25th Annual Rat Root Rendezvous

Our 25th Anniversary

August 21-24, 2025

This page will be updated in 2025.

The dates have been posted for the next Rendezvous so mark your calendars. This event is put on by Lori and Randy, owners of Karamat Wilderness Ways. The event is open to the public, people who are interested in all things Bushcraft, Wilderness Living, Survival, Primitive Skills and Outdoor Education. This is a family friendly event so bring the kidlets. Rendezvous is from Thursday 10:00am to Sunday 5:00pm.

We have created a Facebook Page for the event. This can always be a helpful thing. Some of you may need a ride to the event, want to talk about what to bring for the potluck or talk about what it is you wish to learn. If you need any other information, please give us a call, message us on the Rendezvous Facebook Page, or email us.

You can help us out by volunteering to change out the garbage bags if they get full or adding toilet paper to the outhouses if they need it. You can find these things in the kitchen at the main camp area.

On-Site Registration and Donations

Everyone must register on-site when they arrive for Rat Root Rendezvous. If you are sick, please do not come.

If you are camping at Rendezvous:

There is a camping charge and it will need to be paid at registration, cash only. Tent camping is 20.00 per night per tent. Class B and C RV’s/Motorhomes and trailers are 30.00 per night per trailer/RV. No Class A RV’s allowed. There is a limited amount of space for Recreational Vehicles, so you may very well have to camp in the upper area or find camping elsewhere (Nojack Campground along highway 16). If you wish to use one of the 2 shelters that are available, they are 10.00 per person per night. If coming for the day, please register and make a donation of 10.00.

Anyone instructing an approved 4 hour class/classes will camp for free.

This year we will be reserving camping spots for the 3 nights between August 12-18, 2024 for those that are traveling from a distance and can’t get here until late Friday night. If you are one of these people, please call Lori to discuss doing this for you and to prepay for your spot. Payment to be made by e-transfer or cash only.

If you are staying through the event to Sunday then you will need a ticket for Saturday nights door prizes.

Don Auten has graciously made name tags again this year for everyone as well.

Guidelines

This is a family friendly event. The event is a recreational drug free location, this includes Marijuana. Alcohol is only allowed in your campsite.

Quiet hours between 11:00pm and 7:00am.

You must be present during the drawing to win and collect your door prize.

We will not be accepting digital currency for camping, class fees, silent auction. Please check with Vendors about their policies.

Camping and Fire Restrictions

We invite you to camp on our property. This is bush camping at it’s finest. We supply water, outhouses, some firewood and a main camp area to cook over the fire and also toilet paper. The rest is up to you, so come self contained. Fires are permitted only in raised firepans or woodstoves. There is no electricity at camp.

No Class A RV’s please. We are only allowing Class B and C RV’s and trailers. There is a limited amount of space for them down in the camp area. You may very well have to camp on the upper part of the property or find camping elsewhere (Nojack Campground along highway 16).

Pets in Camp

With all the problems of dogs fighting in the past, we ask:
If you bring your dogs, they will need to be leashed or kept at your camp. Please do not leave them unattended by tying them up to a tree and walking away. If this is a problem then please look at leaving them with someone or putting them in a kennel.
Please clean up after your dogs and dispose of their waste into one of the many garbage’s around camp.

Garbage

This has not been a problem and most people pack out what they pack in. We do recycle pop and liquor containers if you wish to donate them to us. You will find a recycle bin in the kitchen area at the main camp. There will be garbage cans around the main camp area but please consider taking your garbage with you. It would be greatly appreciated.

Silent Auction

We will once again have a silent auction. Bring your items to sell in the classroom. Buyers are to pay for their items to the seller right after the auction has been closed. Auction will close at 4:00pm Saturday afternoon. Once the item is paid for you can pick it up. We will once again need a couple of volunteers to close the auction. Right after the auction is the potluck so please don’t delay in getting your items. This is a cash only event. If the volunteers could please contact Lori and let her know you are willing to close and oversea the silent auction.

Potluck

Saturday night is Potluck supper. Everyone is welcome to participate in the potluck but it is not mandatory. If you wish to participate, please bring enough food to feed your family plus another family. Homemade is the best and we are looking for salads, meat dishes, casseroles, stews, dinner rolls, and desserts. We ask that you consider bringing your own dinner dishes but we will supply paper plates and cutlery for those that forget. Please pick up your dishes/containers after the potluck is over.

Trade Blanket & Saturday Evening

Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights will be Trade Blanket night around the main campfire area/fire from 8-10pm. Saturday Evening following the potluck supper, we will have announcements, anyone running a course/class can have a few minutes during this time. After that there will be door prizes. Many participants and instructors have been providing excellent and wonderful door prizes over the years. You must be present during the drawing to win these wonderful prizes.

If you would like to donate to the door prizes, it would be greatly appreciated. We need adult as well as kids door prizes.  Please leave them with Lori or Randy.

Class Scheduling

We would like you to look at putting on a class during the Rendezvous starting on the Thursday afternoon this year, full days Friday, Saturday and then Sunday morning. The theme this year is Back to Basics. Lori has sent out an email to past instructors explaining this in more detail. Some classes will have online and at Rendezvous sign up, some will have only at Rendezvous sign up and some classes will not require signup. You can view this on the Teamup schedule, link below.

How to Schedule Your Classes

Deadline to List Classes by Instructors will be August 19, 2025 by 12:00pm.

There are no private classes or activities. If you have a specific place you wish to do your class or activity, please add that to your course description. If you are not sure, please contact us to discuss it.

Categories are:

• Black Powder/Forging/Fire/Shelter
• Back to Basics
• Crafting/Clothing
• Kids
• Knife/Axe/Saw
• Plants/Animals/Fishing
• Miscellaneous

Deadline to Sign up Online for Classes by Students will be August 19, 2025 by 12:00pm. After that you will need to sign up at Rendezvous. Class schedules will be in the Classroom Greenhouse building.

Class fees are to be paid to the instructor. Please bring cash for classes.

Class Schedule will also be posted in the classroom.