Woodlanders Gatherings
What are Woodlander Gatherings?
Woodlander Gatherings create an atmosphere where people can relax and find the time for hands-on exploration and knowing of the natural world, and develop artful thinking. There is talking, visiting, wandering and organized workshops and activities. Everything is designed to foster freedom of exploration, insight, creativity, skill building, earth stewardship, and solid group experiences.The goal is to help people discover what is most wonderful about themselves and to foster awareness and appreciation of others, and the world around them. written by environmental artist, Laurie Seeman, about the workshops she offers. It's true about the Gatherings, where she also shares.
The Gathering is a protected time to discover important marginal interests and sleeping passions in your life with natural materials. It's about Wonder. It is not primarily about job training, or even hobby work. It's an alternative learning opportunity for people who need it. It's about the interplay of Nature and Human Nature.
Comments on 2010 Gathering:
Just wanted to express my gratitude for Woodlanders, and everything you do to make it happen. I was so incredibly restored by my day with you all yesterday. What a gift of community and creativity. 
What aren't Woodlander Gatherings?
The New York Gathering is NOT a school or even a set of craft workshops. Oh yes, lots of making and some instruction happens, but the whole event began as a form of community-building. Pot Luck, Fellowship and Sharing are key elements of the Gatherings. Rob Gorrell started the tradition of bringing things, supplies, materials for a Big, Free Swap. There's also a For Sale area. which sometimes leaks into the Swap. There are two tents and 24 tables for a two-day series of never-ending workshops... which means the materials and tools are available all the time... and instruction and encouragement happens every once and a while.
WHERE: Warwick Center Campgrounds, Warwick, NY
COSTS: Pay what you can: Suggested $60 day; plus Camping fees ($30/night) and Food.
LODGING: options and costs
FOOD: On-site lunch-only catering by Tuscan Cafe (about $9/lunch). We are about a mile from a shopping center/supermarket. We have Pot-Luck meals together and there is a small kitchen available.
DIRECTIONS: driving public transportation (bus or train)
WHAT HAPPENS: Tents and Tables of Art and Nature Experiences with tools & materials available all weekend-- with guidance
It often RAINS... long and hard
POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES:
MAKING THINGS
Making a Rustic Cedar Stool, Bill Olendorf
Bull Roarers, Rich Pillar
Make a Bamboo Flute, Matthew Fallon
Dyeing with Natural Materials, Rita Schwab
Rustic Plant Hangers
Making a Grimoire
Mask making
Woodland Garments: imaginal tribal clothing
Working with Barks: Birch, Mulberry and Palm barks
Mark-Making with Mud, Clay or Charcoal
HEALING: Tissue Paper Collage, Arlene Geiger
HEALING: Mattering Spirit: Imaginal Cards, Dan Mack
HEALING: Making a Rope Labyrinth, Jim Caulfield++
Make a Bench Hook: a portable work area,
HEALING: Mattering Spirit: Imaginal Tool Workshop
Making a small rustic chair
FaerieWork and Garden Design
WELLNESS
What's Illness?
Yoga Nidra--Yogic Sleep, a meditation technique, Victoria Mowrer
Early Morning Dream Workshop, Kim, Andrea and all
Gyrokinesis, Hannah Maxwell
EXPERIENCES: EXPLORING NATURE & HUMAN NATURE
Edible, invasive and medicinal herb walk, Jessica Lawlor/Adam Hamer
The lives of animals: Tracking and Bird Songs
Woods, Water and Road Tyme: field trips to natural locations with Laurie Seeman
COMMUNITY BUILDING Play in Nature: 
PICNICS, POT LUCKS, BONFIRES
Build and Burn a Rustic Willow Man,
Caulfields and others
Kinetic Art in Nature: the well-balanced flying dragon
Fire-Dance, Jessica Lawlor remember 2005!
Small Boat Building and LaunchingMeditation:Tibetan Singing Bowls, Craig Cowling
A Community Loom/Trellis: everybody weaves something in
DISCUSSIONS: WOODLANDERS back in the WORLD
Using Media and Social Media: tweets, Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo, blogging?
Applying Woodlander skills and sensibilities: Working in healthcare?
Should Woodlanders form chapters of the Children and Nature Network?
HEALING: long distance entanglements/mediatations, David Weiner.
OFF-SITE TRIPS
Those before us: Visiting a Lenape Rock Shelter 2 miles away
Visiting a Lenape churt quarry
Pacem in Terris: a spiritual center and nature/art center built on a stream behind a junkyard. A MUST VISIT 2 miles away
AREAS for email your interests
Display of Work: bring your work to show
Interesting Objects: bring interesting things to show like:
to Swap: anything you want to return to the stream of making
to Sell: stuff you don't feel quite right about swapping, yet
May 23, 2010
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Tor Faegre 