The Tentative Schedule
Below is a tentative schedule- open to changes- If you would like to make and offering send suggestions.
Wren will lead two sweat lodges (Wren is trained to pour water in the Lakota tradition) in the evenings-if the fire bans are not yet up, depending on the weather conditions. If you are interested in either sweating or tending the fire, sign up and see Wren about helping set and tend the fire and the lodge. Only 8 people at a time, with a few fire tenders, others can sit quietly and watch the fire—
The rest of us will enjoy a more informal fire and tell stories.
Let us know if you would like to be initiated for Bardic or Ovate years.
Thursday Afternoon:
Welcome! set up tents, sign up for work, each camper assigned to a member of the Shining Mountains Grove as a point person for orientation or questions.
Informal dinner- talk about-what brought you to Druidry? How does it live in your life?
Opening ceremony– run by the Shining Mountain Grove- speak your name and home base-bring seeds from home to a central bowl.
After – socializing in the tent – or
Sweat lodge (wear lightweight natural fabrics- sweat lodge dress, t shirt and shorts, a sarong, etc, jewelry off- can be placed on the altar while inside)
Friday:
Morning: Druid Tai chi- morning practice with Nwyfre work
Breakfast and brief organizational meeting
Art project: Staff-craft led by Bree – We’ll have some staffs available, bring you own if possible, or help us clear a sapling and find one on the land. Close with a circle to tell the story of our staff and charge it in a ritual
Lunch– talk about the summer ritual- theme- Ripening
are you drawn to:
- Open and close the portals/directions
- Write and lead a journey-
- Create the core component
- Create a chant, provide music.
Meet in groups to work on your section of Ripening Summer ritual for Saturday afternoon-
Snack
Circle to discuss divination and focus a question- Bring notebooks. Take an individual divination walk on the land and let nature offer an answer. Divinatory tools—cards, ogham, runes, available under the tent to add info. gather to share what we learned-
Bardic initiation for those that request- attended by those already initiated in the bardic year, on up.
Dinner
Evening- informal storytelling- Dance in the round-
Sweat lodge for 8 people- see Wren.
Saturday:
Morning: Druid Tai chi- morning practice with Nwyfre work
Breakfast—
Art project: Sacred Pouch making with Jayel– circle to share how we’ll use this.Â
Lunch-Talk—who/what has been your teachers in the wild? How can we support the Mother. Sign up for Eisteddfod
Break into our ritual groups to work on our section.
Snack
Perform Summer ritual.
Break time to integrate and journal.
Dinner- banquet– Sit down- – talk about what brings hope even in dark times Eisteddfod – share a story/poem/dance/song/reading – if you’d like.
Sunday Morning:
Morning: Druid Tai chi- morning practice with Nwyfre work
Anishinaabe water blessing at the stream- Wren leads.
(ovate initiation for those that request- attended by any already initiated Ovate or Druid)
Closing circle- take a portion of seeds from the communal bowl
Pack and leave.
Lunch for those that stay.
What to Bring:
Bring: sleeping quarters- tent, RV, sleeping gear, request one of the campers on land, or stay at a few lodges (see list of local lodging)
- Towels- (our 3 showers can be used)
- Sun and bug protection (though it’s not very buggy here)
- Ritual garb if you’d like, simple white or green clothes if no robes
- A journal and pen.Â
- Please bring seeds from your garden or wildflower seeds from your area.
- A plain wooden staff/walking stick if you have one (some will be provided for travelers)
- Art supplies (we’ll have some, feel free to bring extra) etc.
Accommodations:
Directions (Directions + Lodging)
Practical info for travelers.
We are an hour from the Missoula or Kalispell airports- We’ll have room on our facebook page for people to coordinate rides from the airport-
(3) 2026 AWeN Gathering of OBOD (renamed) | Facebook
We are 79 miles from the Whitefish Amtrak station.
Driving- we are 2 miles off of Route 93-
Directions To: 33384 Terrace Lake Road, Ronan, Mt 59864.
Coming from Rt 93-take a right at the second light in Ronan if you’re going north– or left at the second light if you’re driving south–turn towards the east, towards the mountains, onto Terrace Lake Road. This straight road goes over a hill and then drops down into the trees. About 2 miles from Rt. 93 -notice a yellow sign saying “narrow bridge” on the right where the road narrows slightly to go over the creek. We are 33384- the first driveway on the left after the creek. Go through the two stumpy flagstone pillars with metal ravens on top -and straight up the hill to the top (we are the only house up here). After unloading, we have parking down the hill.Â
Accessibility- most activities will be under a large tent- on flat ground though asphalt, some (but not most) socializing on the back deck, up a few stairs. Camping available near by. Inside accommodations are up-stairs, in campers—a few steps. If you let us know it is needed, we’ll make sure one of the porta potties is accessible.
Local accommodations (Ninepipes Lodge, campgrounds, B&Bs)
Ninepipes Lodge – Your Montana Adventure awaits…
Kwataqnuk Resort & Casino | Flathead Lake
Check air b+b- many local venues.
Points of Interest:
Nearby towns and points of interest include:
The Bison Range:Â Information and Hours of Operation | CSKT Bison Range
The Nine pipes Museum of Early Montana: Home – Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana
The Ewam Buddhist Gardens: Ewam International – Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism
Pablo: Home of the Salish Kootenai Tribal College (where Wren taught), tribal facilities, and the People’s center, well worth a visit.
Flathead Lake:Â begins just 15 minutes north of us in Polson. It is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, with over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. The southern half of Flathead Lake is within the boundary of the Reservation, so recreationists must purchase a tribal recreation permit at Walmart in Polson or Westland seed company-in Ronan, out round Butte Road. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks maintains thirteen public access sites around the lake. In the summer, roadside stands along the east shore offer a variety of locally grown cherries, apples, plums, and other fruits.Â
Polson: 20 minutes north at the foot of Flathead lake. Swimming and fishing piers. Small town Shopping. Kerr dam and the Kerr Dam overlook– Walmart with the best view in the country, community theater, a few restaurants overlooking the bay. And the Miracle of America Museum- worth the trip. miracleofamericamuseum.org
Kalispell and Whitefish: an hour and an hour and ½ north. Interesting towns to poke about in, whitefish has world-class restaurants.
Glacier National Park: www.glacier.org about two hours north. Pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes with over 700 miles of trails. Some of the most spectacular views one could ever see.
Boats and Biking: The waters on Flathead Lake are amazingly clear —below are boat companies for kayak or boat rental. If you are booking over a holiday weekend, the rates are a bit higher- and you need to book ahead. The Big Arm boat company is a bit farther, but their prices are better and they are a relaxed and friendly crew. Always wear a life jacket—the water has unusually cold currents underneath.
In Polson—15 minutes away:
in Big Arm– about 35 minutes away:Â
Big Fork – an hour away: