The food, clothing, shelter of New Jersey's earliest people
Wigwam handcrafted by JM Dennis not for sale
Native Wilderness Skills workshops available for Schools, Scouts, Camps, & Libraries
canoe built by JM Dennis - not for sale
Step back in time to explore "Ice age" New Jersey
Presentation & Workshop on the early NJ people of ancient Lenapehoking & handcrafted artifacts display
In person - Online - Schools, Camps, Libraries & more...
School Assemblies 60-90 minutes
Home School & Scouting 30 minutes
Home School & Scouting 30 minutes
School Classroom / Assemblies
We begin our discussion with the plants and animals of NJ, along with a discussion of Ice Age NJ where our story begins. This includes museum quality artifacts of numerous Ice Age animals including Woolly Mammoth, Short Faced Bear, Megalodon, touch real animal pelts and more... After which we discuss ( with m
School Classroom / Assemblies
We begin our discussion with the plants and animals of NJ, along with a discussion of Ice Age NJ where our story begins. This includes museum quality artifacts of numerous Ice Age animals including Woolly Mammoth, Short Faced Bear, Megalodon, touch real animal pelts and more... After which we discuss ( with many life sized handmade displays ) food, clothing, shelter, tools... of the Lenape, and describe how these items were made. There is ample Q & A time. We also provide a demonstration of fire by friction ( no fires made in the school ) only a puff of smoke. The students are all offered an opportunity to try these wilderness skills first hand during a workshop. The program runs 60-90 minutes depending on your school's schedule availability. The assembly is presented in full period correct 1600's buckskin regalia. Also if you are interested in the students receiving a personal `` take home `` arrowhead I can provide very nice one of a kind arrowheads for your students. Available for $1.50 each.
Home School & Scouting 30 minutes
Home School & Scouting 30 minutes
Home School & Scouting 30 minutes
Scouting Events
Exploring the nature around us, whether wild rivers, remote trails or the coastal waters affects people in profound ways. Knowing this, the Traditional Earth Skills LLC in NJ offer quite a few programs designed to help to enhance the Scouting experience. We offer the comprehensive scouting workshops in New Jersey for the bo
Scouting Events
Exploring the nature around us, whether wild rivers, remote trails or the coastal waters affects people in profound ways. Knowing this, the Traditional Earth Skills LLC in NJ offer quite a few programs designed to help to enhance the Scouting experience. We offer the comprehensive scouting workshops in New Jersey for the boy's scout as well as girls scout. Among these events are the Lenape Native American presentation, local plant uses, fire by friction, and a very fun Atlatl dart throw. The atlatl is an old dart thrower used by the early hunter/gatherers throughout the globe. As a skilled scout himself in the late 70?s our scouting instructor Mike always strives to offer a very entertaining and informative program. Ask us about a ''Take Home Arrow Head'' for your students. Available for $1.50 each.
Summer Camp Partnerships
Lenape of the Eastern Woodlands
Lenape of the Eastern Woodlands
Each summer we work with partners thru out NJ to provide various wilderness skills programs to Summer / Day Camps. These programs range from 60-90 minute long up to multi day camp series. If your Summer Camp would like to partner with us for short or long term please call us to discuss the scheduling details.
Lenape of the Eastern Woodlands
Lenape of the Eastern Woodlands
Lenape of the Eastern Woodlands
Presented in full buckskin long hunter regalia. Step back in time as we present the day to day activities of New Jersey's own native people. The food, clothing, and shelter of the local hunter / gathering people will be presented along with many handmade display items to view. We also offer a hands on fire by friction workshop to students
Presented in full buckskin long hunter regalia. Step back in time as we present the day to day activities of New Jersey's own native people. The food, clothing, and shelter of the local hunter / gathering people will be presented along with many handmade display items to view. We also offer a hands on fire by friction workshop to students to try their hand at. * Ask us about a ''Take Home Arrow Head'' for your students. Available for $1.50 each.
INDOOR - OUTDOOR - ONLINE
School Assemblies
School Assemblies
We begin our discussion with the plants and animals of NJ, along with a discussion of Ice Age NJ where our story begins. This includes museum quality artifacts of numerous Ice Age animals including Woolly Mammoth, Short Faced Bear, Megalodon, touch real animal pelts and more... After which we discuss ( with many life sized handmade displays ) food, clothing, shelter, tools... of the Lenape, and describe how these items were made. There is ample Q & A time. We also provide a demonstration of fire by friction ( no fires made in the school ) only a puff of smoke. The students are all offered an opportunity to try these wilderness skills first hand during a workshop. The program runs 60-90 minutes depending on your school's schedule availability. The assembly is presented in full period correct 1600's buckskin regalia. Also if you are interested in the students receiving a personal `` take home `` arrowhead I can provide very nice one of a kind arrowheads for your students. Available for $1.50 each.
Classroom Presentation
School Classroom / Assemblies
We begin our discussion with the plants and animals of NJ, along with a discussion of Ice Age NJ where our story begins. This includes museum quality artifacts of numerous Ice Age animals including Woolly Mammoth, Short Faced Bear, Megalodon, touch real animal pelts and more... After which we discuss ( with many life sized handmade displays ) food, clothing, shelter, tools... of the Lenape, and describe how these items were made. There is ample Q & A time. We also provide a demonstration of fire by friction ( no fires made in the school ) only a puff of smoke. The students are all offered an opportunity to try these wilderness skills first hand during a workshop. The program runs 60-90 minutes depending on your school's schedule availability. The assembly is presented in full period correct 1600's buckskin regalia. Also if you are interested in the students receiving a personal `` take home `` arrowhead I can provide very nice one of a kind arrowheads for your students. Available for $1.50 each.
Library Presentations (Youth & Adult )
Library Programs
1* Camping / Wilderness 1st Aid & workshop – Keeping ourselves safe in the great out doors is easy once you know a few important techniques. What's inside a survival bag ? Camping without a tent is not so bad when you know how. Also try your hand at the “Native American match” We can also provide a "take home" survival tool to your guests at a modest fee.
2* Lenape of NJ evening presentation for adults. This presentation offers many artifacts, native flute music, Q & A time and also moves the discussion back in time to discuss paleo people in NJ and geological changes here that would have effected the Native people. We also bring a very large book collection for attendees who may be looking for further educational sources. This program is presented in casual dress attire not buckskins.
3* Wilderness Skills for Youth - An overall view of traditional native wilderness skills. Topics include a time line of North America, food gathering and hunting developments, transportation, shelter variations, and native flute music. This is a very open and flexible program which can include a fire by friction demonstration among other special woodcraft skills. All programs can include a one of a kind take home arrowhead for all of our guests @ $1.50 Thank you for considering one of our unique programs
Home School & Scouting events - 30 minutes
Exploring the nature around us, whether wild rivers, remote trails or the coastal waters affects people in profound ways. Traditional Earth Skills LLC in NJ offer programs designed to help to enhance the Scouting experience. We offer scouting workshops in New Jersey for the boy's scout as well as girls scouts. Among these events are the Lenape Native American presentation, local plant uses, the Atlatl, and exploring the very fun Fire by Friction Workshop.. The atlatl is an old dart thrower used by the early hunter/gatherers throughout the globe. As a skilled scout himself in the late 70?s our scouting instructor Mike always strives to offer a very entertaining and informative program for all.
PROGRAM PRICING - INDOOR - OUTDOOR - ONLINE
School Classroom up to 50 students
$429 *
60-90 minute
The program covers all the same topics as our in person Assemblies. Please see full description above.
School Assembly over 50 + students
$499 *
60-90 minute
The program covers all the same topics as our in person Assemblies. Please see full description above.
Library Presentations (Youth & Adult )
$349 *
60 minute
We offer a variety of programming including wilderness / outdoor and NJ Native American presentations. Youth, Family & Adult available
Home School & Scouting events
$249 *
30 minute
A fun 30 minute presentation, including a brief workshop for guests to participate in.
* We calculate $1.00 per mile traveling to your venue from Swartswood NJ 07877 *Cancellations require a 48 hour notice, or a makeup rain date can be arranged within 30 days of our original program date.
About Us
Mike Dennis has spent a lifetime in teaching people of all ages with fun informative stories and a variety of life skills. Traditional Earth Skills LLC in New Jersey offers a variety of living history as well as wilderness skills workshops and presentations to schools, scouts, camps, and outdoor education centers, among others. These programs are combined with a genuine concern for our recent climate changes occurring worldwide, ultimately hoping to create solutions we can all live with. Traditional Earth Skills LLC in NJ plays their role in this by sharing the valuable knowledge and life skills with the good people of New Jersey.
Keeping The Earth in Balance
Traditional Earth Skills offers a variety of living history as well as ``hands on`` wilderness skills workshops and presentations to schools, scouts. camps, and outdoor education centers, among others. These programs are combined with a genuine concern for our own recent climate changes occurring world wide, ultimately hoping to create solutions we can all live with.