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

Learn more about the hikes and workshops for this day.

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

Learn more about the hikes and workshops for this day.

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

Learn more about the hikes and workshops for this day

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


    • 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.

Main Tent Schedule

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.

Antique illustration from agriculture encyclopedia, plant: Grafting or graftage

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

 

Turkeys

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

Contact Us Today