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Discover Your Family

BEND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

in Bend, Oregon

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Workshops and Bootcamps

Learning genealogy is not just about gathering names and dates. It is about building skills, confidence, and understanding how to use the tools that bring family history to life.

Our Workshops and Bootcamps are designed to give you hands-on learning experiences that go deeper than a lecture. These programs focus on doing, practicing, and building real ability in a supportive, friendly environment. 

Whether you are writing a family story, learning to use a research website, organizing your files, or exploring a new skill, these sessions help you move from “I’ve heard of that” to “I can do that.”

What Makes These Different

Workshops and bootcamps are:

  • Practical and interactive, not just presentations

  • Focused on specific skills or outcomes

  • Step by step and beginner friendly, while still useful for experienced researchers

  • Designed so you leave with progress, not just notes

You may be following along on your own laptop, working on your own research, or practicing a new technique during the session.


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WRITING WORKSHOPS

 


Coming SooN!
Skill BUilder
Workshops
  

Workshops

Workshops are typically single sessions or short series that focus on a specific topic or skill area. They give you guided time to learn, try, ask questions, and make real progress.

Topics may include things like:

  • Writing and shaping family history stories

  • Learning how to use a particular genealogy website or tool

  • Organizing research and digital files

  • Understanding records and how to work with them

Our Ancestor Short Story Workshops are one example, offering dedicated time, guidance, and peer support for turning family history into meaningful narratives.

Bootcamps (Coming in the Future)

Bootcamps will be more in depth learning experiences built around one theme or skill set. These may run longer, cover material in stages, and help participants build confidence through practice and repetition.

A bootcamp might help you:

  • Build a strong foundation in a research method

  • Gain confidence using a major genealogy platform

  • Develop better habits for organizing and documenting your work

  • Move from scattered information to a clear, usable research system

These programs are meant to help you level up your skills in a focused and encouraging setting.

Who Are These For?

Workshops and bootcamps are open to anyone interested in growing their genealogy skills. They are especially helpful if you:

  • Feel stuck and need guided help to move forward

  • Learn best by doing, not just listening

  • Want structured time to work on your own projects

  • Enjoy learning alongside others in a supportive group

You do not need to be an expert. Curiosity and a willingness to try are enough.

Check the sub pages under this section to see current offerings and schedules. New topics and skill builders will be added as needs and interests grow.

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