About this Event
Blacksmithing: Force breaks what patience shapes!
SOF Service Members and Teen/Tween ( 9-19 years of age ) children are invited to join The Station Foundation for Interwoven: Built Side by Side - Blacksmithing connection event. This is a hands-on blacksmithing experience designed to strengthen trust, communication, and presence through shared work. This experience invites participants to step into shared work where connection is built through attention, effort, and the creation of something meaningful side by side.
Built Side by Side is offered within the three-part Interwoven: Connection in Motion series, inspired by the principles of Chop Wood, Carry Water. While the series is designed as a cohesive offering, each experience is intentionally stand-alone. Families are welcome to participate in one, two, or all three events. Each gathering offers a complete and meaningful experience on its own, grounded in shared work, reflection, and connection. Participants who attend at least two of the three events will receive a copy of Chop Wood, Carry Water, along with a comprehensive study guide designed to support deeper communication, reflection, and understanding beyond the events.
Blacksmithing teaches what words often cannot. The work cannot be rushed because iron responds only to time, temperature, and attention. Force applied too soon will crack what patience could have shaped, while heat reveals both the weak points and the hidden possibilities within the metal. In the forge, strength alone is never enough; it is presence - steady, focused, and responsive that determines whether something is broken or transformed.
Grounded in the philosophy of Chop Wood, Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf, this event focuses on how relationships are forged not through lectures or pressure, but through steady presence, shared challenges, and mutual respect. The forge becomes the teacher. The work becomes the language. The relationship becomes the craft. This guided experience uses the metaphor of the forge to explore patience, emotional regulation, encouragement, and repair. Just as iron must be heated, shaped, cooled, and reheated, relationships are formed through repetition, restraint, and care.
Participants will complete a short pre-event reflection and return it 72 hours before the event to confirm participation. This commitment ensures that each family unit arrives intentional, grounded, and ready to engage.
During the event, participants will work through the full forging process to create a one-of-a-kind Viking-style knife, an artifact of patience, craftsmanship, and time spent working side by side. Over the course of three hours, each participant will receive hands-on guidance in the operation of propane forges, power hammers, hydraulic presses, and numerous forms of blacksmithing tongs and hammers for shaping materials. This is not about producing a perfect object. It is about learning how connection is forged moment by moment, through attention, effort, and showing up together.
The child/ children must be 9 years of age or older.
You will only claim ONE (1) ticket per family and will be prompted to enter your child’s/children’s full name and age. Upon arrival on location, you will be asked to complete an additional waiver for yourself as well as for your child/children.
Event Details:
Saturday, March 7, 2026
8:45-9:00 AM: Arrival, Sign Waivers, and Attend Safety Briefing
9:00-12:00 PM: Forging Workshop - Viking knife
12:00-12:45 PM: Lunch
Additional Info:
- Come dressed in casual, easy-to-move-in clothing. The space is indoor/outdoor, so make sure you have layers (Colorado weather is unpredictable).
- Closed-toe shoes are required.
- No experience is necessary.
- Lunch will be provided immediately after the workshop.
Additionally, please note that childcare is not available for this event, and children under 9 may not attend. Thank you for respecting this policy, as it ensures a space free of distractions for the attendees.
When registering for an event, all required fields on the order form must be completed in their entirety. Incomplete order forms will be canceled. Thank you for your understanding and for helping us ensure event security and the highest quality experience possible.
Cancellations:
If you can no longer attend this event, we kindly ask that you let us know at least 72 hr prior to the event so we can accommodate a participant on the waitlist.
If you have a fellow SOF friend that you would like to invite to future events, please forward the details of Interwoven Ft. Carson and our for an updated list of available events.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact me at [email protected]
Please review The Station Foundation's Agreement prior to registering. By completing registration for Interwoven: Built Side by Side - Blacksmithing, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, you acknowledge that you have read and understand The Station Foundation's Agreement and will abide by all Rules and Regulations.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Kilroy's Workshop, Inc., 7363 Mcclain Point, Colorado Springs, United States
USD 0.00
