Beginner Self-bow Workshop

May 16, 17, & 18, 2025

Send your RSVP for more info and registration details.

The course objective is to teach the centuries old craft of self bow building. This workshop is taught with hands-on instruction and guidance at a beginner level. Each student will build their own whitewood selfbow from stave to completion.

Course highlights are as follows:

~ three 8-hour days of hands-on instruction

~ all tools, materials and detailed guidance provided

~ add overnight accommodations for a special rate

~ only 6 spaces available

~ total investment $950

~ 50% down to secure your spot

Register by submitting your RSVP and we will email the invoice

Your mentor Jonathan Houk and his apprentice Jeremy Weber will provide detailed instruction on which tree species to use, how to select your log, how to take a log from whole log to stave form, and how to dry the staves. 

Water’s Edge provides all materials and equipment needed from start to finish. Each participant will receive a hand selected stave. Each stave will be fully prepared by our experienced bowyers and chosen with the participants' needs and draw length in mind. 

This workshop begins as Jon provides step-by-step instruction on how to slowly reduce your stave to a roughed out form. Once you rough out the shape of your bow Jon and Jeremy will provide hands-on guidance from the beginning of bow bending through the tillering process. This will include; floor, long string, short brace, full brace tillering. Your teacher will provide your string unless time allows for the full string building lesson. After the building process, we will provide instinctive or gap shooting instruction and arrow tuning when time allows. You will experience an incredible feeling of accomplishment and self fulfillment upon the completion of your handmade whitewood selfbow. We look forward to sharing the knowledge and experience of the functional art form of primitive bow building.