Join us summer 2026!
JuLy 5th - July 10th
Artist's Retreat
Surround yourself with the beauty of nature to support and inspire your art.
This full-week program is designed to provide the artist with an opportunity to work in a variety of natural environments, including lakes, streams, meadows, and woodlands. This retreat is intended for all artists and will offer instruction and guidance for those just starting out.
Various workshops, including Book Binding, Embroidered Mandalas, Basketry, and Painting the Negative, will be offered throughout the week. All supplies for these workshops will be provided. For more information on daily workshops, click on the “download our flyer” button under event details.
There will be daily en plein air painting/drawing sessions and evening visual journaling. This expressive arts activity uses guided imagery, poems, and passages as prompts to inform the journaling. This process can be used by everyone (even if you say, “I can’t draw!”)
Artists should bring their own supplies, easels, and carriers for their medium(s) of choice.
More about the Retreat
In addition to the natural environment, Bear Creek Camp offers you:
- A perfect site for visual artists, writers and other artists to find inspiration
- Lodging and meals
- Guided hikes to various on-site locations
- The opportunity to commune with other artists
- Areas to work: rain or shine
- Accessibility to a naturalist
- Additional activities may include daily meditation, visual journaling, nature printing workshop and other activities
- Artist’s families may attend Bear Creek Camp’s Family Camp
The Artist’s Retreat coincides with Bear Creek Camp’s Summer Family Camp which will allow the artist and their family to cross over to all events. Visit our Family Camps page to learn more about our Summer Family Camp. When registering select “Retreats 2025”
Event Details
Dates
July 5th through July 10th – Full Week
Day only options:
July 6th – Book Binding
July 7th – Embroidered Mandalas
July 8th – Basketry
July 9th – Painting the Negative
2026 Pricing
$330 / person – Full Week
$70 / person – Day Rate
Accomodations
Artists and families will reside in our Program Site Cabins, which sleep up to 10 and have bath facilities in the nearby Program Building.
Linda Keck
2025 Host
Swoyersville, PA
2025 Host
As a former camper, counselor, board member and Director of Arts and Crafts at Bear Creek Camp, I have often enjoyed the natural beauty and the many peaceful settings on the camp grounds. The camp continues to draw me back to its serenity and beauty. Most recently I have provided workshops at the camps Women’s Retreats and have coordinated the Artist’s Retreat.
I am a retired licensed psychologist, and now I have been able to devote most of my energies to my own artist’s journey. My love of gardening and nature is evident in the themes of much of my art. I provide private art lessons, and classes in visual journaling along with formerly teaching undergraduates at Misericordia University. I have also had the opportunity to do many workshops for community and academic groups.
I often work in en plein air, or outdoors, in my own garden, at nearby gardens, and with an en plein air group in the Hazleton Area.
I invite all artists and emerging artists to join me in a week long opportunity to work alone or with other artists in a variety of natural settings.