At the largest ever hands-on blacksmithing event for young people in the United States, the “Southern Smiths” introduced the art of shaping metal with fire to more than 800 participants at a booth offering the blacksmithing honor, sponsored by Southern Adventist University, at the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, in early August. Organizers of the International Pathfinder Camporee, the Center for Youth Evangelism at Andrews University in Michigan, also supported the booth.

The Southern Smiths, one of many student organizations on the Southern Adventist University’s campus in Collegedale, Tennessee, helped recruit 35 instructors and support staff to attend the event. In order to earn a badge for their uniform sash, each Pathfinder completed requirements for the honor using an anvil, hammer, and tongs to forge two items: a Fredrick’s Cross and an S-hook with a spinning finial. 

A longtime supporter of the Southern Smiths, Henry Davis of Wolf Prairie Historic Arts, supplied 17 gas forges plus tongs to outfit the booth. Davis also designed the anvil and forge stands, ensuring that everything was inspected by professional engineers and compliant with federal safety regulations. Thanks to his efforts, even visitors with disabilities had a chance to try blacksmithing and complete the honor.

“The best part was seeing the reactions in the eyes of the kids as they moved forward in their forging skills,” said club treasurer and instructor Hayden Rigsby, senior history major at Southern. “I could tell how each one was impressed by what he or she was learning and practicing.” Creating the cross to take home ranked as the favorite activity among badge requirements. 

“We find that it’s easy to make spiritual parallels while teaching blacksmithing, such as how heat and pressure shape strong instruments,” said Dusty Miller, a university employee who also serves as an instructor and sponsor of the club. The collaboration between representatives from an educational institution and young people offers unique ways to demonstrate hands-on aspects of learning.

T-shirts branded with the Southern Smiths club insignia were provided to help protect the clothing of those pursuing the badge, and everyone wore a Southern Smiths apron while at a forge.

“Even with inclement weather dampening attendance predictions, more than 1,500 people of all ages visited our booth with about half completing the honor, including some Pathfinder Master Guides,” Miller said. “Thankfully, our setup was approved by the Wyoming state fire marshal, and the visiting representative from the American Blacksmiths Association of North America was very pleased with our safety and professionalism as well as exceptional participation.”

Several Southern alumni were among the instructors, and others stopped by the booth with their Pathfinder children, sharing how happy and proud they were to see their university sponsoring a hands-on activity at an international event.

One of the most impactful experiences reported about the camporee week happened as sirens sounded and people evacuated from tents into nearby buildings as a large storm amassed. Following loud wind and heavy rain, a sense of calm enveloped the camp. A large hole opened in the sky above the complex as the storm split in two sections to pass on either side of the camp, and then re-form back into one system. When a double rainbow spanned the sky to the southeast, singing and cheering erupted from the sheltering groups praising God for His protection. 

“I heard one instructor say he had never seen such a sight in his life and was going to be reevaluating his own faith,” Miller recounted. “Many other participants and leaders who witnessed the event also talked about reconsidering their walks with Jesus and exploring how to better know and serve Him.”

Continuing to build a stellar reputation as participants in local and regional events for youth, the Southern Smiths also hope to participate in the next international camporee in 2029.

— Tina Frist Smith is communication manager at Southern Adventist University.