2026 Hide Tanning Courses
Join a hide tanning or craft course at our farm + tannery on Southern Vancouver Island.
Experience real hide tanning: hands-on, finely-tuned, and thoroughly immersive.
We re-route hundreds of discarded hides each year back to our local fibresheds and into the hands of natural tanners - that’s you.
In every course, you are provided with an animal hide, you learn to tan it naturally - and you take home your leather textile to last a lifetime.
Scroll down to see a travel guide + hide camp details
Annual Solstice Hide Camp:
Bark-tanned Sheepskin
December 11-13, 2026
Alum-tawed
Brown Sheepskin
March 6-8, 2027
Alum-tawed
White Sheepskin
February 13-15, 2027
Smoke-tanned
Buckskin
March 26-29, 2027
Sheepskin Tanning Intensive:
2 sheepskins rugs + 1 leather cloth
April 19-23, 2027
Mothers Day Weekend:
White Alum-tawed Sheepskin
May 7-9, 2027
Labour Day Weekend:
Smoke-tanned Buckskin
September 3-6, 2027
Annual Thanksgiving Weekend:
Bark-tanned Sheepskin
October 9-11, 2027
What to expect in a hide tanning course:
Group size is between 6-16 people: small enough that you get personalized instruction, large enough that you’ll meet some rad folks to tan alongside with
Youth and kiddos are welcome at no extra cost to share a hide with their grown-up
Hide tanning days are 5-6 hours long
Hide tanning is hard work!
What to wear:
Wear work clothes and dress for all weather. In rainy months, wear waterproof shoes/work boots
We provide you a waterproof apron for the messy parts
What to bring:
Water bottle; snacks/meals; a camping chair or blanket; and a personal knife
Location:
Our tannery on the WSÁNEĆ Peninsula in North Saanich, on Vancouver Island, BC
Staying overnight:
Camp at our farm during your hide course for $30 CAD/night
How to find us, on the WSÁNEĆ Peninsula,Vancouver Island
✈️ By Plane
YYJ Victoria International Airport
SeaPlane to Patricia Bay, North Saanich or to downtown Victoria
🛥️ By Ferry (reserve in advance)
BC Ferries, Tsawassen to Swartz Bay
BlackBall Ferry, Port Angeles to downtown Victoria
Clipper Ferry (passenger only), Seattle to downtown Victoria
🚌 By Bus
Bus route #83 serves North Saanich and stops on the same block as our farm. This bus route is infrequent but direct.
In addition, we are 4 km from the McTavish Bus Exchange where you can call an Uber or Taxi + get to our farm in 5 minutes.
Our farm + tannery are 12 minutes from Swartz Bay ferry terminal; 7 minutes from YYJ Airport; 35 minutes from downtown Victoria.
2025 Past Hide Courses
SMOKE-TANNED BUCKSKIN
February 15-17, 2025
North Saanich, BC
WHITE CHAMOIS CLOTH
March 15-16, 2025
North Saanich, BC
mineral-tanned SHEEPSKIN RUG
April 18-21, 2025
North Saanich, BC
SMOKE-TANNED BUCKSKIN
June 20-23, 2025
Kootenays, BC
Tanner’s Choice:
Combo-tanned SHEEPSKIN RUG
May 16-19, 2025
North Saanich, BC
Mineral-tanned SHEEPSKIN RUG
August 1-4, 2025
North Saanich, BC
Gotham taxidermy:
European Starling
August 23 + 24, 2025
North Saanich, BC
Smoke-tanned Buckskin
August 29-September 1, 2025
North Saanich, BC
Bark-tanned Sheepskin Rug
September 13-14, 2025
North Saanich
BRING HIDE TANNING TO YOU
Private courses for organizations and groups of friends
We teach hide tanning on-the-road between Vancouver Island and southern British Columbia + we would love the opportunity to travel to work with you - whether you work with an organization, or want to gather your group of friends.
Some organizations we work with are: the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria, Pembina Fibreshed, the Sooke Region Museum, Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation Education, and Xet̓ólacw Community School (Lil’wat).
We strive to offer accessible, age-appropriate, and culturally-affirming hide tanning teachings. Hide tanning courses are led by Mara Cur and/or Mark Santamaria; large groups of over 12 participants are co-facilitated with both of us.
Click the photo or button below to learn more about hosting a hide camp in your community. A booking deposit is placed through the link when you are ready to organize your group.