Megan "Megs" Bournique has spent 16 years in the preparedness, self-sufficiency, and homesteading community, alongside her husband, Ryan, and their three children. They founded RockHaven Homestead in rural Indiana in 2021, where they actively host skill-sharing events and offer classes at their RockHaven Skill Share Basecamp. 

Megan also created the Indiana Homestead & Preparedness Network, a Facebook group that connects like-minded individuals to share knowledge and resources.

Passionate about community-building, Megan leads Iron Sharpens Iron, a group of believers that gather to learn practical skills, focused on preparedness, self-sufficiency, and faith. She is an avid researcher and enjoys homeschooling her children, encouraging a lifelong love of learning. She is also an advocate for traditional values, lifelong learning, and practical self-sufficiency, with core interests in preparedness, survival, bushcrafting, homemaking, natural health, and politics.

Megan and her son Dayton have spoken at up to 20 conferences annually, sharing their expertise on survival, preparedness, and community building. Megan is a fierce advocate for medical freedom, driven by her personal experiences with the medical establishment through her mother’s cancer battle and her son’s health struggles. Her mission is to connect people with the resources and skills they need while empowering others to become more self-sufficient and engaged in their communities.

I’m Sally, and I help women learn the skills that they need to explore the outdoors safely. I started Midwest Women's Outdoor Adventures and Trainings in 2022. I teach Beginner's Backpacking, Wilderness Survival Skills and I'll be adding Navigation Skills soon! Also, I'm a Master Educator for Leave No Trace. For fun you'll catch me outside almost every weekend: hiking, backpacking, rappelling, caving, kayaking and leading Nature Nerd events.

Hi, I’m Andrea! A little about me: As a devoted mother, outdoors skills instructor, and Theology student, I am driven to create natural products that nurture my family and others, while teaching valuable life skills. Combining my cosmetology background with spiritual care, I offer empathetic listening and heartfelt compassion. Motherhood has honed my situational awareness and hands-on teaching skills, allowing me to effectively support others.

My name is Dakorie McElhaney. I have been married for 30 years. I have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. I work part time as an instructor at Illinois Fire Service Institute and as needed at Carle Illinois College of medicine as a standardized patient. I am currently in the process of building an off grid homestead on a piece of land that has been in my family for four generations. I live there 8 to 9 months of the year with my goats, chickens, bees and a dog named Judah. In what little free time I have I enjoy reading, sitting on the porch swing watching my animals, learning new skills, and improving on old skills. My relationship with Jesus Christ is the best part of my life and I thank Him for my salvation and many blessings.

Krista Mershimer:

Wilderness First Aid

Krista Mershimer is an outdoor guide and educator fueled by a deep love for the natural world. She is passionate about environmental education and empowering women and youth through hands-on outdoor experiences. From backcountry adventures to front-country exploration, she teaches practical skills that build resilience, confidence, and self-reliance. She is committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces that inspire stewardship, personal growth, and lasting connections to the outdoors.

“I'm honored to be returning for my second year teaching at this event!”