Identification & Removal
Learn to properly identify and remove invasive plant species.
12:00 – 1:00
Amanda Pratt – Herbal Workshop
Herbal Workshop
A short description to come.

1:00 – 2:00
Ron Powell
Grafting Trees
Learn ways to graft trees.
2:00 – 3:00
Shawn Grey
Buck the Magic Cowboy
Watch a magic show for all ages!
3:00 – 4:00
Catherine McNabb
The Use of Important Items in Ceremonial and Daily Life
The use of important items in Ceremonial and daily use, like Smudge of Cedar, Sage, Sweet grass, Rosewater, and Florida water. Also the Nutritional and Spiritual benefits of Cacao, in daily use
4:00 – 5:00
Joanie Boyle
Sound Healing & Meditation
She will use a drum & 7 crystal bowls attuned to each Chakra. Be guided through a grounding breathwork & sound session with guided breath and visuals, while becoming immersed in the sound of the bowls.
5:00 – 6:00
Kenny Grooms
FOSM Volunteer
Family Fishing Workshop
Learn the basics behind fishing, which can be a great family activity.
6:00 – 7:00
Kenny Grooms & Other FOSM Volunteers
Family Fishing Casting Practice
Continue learning more about fishing, before going to the creek edge. All adults and participants over 16 years of age participating in the creek edge workshop must have a valid state fishing license.
Sunday Workshop Schedule
The views and opinions of the presenters are their own and not that of the Friends of Serpent Mound’s.
This is a Tentative Schedule and will not be complete until closer to the event.
9:00 – 10:00
MoonDoggie Liveree
Kayak Tour of Brush Creek below Serpent Mound
Bring your own Kayak and join along for free or rent one from MoonDoggie LIVERee for $30. Meet at Soaring Eagle by 8:30 and Nikki will transport participants to the drop off location and be at the pick up point to bring everyone back.
10:00 – 11:00
Joanie Boyle
Morning Yoga
Get your day started with some outdoor yoga. Be guided through a gentle but invigorating morning stretch that is restorative in nature, suitable for all levels of experience.
11:00 – 12:00
Kevin Reilman & Benjamin Colliver
Group Prayer Ceremony
We can offer a group prayer ceremony from the Andeas called a despacho. It is a ceremony of gratitude amd is very adaptable to any occasion. Typically the prayer bundle that is assembled is burned in the fire as an offering to Wankan Tanka, father God.
12:00 – 1:00
Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry
How to Measure a Champion Tree
For years the we’ve been showing the public the “Grandmother Tree” a blue ash tree believed to be large enough to be registered as an Ohio Champion Tree. Watch how one has to properly measure a large tree to then be considered a Champion.
1:00 – 2:00
Seth Rankin
Removing Invasive Species & Pollinator Establishment
2:00 – 3:00
Kenny Grooms
FOSM Volunteer
Turkey Calling
A short description of the presentation could go here.
3:00 – 4:00
Shawn Grey
Buck the Magic Cowboy
Watch a magic show for all ages!
4:00 – 5:00
Dierdre Chandler
Loom Beading Demonstration
A short description of the presentation could go here.
5:00 – 6:00
Kenny Grooms
FOSM Volunteer
Family Fishing Workshop
Learn the basics behind fishing, which can be a great family activity.
6:00 – 7:00
Kenny Grooms & Other FOSM Volunteers
Family Fishing Casting Practice
Continue learning more about fishing, before going to the creek edge. All adults and participants over 16 years of age participating in the creek edge workshop must have a valid state fishing license.
Learn more…
Where is the festival?
Soaring Eagle Retreat is east of Serpent Mound and the Ohio History Connection has asked that all of our participants come in from the Horner Chapel entrance and park in our field. One can assess Serpent Mound park via the Buckeye Trail during Park hours.
375 Horner Chapel Rd., Peebles, OH 45660
1-937-205-0094