Visiting
Tours, Events, Workshops, & Camps
Families Learning Together (FLT)
Save the date for our annual Families Learning Together Event!
More details to come soon…
Mother Daughter Weekend
Calling Mothers & Daughters, grandmothers & granddaughters, aunts & nieces, cousins, or friends to a Girls Getaway in the autumn splendor and rustic appeal of the Appalachian Mountains on picturesque Turtle Island Preserve. Enjoy quality time together as you discover new skills through a variety of natural arts, seasonal studies, and woodland adventures. Moderate hikes, evening campfires and morning sunrises whet the appetite and fuel your creative spirit. Mother-Daughter Weekend is THE perfect opportunity to relax, reconnect, and renew your relationship with one another and with Mother Earth.
Blacksmith Basics
Try your hand at making hooks, fire tools, and kitchen utensils. More importantly learn foundational techniques that can enlighten an aspect of our history or guide you into becoming more deeply involved in this empowering trade.
Older Boys Camp 2024
Older Boys Camp is a two week camp for boys ages 11-17. To learn more click here.
Father Son Camp
Father and Son Camp is held annually at Turtle Island. It is an unusual opportunity in a profoundly unique place. It is a long weekend for father, sons, brothers, grandfathers, uncles, cousins and friends to stop the rapid pace of life for a few days to camp out on the only Appalachian Heritage farm of its kind. Together in the time-tested tradition of our ancestors, men and their young boys take time to reconnect together with their natural roots.
Click the link below to learn more!
Young Girls Camp 2024
Young Girls Camp is open to girls ages 8-11. To learn more click here.
Older Girls Camp 2024
Older Girls Camp is open to girls ages 12-17. To learn more click here.
Family Camp
Slow down and escape the fast pace of our busy scheduled lives, while Turtle Island's Family Camp provides a unique and special opportunity for parents and their children to enjoy each others uninterrupted company while experiencing the joys and wonders of the natural world.
Daily activities are designed to acquaint participants with their new surroundings, to understand, enjoy and appreciate the natural world. There's no age or experience limit. Family camp is a time for growing and learning. We work on fundamental lifestyle crafts and activities of the "back to basics" simple living that has so much to teach us regarding universal truths and values.
Hide Tanning Workshop
In this class, we will turn raw deer hides into beautiful, soft, and versatile buckskin. You will learn a method called combo-tanning which involves aspects of both brain-tanning and bark-tanning. Buckskin is a great material for garments, bags, shoes, and more.
This class will be physically strenuous at times, but almost anyone can do it if committed enough. In the beginning, the process can also be stinky and gross, but any effort and discomfort is made worthwhile by the feeling of satisfaction when you hold your soft, finished buckskin.
Knife Making
Forged in Fire fan-favorite, Robby Bowman, will be leading a group of 10 adults in making a useful knife out of repurposed railroad spikes and horseshoes. For this two-day weekend workshop, students will have access to Turtle Island's outdoor blacksmith's classroom - all tools and materials are provided. The event is open to a small group of adults only. (Special exceptions can sometimes be made for mature minors accompanied by an adult chaperone.) Students are strongly encouraged to have already taken a basic blacksmith class. Please check out our Blacksmiths Basics Class especially designed for beginners.
Click HERE for more info
Woods Woman 101
Come on out to the farm, away from digital technologies and cell phones; screens, and beeping alarms. Come outside and place your hands on the antique tools of the hearth and home. Sharpen your knife, build a grand fire, explore herbs and plants, sing songs while your hands remember the work of women. From the seasoned grandmother, to the daughter addicted to her cell phone, our experienced women-folk will empower guests with the skills, knowledge, and experience of working outdoors with your hands in harmony and skill.
Outdoor Culinary Adventure
Led by chef Susi Gott Seguret, enjoy a guided foraging expedition around Turtle Island Preserve and discover the many ‘fruits of the land’. Then enjoy a hands-on class in our outdoor, wood-fired kitchen creating delicious food with a wine paired menu.
Knife Making
Forged in Fire fan-favorite, Robby Bowman, will be leading a group of 10 adults in making a useful knife out of repurposed railroad spikes and horseshoes. For this two-day weekend workshop, students will have access to Turtle Island's outdoor blacksmith's classroom - all tools and materials are provided. The event is open to a small group of adults only. (Special exceptions can sometimes be made for mature minors accompanied by an adult chaperone.) Students are strongly encouraged to have already taken a basic blacksmith class. Please check out our Blacksmiths Basics Class especially designed for beginners.
Click HERE for more info
Wine in the Woods
An evening of relaxation and revelry with Chef Susi Gott Seguret, tasting woods-inspired wines paired with comparable “micro-dishes”, all while enjoying the beauty and serenity of Turtle Island Preserve.
Click the link below to learn more!
Honoring the Deer
In this class, we will learn to process the lower leg of the whitetail deer to gather the materials to make our own tool kit! The lower legs of deer do not have meat and therefore are often discarded by hunters. Let's honor the life of the deer people and learn to utilize all of the gifts they provide. If you are a hunter that wants to make use of the entire deer, a person interested in self reliance and natural materials or a craftsperson interested in making use of an often wasted resource, this class is for you!
Knife Making
Forged in Fire fan-favorite, Robby Bowman, will be leading a group of 10 adults in making a useful knife out of repurposed railroad spikes and horseshoes. For this two-day weekend workshop, students will have access to Turtle Island's outdoor blacksmith's classroom - all tools and materials are provided. The event is open to a small group of adults only. (Special exceptions can sometimes be made for mature minors accompanied by an adult chaperone.) Students are strongly encouraged to have already taken a basic blacksmith class. Please check out our Blacksmiths Basics Class especially designed for beginners.
Click HERE for more info
Outdoor Culinary Adventure
Led by chef Susi Gott Seguret, enjoy a guided foraging expedition around Turtle Island Preserve and discover the many ‘fruits of the land’. Then enjoy a hands-on class in our outdoor, wood-fired kitchen creating delicious food with a wine paired menu.
Wine in the Woods
An evening of relaxation and revelry with Chef Susi Gott Seguret, tasting woods-inspired wines paired with comparable “micro-dishes”, all while enjoying the beauty and serenity of Turtle Island Preserve.
Click the link below to learn more!
Blacksmith Basics
Try your hand at making hooks, fire tools, and kitchen utensils. More importantly learn foundational techniques that can enlighten an aspect of our history or guide you into becoming more deeply involved in this empowering trade.
"A Little Bit of Bluegrass" Concert
Ticket includes performances by Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road and Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road as well as a talk by Eustace Conway, star of the History Channels hit TV series, "Mountain Men". Eustace will also be signing copies of the book, "The Last American Man" during intermission.
Click here to learn more: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/A-Little-Bit-Of-Bluegrass-Concert-To-Benefit-78006
Family Camp
Slow down and escape the fast pace of our busy scheduled lives, while Turtle Island's Family Camp provides a unique and special opportunity for parents and their children to enjoy each others uninterrupted company while experiencing the joys and wonders of the natural world.
Daily activities are designed to acquaint participants with their new surroundings, to understand, enjoy and appreciate the natural world. There's no age or experience limit. Family camp is a time for growing and learning. We work on fundamental lifestyle crafts and activities of the "back to basics" simple living that has so much to teach us regarding universal truths and values.
Older Girls Camp
Older Girls Camp is open to girls ages 12-17. To learn more click here.
Young Girls Camp
Young Girls Camp is open to girls ages 8-11. To learn more click here.
Older Boys Camp
Older Boys Camp is a two week camp for boys ages 11-17. To learn more click here.
Woods Woman 101
Come on out to the farm, away from digital technologies and cell phones; screens, and beeping alarms. Come outside and place your hands on the antique tools of the hearth and home. Sharpen your knife, build a grand fire, explore herbs and plants, sing songs while your hands remember the work of women. From the seasoned grandmother, to the daughter addicted to her cell phone, our experienced women-folk will empower guests with the skills, knowledge, and experience of working outdoors with your hands in harmony and skill.
All Things Fire Class
Our skilled instructors use the expansive and beautiful base camp at Turtle Island Preserve to lead a small group of adults in using friction to generate embers and other lesser known techniques for sustaining a variety of fire types. We will learn purpose-driven fire structures, no trace and low-trace methods, and build a kit to take home to help everyone master the art of fire.
Volunteer Weekend
We depend on our wonderful volunteers...simply can't make it without you. We have three dates coming up in the Spring. These three weekends will be focused on opening up our facility for the season.
Backpack Basket Class
Come and join us and make your very own Backpack Gathering Basket. This class will be taught by Peter Yencken. Peter is an experienced maker of everyday useable items: bows, arrows, knives, leather bags, baskets, and the beautiful backpack baskets you will be making this weekend.
Homeschool Days #3
This program consists of 3 days of classes designed especially for Home School students. The days will be a combination of learning, crafting, adventure and fun, all while immersed in the beauty of the natural world that is Turtle Island Preserve. Students must register for all 3 classes to participate.
Homeschool Days #2
This program consists of 3 days of classes designed especially for Home School students. The days will be a combination of learning, crafting, adventure and fun, all while immersed in the beauty of the natural world that is Turtle Island Preserve. Students must register for all 3 classes to participate.
Homeschool Basketry Class
Nate, known as the "Bodging Bigfoot", is a second generation white oak basket maker who has taught this primitive skill for 15 years in the Blue Ridge Mountain area. Each child will be making a quart size woven white oak basket to take home.
Families Learning Together
“FLT” is our annual spring fundraiser to promote sustainable and natural living through the teaching of earth skills from a wide range of instructors.
**This event is SOLD OUT, but be sure to mark your calendars for next year and check out our ‘Pre-FLT’ classes offered on 4/21**
How To Build a Chicken Coop Class with Doug
Doug will be teaching and demonstrating how to build a small chicken coop, suitable for fryer chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guineas. The coop will then be given away to one lucky participant attending the class. Plenty of additional time will be available during the class to have personal one-on-one time with Doug to ask questions about all aspects of homesteading!
Fermentation Class with Stacy
Stacy from “OFFGrid with Doug and Stacy” will be teaching a Fermentation Class in our beautiful outdoor kitchen. You bring your own supplies and leave with some beautiful jars of fermented veggies. This is a hands-on class!
Guided Tour 4/15
Join us for a 1.5-2 hour stroll around the property to learn all about our unique lifestyle and architectural choices. Farming techniques and informative lessons abound. Please note that tours do require registration.
Outdoor Culinary Adventure
Led by chef Susi Gott Seguret, enjoy a guided foraging expedition around Turtle Island Preserve and discover the many ‘fruits of the land’. Then enjoy a hands-on class in our outdoor, wood-fired kitchen creating delicious food with a wine paired menu.
"Wine in the Woods"
An evening of relaxation and revelry with Chef Susi Gott Seguret, tasting woods-inspired wines paired with comparable “micro-dishes”, all while enjoying the beauty and serenity of Turtle Island Preserve.
Click the link below to learn more!
Homeschool Days #1
This program consists of 3 days of classes designed especially for Home School students. The days will be a combination of learning, crafting, adventure and fun, all while immersed in the beauty of the natural world that is Turtle Island Preserve. Students must register for all 3 classes to participate.
Guided Tour 4/1
Join us for a 1.5-2 hour stroll around the property to learn all about our unique lifestyle and architectural choices. Farming techniques and informative lessons abound. Please note that tours do require registration.
Soap Making Workshop
We have an amazing, rare opportunity here at Turtle Island to offer you a lye soap making class from the master himself, Glen Donly. A "died in the wool" mountain man, now in his 80's, he has been making lye soap using the hot process method for over 15 years. If you have been to Dollywood in Sevierville, Tennessee, and purchased soap, it was Glen's. We figure Dolly knows a good thing when she sees it! He also owns Smokey Mountain Lye Soap.
Annual Overview:
Summers are devoted to youth camps, fall and spring are when we host tours, weekend workshops, school, scout and church groups. During winter we batten down the hatches for a closed campus and filming of Mountain Men. (Closed to all visitors December-March)
Please Note: The best way to visit us is by registering for one of our many programs that we offer. We would love to see you at Turtle Island.
Attention All Visitors:
Read Before Entering - Be aware that Turtle Island Preserve is NOT LIABLE for your safety, health or any impairment of it. Enter at your own risk. Your presence represents your acknowledgement that you accept full liability for any damage to you/your children’s person or property. This applies to everyone on the premises or associated with Turtle Island Preserve programs.
WARNING:Under North Carolina law, a farm animal activity sponsor or farm animal professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in farm animal activities resulting exclusively from the inherent risks of farm animal activities. Chapter 99E of The North Carolina General Statutes.
WARNING: Under North Carolina law, there is no liability for an Injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.