In addition to the classrooms, there are numerous picnic tables outside which can be used for carving weather permitting. Numerous walking trails exist through the woods.
Woodcarvers Retreat
in New England
The 2009 Retreat Program.
We will have 8 formal classes this year and have reserved the same URI facilities as in past years for Friday night through Monday afternoon 4pm; 9, 10, 11 and 12 October 2009.
Our Objectiveis to provide the opportunity for wood carvers to improve their skills, meet other carvers from the New England Region as well as nation and internationally know carvers all at a location where room and board can be provided at affordable rates, total cost including instruction, room and board is only $205. NOTE: due to an increase in the facility costs, the 2009 Retreat cost will be a little higher than in 2008. The Retreat is being held at the Environmental Education Center of the Alton B. Jones Annex at the University of Rhode Island, conveniently located a few miles off I-95 at exit 5 in RI. The Retreat will run from Friday night at 5:30pm through Monday at 5:00pm; on Columbus Day weekend (early October). The fact that you will witness first hand the "changing of the colors" in the New England woodlands is an added bonus. We are continuing to evolve and grow with all volunteer instructors and organizational staff.
The Environmental Education Center, 401 Victory Highway
West Greenwich, Rhode Island 02817, is situated on 2,300 acres of pristine forests. There is a 75-acre lake, extensive hiking trails and a number of streams and ponds. There is also a historial farm and a replica Native American shelter and living area. For a map and directions click
here.
The Dinning Room and Classrooms are located in the main lodge pictured below.
In addition to the classrooms, there are numerous picnic tables outside which can be used for carving weather permitting. Numerous walking trails exist through the woods.
The cabins while rustic, are new with nice showers and comfortable twin size bunk beds. Although bunk beds are standard in the cabins, only the lower bunks will be used unless someone volunteers to use an upper bunk. Each cabin has 10 bunk beds, no individual rooms exist. There will be separate cabins for men and women.
A dinning hall is open 24 hours a day with soda, coffee, tea, milk, fruit, and cookies continuously available at no additional charge. Meals are very good, food plentiful. We will accommodate Vegetarian meal requests.
We anticipate using all the lower bunks this year and may have to turn people away unless they volunteer for an upper bunk. Some cabins can become quite loud at night (for those that don't snore) so bring ear plugs. Bring your own sheets, pillow, blankets/sleeping bag, soap, towel, shower shoes, Band-Aids and flashlight.
If you happen to live close enough to "commute" or would prefer staying in a motel off campus (closest is at least 5 miles) you may do so and pay less -check the registration for actual costs.
If you have a self contained motorhome(RV)and will sleep in that you may pay less -check the registration for actual costs. We have room for a limited number of RVs so email/call Ray Johnson to determine availablity.
Our format for classes is to have one subject for Saturday and Sunday and then have students switch instructors on Monday for a different one day class. There may be exceptions in order to complete a particular project.
Specific classes/activities offered on Saturday and Sunday are:
If you complete your class in two days, you may attend a different demonstration/carve along on Monday: Sign-up sheets will be posted for these classes at the retreat.
Check in will start at 5:30 p.m. of columbus Day weekend. We will have a self-serve evening meal available starting at 5:30 P.M. Friday night. It will be kept warm for those arriving later to help themselves whenever they get there. At 7 P.M. we will introduce the RETREAT organizers and instructors, and ask everyone to introduce himself or herself, make announcement and go over the schedule.
If anyone would like to give an informal talk about any carving related subject, your club activities, or whatever, let us know at check in and we will set it up.
We will have a table set up for show and tell, please bring a carving along to display and tell us about. It helps inspire others and is a good way to meet other carvers and socialize.
On Saturday and Sunday nights, several of the attendees will have volunteered to instruct informal classes. We will not know until we arrive on Friday night all the informal evening classes that will be offered, but in past years�s Ed Cattey taught a knife making workshop, Joe Johnson cane carving, Elmer Jumper and John Ziegler both did Santa ornaments, Harold Griffin did a Eagle Head Bolo and Peter Benson gave sharpening lessons. The only cost for these evening classes will be the purchase of a blank from the instructor.
If you could teach an evening class please volunteer on the registration form.
Playing cards are available or bring your own games and get a group together.
We will also have a table set up for any carving related items (wood, tools, books,etc.) that you would like to swap or sell. Some one will need what you have too much of. If you complete your class in two days, you may attend a different demonstration/carve along on Monday.
Should you have further questions please feel free e-mail Jim O'Dea (jeodea@aol.com) or Ray Johnson at 860- 848-8194 (wcvray@hotmail.com) or write to Ray's attentions: Mystic Carvers Club, PO Box 71, Mystic, CT 06355.
The Mystic Carvers Club of Mystic, Connecticut, USA is the sponsor of
the Retreat.
Jim O'Dea e-mail me
and Ray
Johnson are the Co- Chairman of the event.
We expect to have a full house again this year and may have to turn people away, so if you are interested in attending register as soon as possible, typically by May we are 75% full.
Cost is $205 for the 3 days which includes room, board and instruction but not the class blank fee. Local people not wanting to sleep over at URI or those desiring to get local motel accommodations may pay less - see the registration form for actual discounts.
Refund Policy: Full refund if we are notified by 29 September. After that date a refund should not be expected, but some portion may be able to be refunded depending on our finding someone to take your place.
Our registration form is in PDF format. Click here to see and print the registration form. If you can NOT open the file, email me and I will email you a copy in MicroSoft Word format- Jim O'Dea jeodea @ AOL . COM