Retreat 2026
Daily Schedule (subject to change)
Friday, March 27, 2026
All Day - Open Carving, Woodburning, and paint area
Morning 9:30-11:30 am
#1 - Woodburning an All Occasion Gift Tag with Judy Self (registration)
#2 - Making a Hearth Broom with Cathy McElhannon (pre-registration required)
Mid Day - 11:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Lunch (Bring your own)
Chip Flipping Contest
Afternoon 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
#1 - Carving a Cedar Soap Dish with Shannon Innes (pre-registration required)
#2 - Dala Horse Carving with Jeanette Raileanu (pre-registration required)
Register for the workshops below!
Saturday, March 28, 2026
All Day - Open Carving, Woodburning, and paint area
Morning 10:00 - 12:00 pm
#1- Spoon Carving with Sean Hall (pre-registration required)
#2 - Carving a Silly Sheep with Kathy Overcash (pre-registration required)
Mid-Day Break 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Lunch (Bring your own)
Carve the Fastest Ball Contest
Afternoon 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
#1 - Carving a Gingerbread Man with Hilde Burnett (pre-registration required)
#2 - Making a Hearth Broom with Cathy McElhannon (Repeat of Friday's class, pre-registration required)
Sunday, March 29, 2026
10:00 am - 3:00 p.m.
Open carving/woodburning
Finish work on projects
Clean Up
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Potluck Picnic
LOCATION OF RETREAT:
Americamp RV Resort, 1322 Air Park Road, Ashland, VA 23005
Parking is very limited. It will be in front of the Office. There are only about 5 parking spaces but they usually try to hold a couple of campsites in the front for us to park. Do not park in front of the propane tanks or dumpsters.
Want to stay overnight? Campsites (FHU) run about $81-87 per night (10% discount for GS, AARP, AAA, military). New this year, Cottages (2 bedroom) are available $160/night (min 2 nights). To make reservations call (804)798-5298 or book online at americamps.com.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE WOOD CARVING RETREAT
Attending this retreat is free. Participation in each workshop has a small fee to pay for the materials and instruction. This fee will be paid directly to the person in charge of the workshop. The cost is listed on the pre-registration form for each workshop. Since most workshops have a limit to number of participants, it is recommended you sign up early for the workshop(s) you want to participate. Use the link below.
PREREGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS BY CLICKING THIS BUTTON:
*Anyone actively participating in the retreat activities is required to sign a release form.
Sunday will be our annual potluck picnic (family is welcome!). The picnic will start around 11:00 a.m. If you are planning to come, please sign up for what you want to bring and how many people will be in your party. You will find the sign up at the end of the form for the retreat's Project Registration Form. This is the same link used for preregistration for the workshops.
In addition to the workshops and open carving, We will be offering some optional competition games each day during the lunch break. Friday will be the "Flip the Chip" contest and, Saturday we will have the "Carve the Fastest Ball".
Pictures for some of the workshops being offered at this year's retreat are shown below. Go to the Preregistration form link below to see a description and the cost for the workshops.
Cathy McElhannon will be teaching how to make these hearth brooms.
Silly Sheep will be taught by Kathy Overcash
Jeanette Raileanu will be teaching how to carve these swedish style Data Horses.
Gingerbread Man will be taught by Hilde Burnett