Join us summer 2024!

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 planned for artists at any point in their creative path, including some instruction/guidance for those just starting out.

Various workshops including Explore Printmaking, Basketry, Peace Poles, and Painting with Paper will be offered throughout the week. All supplies for these workshops will be provided.

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 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 2024”

Event Details

Dates

June 30th  through July 5th – Full Week

Day only options:

July 1st – Explore Printmaking –  Explore a variety of printmaking techniques. These include nature printing, found object printing, stamping, and as a special technique, gel plate printing. We will use these methods to decorate journals, gift bags and to upcycle tote bags.

July 2nd – Basketry –  Learn basic basketry techniques to weave a colorful basket perfect for kitchen utensils or your paint brushes.

July 3rd – Peace Poles – Create a peace pole for your garden or home to symbolize the message of peace that you wish to send out to the world. Decorate your 4 foot pole using words, quotes, provided patterns or your own designs. (Plan on two days for this project. If you are only able to attend Wednesday, you will be able to finish on your own.)

July 4th – Painting with Paper – Tear into a variety of papers- colored, textured, patterned- to create your images. (Extra time will be available for those that need to finish their Peace Pole)

2024 Pricing

$320 / person – Full Week

$60 / 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.

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Linda Keck

2024 Host

Swoyersville, PA

2024 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.

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