The Sharpening Stone
  • Welcome
  • 2019 Skills Gathering
    • Classes Offered
    • What to Expect
    • Registration
    • Photo Gallery
    • Connections
  • 2019 Programs and Workshops
    • Adult Programs
    • Youth Program
    • Meet our Instructors
  • Contact Us
2019 work trade applications will open February 1st, 2019.  

We will let you know if you have been accepted for work trade by April 1st, 
If not accepted for work trade, you will still have time to register as a paying student. 


Welcome!  Thanks for applying to be a part of the work trade crew for this year’s gathering.  The work trade crew at The Sharpening Stone is essential to the success and feel of our gathering.  Applications for work trade are due by March 1st, 2019.  You must be 18 and older to apply for a work trade position. Please answer the following questions and email them to thesharpeningstone@gmail.com with ‘work trade application’ in the subject line, or snail mail them to us at:

The Sharpening Stone
106 NW F st. #240 
Grants Pass, Oregon 97526


We offer full work trade positions, 16-20 hours, in exchange for the full cost of tuition.  Responsibilities for the work trade crew include set-up and breakdown, kitchen crew, grounds maintenance, composting toilets, and any other tasks required to make the gathering flow smoothly and well.  All work traders are required to arrive on site on May 15th  If you have not arrived by 6 PM on May 15th, your position will be forfeited.

The following is a short list of various jobs that you may be asked to do during the week…We are looking for applicants who are flexible and able to do a variety of tasks when asked, and who understand that signing up for work trade crew does mean missing out on some class time and other group activities.

  • Set up crew must arrive AT LEAST two days in advanced.  This may include helping set-up the registration booth, painting and placing signs, lighting, cleaning and setting up the kitchen and serving lines, setting up additional teaching areas, setting up parking, and other camp wide logistics.
  • Cutting, hauling, and chopping firewood
  • Helping with take-down and clean up during the two days after the event. We will be setting up composting toilets on-site, and part of the grounds crew responsibilities will be helping with that set-up and daily maintenance.  This will include checking in on toilet paper and hand sanitizer supply, changing buckets, and helping construct and deconstruct the facilities
  • Kitchen Crew- We will ask for one shift a day, either breakfast or dinner, and we will do our best to rotate you.  For example, if you do breakfast, you will not be asked to do dinner.  Breakfast shifts will start as early as 5:30am and continue until we are finished with clean up.  Dinner shifts will start at 3:00pm and continue until we are finished with clean up.  Plan on 4-5 hours per shift.   Kitchen crew takes up the largest number of work trade positions, and most likely cuts into class time. 
  • If you are working in the kitchen, we do ask that you pay special attention to your personal hygiene to avoid spreading illness in camp.  Thank you! 
Please answer the following questions.  Feel free to add anything you think you may be especially helpful specifically to The Sharpening Stone.  Work trade is not a free ride- we are looking for pro-active, positive participants to help us create a fun, safe, and inspiring gathering for all. 

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Age:

When is the earliest you can arrive?

When is the latest you can stay?

Please tell us a little about yourself…

Please tell us about strength/skills that you may have in the following areas, and also your preference for working in these areas:

Kitchen:

Maintenance and grounds crew:

Set-up/ Clean up:

Construction:

Wellness/Medical Training:

Do you have experience with other gatherings?  Primitive skills gatherings?  Which ones?

What is your motivation to apply for work trade?

Are you bringing children?  If so, what ages?   What do you plan to do with them while you are fulfilling your daily work trade commitment?

Are you bringing a dog?

Have you done work trade at The Sharpening Stone in the past?  How many times?

Please provide a few references that we may contact if necessary….

Please tell us anything else that you may have to offer to our community at The Sharpening Stone.

When you respond sooner and offer an easy-to-read application, it makes our job easier!
We have a limited number of work trade positions available due to the smaller nature of our gathering. 
Please understand that we cannot accommodate all applications for the work trade crew.
Thank you for your application and interest in being a part of co-creating The Sharpening Stone.  We look forward to hearing from you.


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