Ancient Paths Gathering is different because, while many earthskills gatherings focus on traditional skills, self-sufficiency, and connection with nature, Ancient Paths is intentionally Christ-centered.

We’re gathering not only to rediscover the skills and rhythms of generations past, but to consider how those things can draw us closer to God, strengthen our families, deepen community, and help us steward His creation well.

Ancient Paths is more than a series of workshops—it’s an immersive weekend where everyone is invited to participate, connect, and learn together. We’ll camp together, share meals, learn from one another, worship around the fire, pray, create, work with our hands, and make space for meaningful fellowship and rest.

The goal is to create a place where faith and everyday life intersect—where practical skills, family life, creation, worship, and community are woven together.

You don’t have to be an expert in earthskills or even know exactly what you’re doing. Come ready to learn, contribute, slow down, and experience a different way of gathering—rooted in Christ, connected to creation, and centered on community.

Ancient Paths Gathering will take place September 17–20, 2026.

Arrival/Check-In Time: Thursday afternoon, September 17th

Departure: Sunday afternoon, September 20th

The gathering will take place on beautiful private land with open fields and natural spaces for camping, workshops, meals, fellowship, and worship.

Because this is private property, the exact address and arrival instructions will be provided to registered participants before the gathering.

Ancient Paths Gathering is for individuals and families who desire Christ-centered community and are interested in learning practical skills, living closer to the land, stewarding God’s creation, strengthening families, and rediscovering older and simpler ways of living.

You do not need to be a homesteader, survivalist, craftsman, or expert in traditional skills. Curious beginners are very welcome.

Families, married couples, singles, young adults, elders, and children are all an important part of the community we’re hoping to cultivate.

We highly encourage you to register ahead of time! Space is limited, and spots may fill up, so registering early is the best way to secure your place at the gathering.

Your donation helps provide high-quality meals, essential supplies, and clean, accessible facilities for everyone at the gathering. Every contribution helps us create a safe, welcoming, and well-supported experience for all attendees.

All event coordinators and staff are volunteers. No one is paid for their time or energy, so your donation goes directly toward the supplies, services, and resources that make this gathering possible. Every contribution truly makes a difference.

Any remaining donations will go toward supporting future missionary gatherings!

The suggested donation for the full weekend is:

$150 for 13 + up

$100 for 5-12

Free under 5

Throughout the gathering, participants will be able to choose from workshops, demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on skill shares covering areas such as traditional crafts, earthskills, natural living, homesteading, family life, relationships, birth and motherhood, food preparation, plant knowledge, land stewardship, and other practical skills.

There will also be communal meals, campfires, worship, prayer, fellowship, children’s activities, and unscheduled time to explore, rest, create, and get to know one another.

A detailed schedule will be shared closer to the event.

Yes! Ancient Paths Gathering is intended to be a multigenerational gathering, and children are an important part of that vision.

We want children to have opportunities to be outside, learn useful skills, interact across generations, play, create, and experience healthy Christian community alongside their families.

Some workshops will be appropriate for all ages, while others may be specifically designed for adults, teens, younger children, couples, or other groups. Age recommendations will be included in workshop descriptions whenever possible.

No formal childcare is currently planned. Parents remain responsible for the supervision and safety of their children throughout the gathering.

We hope to cultivate a family-friendly community where children are welcomed rather than treated as an inconvenience, but the gathering itself should not be considered a drop-off childcare environment.

In many cases, yes.

Mature teens will be welcome at many workshops unless a particular session is specifically designated for adults, couples, young children, or another audience.

Individual workshop descriptions will provide guidance.

This gathering takes place outdoors on private land rather than in a controlled indoor venue. There may be fires, tools, uneven ground, wooded areas, insects, cooking equipment, vehicles, and other normal features of outdoor life.

Parents and guardians are responsible for knowing where their children are and providing appropriate supervision throughout the weekend.

Yes. Ancient Paths Gathering is intentionally and unapologetically centered on Jesus Christ.

Prayer, Scripture, worship, and Christian fellowship will be woven naturally throughout the weekend. Our desire is to explore ancient and traditional ways of living through a biblical worldview, recognizing creation as God’s handiwork and seeking to steward it faithfully.

You do not need to have everything figured out spiritually to attend, but participants should understand and respectfully honor that the gathering itself is Christ-centered.

When we use these words, we’re talking about recovering practical skills and ways of living that help people become more connected to the land, natural rhythms, their communities, and the work of their own hands.

That might include growing and preparing food, traditional crafts, working with natural materials, learning about plants, building practical skills, spending meaningful time outdoors, understanding natural cycles, and becoming less dependent on highly industrialized ways of meeting every human need.

For us, this is not a spiritualization or worship of nature. We worship the Creator, not creation. We believe the natural world is God’s creation and that learning to understand, enjoy, and responsibly steward it can deepen our gratitude for Him.

Not at all.

One of the purposes of the gathering is to create opportunities for people to learn. You don’t need acreage, a homestead, expensive equipment, or years of experience.

Come curious and willing to participate.

If you already have skills to share, we hope you’ll also find opportunities to contribute your knowledge and encourage others.

No.

We want this weekend to have breathing room.

Attend the sessions that interest you, spend time with your family, sit around a fire, walk the land, make new friends, rest at your campsite, or simply enjoy being outside.

Some communal gatherings may form important anchors for the weekend, but this is not meant to feel like rushing from one scheduled activity to another.

No. Ancient Paths Gathering is not a church and is not centered around one particular Christian denomination. People may come from different Christian traditions and backgrounds. What unites the gathering is our shared desire to follow Jesus, honor Scripture, fellowship with other believers, and learn together.

Camping is encouraged but not required.

Camping is a central part of the Ancient Paths experience, and we encourage participants to stay onsite if they’re able. Sharing mornings, meals, evenings, campfires, and the rhythms of outdoor life is part of what makes the weekend special.

This is a rustic outdoor gathering rather than a developed campground or festival venue.

Participants should plan to bring their own tent and basic camping equipment and be prepared to live simply outdoors for the weekend.

We’ll send registered participants a detailed packing and arrival guide before the event.

Yes! Porta potties will be available on site for bathroom facilities. For washing off, there will be hoses available, as well as a pond and waterfall that you may use.

Please note that only natural, biodegradable soap may be used in the designated hose-washing area. This helps us care for the property and protect the surrounding environment.

The goal of the event kitchen is to prepare food using traditional methods that honor the natural qualities and digestibility of the ingredients, including fermentation, soaking, and nixtamalization in the preparation of grains and legumes. Everything will be prepared from single, whole ingredients, with most ingredients being organically grown or produced. Dairy will be raw and/or grass-fed, and meats will consist of wild game or grass-fed sources. No pork or processed foods will be used. The emphasis will be on wholesome, traditionally prepared food made from simple, recognizable ingredients.

We’ll do our best to clearly communicate ingredients and accommodate common dietary needs where reasonably possible, but because meals may be prepared communally, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.

Anyone with serious allergies or highly specific dietary requirements should contact us before registering and may need to bring supplemental food appropriate for their needs.

Yes. In keeping with the simple, low-waste nature of the gathering, please bring a reusable plate or bowl, cup or mug, utensils, and water bottle for each member of your family. Labeling them is highly recommended!

There will be a station for everyone to wash and sanitize their personal dishes.

To help reduce risk and keep everyone comfortable and safe, especially with small children at the event, we kindly ask that our furry friends stay home.

Because Ancient Paths takes place primarily outdoors on natural terrain, accessibility may be more limited than at a conventional indoor venue.

If you or a family member has mobility limitations, accessibility needs, or another accommodation that would affect your ability to participate, please contact us before registering. We’ll give you an honest picture of the property and do what we reasonably can to help you determine whether the gathering will work for you.

No. Alcohol, recreational drugs, smoking, and vaping are not permitted at Ancient Paths Gathering. We want to cultivate a safe, family-friendly environment where everyone can fully participate and enjoy the weekend together.

We certainly hope not!

You do not need to arrive with a group. Part of the purpose of Ancient Paths is creating opportunities for meaningful new relationships and Christian community.

Shared meals, workshops, campfires, worship, and interactive activities will provide natural opportunities to meet people throughout the weekend.

Come willing to introduce yourself, participate, and perhaps leave with a few new friends.

Participants are responsible for their own health needs, medications, and personal first-aid supplies.

For emergencies requiring professional medical care, emergency services will be contacted.

The name reflects our desire to look back in order to move forward—to rediscover enduring wisdom that modern life can easily cause us to forget.

It also echoes Jeremiah 6:16:

“Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it…”

For us, the ancient paths aren’t about romanticizing the past or rejecting everything modern. They’re about discerning what is good, enduring, life-giving, and aligned with God’s ways—and carrying those things forward into our families and communities today.

We’d be happy to help.

Please contact ancientpathsgathering@gmail.com with questions that aren’t answered here.

As the gathering approaches, registered participants will also receive more detailed information about arrival, camping, meals, packing, workshops, and what to expect.

We can’t wait to gather with you around the fire.