A community for local Long Island friends who want to explore the skills that helped our ancestors thrive to help us live more sustainable modern lives.
(1)
Workshops & outings held regularly across Long Island
04/24/2026
The bookbinding workshop by Forgotten Skillz rounds out the "Core Four" of the ScribeCraft series, which explores the history and technologies of the written word.
In this workshop, we explored different types of traditional binding, including pamphlet stitch, Coptic stitch and more.
We'll be running this workshop at the Suffolk County Museum on Saturday, April 25th, 2026 at 10am (Registration Link in comments).
Want to bring this or other Forgotten Skillz workshops to your group? Send us a message and let's explore how we can collaborate!
04/24/2026
Join us tomorrow at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum for the next installment in our ScribeCraft series: Coptic Bookbinding.
Get more info and reserve your spot on our site (Link ⬇️)
04/21/2026
Been a while since I turned a bowl, whittled a spoon, or crafted a cudgel. My neighbor just took down a tree and asked if I wanted some of the "weird pieces" for carving.
Now to just "carve out" some free time.....
04/18/2026
I miss my dog when I'm working... but there are benefits to leaving her home 🤣
04/17/2026
Just came across these pics from the first Wilderness Survival Wokshop series we ran with Ranger Eric Powers in the lead.
We were covered by Newsday on the front page of part 2.... only my left pant leg made the pictures they published 🤣
Classes are still running at Sands Point, and we've since added the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport and CEED in Brookhaven, as well as dozens of private events all across Long Island.
04/16/2026
That time we were in Newsday, back when we first started the survival classes with Ranger Eric... and only my pants made the picture lol
The series continues this weekend as we delve into survival shelter building!
04/16/2026
Announcing The Next Miracle Mile Walk & Trail Study: Sans Souci Park in Sayville!
OK, friends... You guys sold out three Miracle Mile walks in a row just as fast as I could coordinate them, so here's a fourth one, just a little bit farther west. Have those journals ready, we'll be diving even deeper!
Family Safely Located After Getting Lost on Local Trail
Deputies responded to a call this weekend regarding a family who became lost on the trail near the Union County Agricultural Center.
The groomed trail in this area spans nearly three miles on the main route and includes numerous intersecting bike trails that have been recently added which can make navigation challenging at times.
The family consisted of 4 adults, and 3 children who began their walk from the Jesse Helms Park trail entrance. After two hours on the trail, they became disoriented and concerned about their safety, prompting them to call for assistance.
A patrol deputy who is a certified drone operator deployed his agency issued drone from Jesse Helms Park and within 2 minutes successfully located the family exiting the trail near the Simpson Event Center.
Deputies were then able to respond directly to their location for further assistance.
Helpful tips when walking on trails
1. Know your route before you go
Trails with multiple loops or bike paths like those around Jesse Helms Park and the Union County Agricultural Center can be confusing. Check a map ahead of time, take a screenshot, or use a trail app so you don’t rely on memory alone.
2. Bring basic essentials
Even short hikes can turn longer than expected. Carry water, a fully charged phone, and consider a small flashlight or portable charger. These basics can make a big difference if you get delayed.
3. Stay aware and turn around early if unsure
If something doesn’t feel right like unfamiliar trail markers or losing track of direction, it’s best to turn back sooner rather than later. Trust your instincts and don’t wait until you’re fully lost to act.
04/14/2026
Next wilderness survival workshop is this Saturday. We'll be learning all about shelter.
Sands Point Preserve at 10am
Vanderbilt Museum at 2pm
CEED at 6pm
Wilderness Survival: Shelter Building is this Saturday, April 18 at 10am.
Shelter is one of our most immediate needs in the wild — and one
of humanity’s earliest examples of creativity and design. Instructor Mike Evans will lead this outdoor workshop where we dive deep into the art of the build. We’re moving beyond the basics to explore how cultures across the globe have used pure ingenuity to stay warm, dry, and safe in the wild. We'll learn to:
Come find us at The Ranger Grove at the Long Island Fairy Festival! Our team of Ranger Wardens will have something for fairies, trolls, and even humans of all ages at the campground.
Tickets are by the carload to encourage carpooling.
04/12/2026
Someone on a recent video had a great question about us labeling phragmites as invasive but also mentioned that some indigenous cultures used them historically for everything from tools to food. How can phragmites be invasive but also be used by the indigenous people's?
There are to main paths to this:
1) there are several species of phragmites, and some are native.
2) time is a factor. There have been interactions between Europeans and native cultures for over a thousand years, plenty of time for adaptation of new plants and technologies.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Forgotten Skillz posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
We are a community for local Long Island friends who want to explore the skills that helped our ancestors become self-sufficient, including experimental archaeology, bushcraft, foraging, cooking, woodworking, homesteading, & more.
We believe in the practice of generalism. We are not survival specialists, though we do practice our survival skills and bushcraft basics. We are not preppers, though we do like to prepare for emergencies, both natural and human-made . We are not farmers or off-grid homesteaders, though we do prefer to live as much as possible without outside influence.
As generalists, we endeavor to become better than 80% of people at a wide variety of skills and topics. We will spend some time specializing in one area or another to gain proficiency, but we often then move on to the next area of discovery. Our goal is to be able to survive and thrive as a community, no matter what, but to also carry with us enough general knowledge (and skill) to be able to point specialists in the right direction. We are indeed jacks of all trades.
We choose to explore historical methods as our way of honing our craft. Our ancestors were survivors as a way of life. They knew how to cook, build, explore, and travel. We take our inspiration from our grandparents, and from the ancient cultures around the world that used primitive technologies to create wonders that are still viewed with awe in modern times.
Workshops, Classes, & Outings Held Regularly!
Keep an eye on the Events page, and on our Facebook group to see upcoming activities, across Long Island such as group hikes in the parks of Nassau and Suffolk counties, classes held by local professionals and hobbyists, and workshops during which you can explore topics for yourself with hands-on projects.
