Drawing + Nature Journaling Spring Equinox Retreat

Join a small gathering of folks for a relaxing and creatively nourishing Drawing + Nature Journaling weekend while observing plants, trees, and beautiful landscapes at GilChrist Retreat Center in southwest Michigan. This gathering is for beginners and experienced artists, with basic drawing and sketching lessons in the morning, and composition and watercolor painting after lunch. Each day will include a little nature study, a little sketching, a little hiking, a little technique demonstration, a little poetry, a great shared meal, and a little more sketching, led by facilitator 'penny Krebiehl.

Located on 67 acres of woods and rolling meadows in Three Rivers, Michigan, GilChrist Retreat Center is "a place where natural beauty strengthens our human capacity for compassion, gratitude, reverence, and creativity," and will be a wonderful opportunity to explore and practice drawing and nature journaling.

Daily Schedule (tentative)

Friday
Arrive between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Shared meal in the evening

Saturday
7:00-8:00 a.m. – Morning reflection/yoga/outdoor meditation
8:00-9:00 a.m. – Breakfast, Visit, and Daily outline
9:00-10:00 a.m. – Sketch, hike, sketch  
10:15-11:00 a.m. – Gather for group technique demo: Outdoor Drawing Skills and Nature Journaling
11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. – More sketch, hike, sketch
12:00-1:30 p.m. – Lunch, rest
1:30-3:00 p.m. – Self-guided sketch, hike
3:30-4:30 p.m. – Group techniques demo: Composition and Watercolor technique
5:00 p.m. – Shared meal, Choice of sharing of drawings and nature journals, Q & A and evening plans made

Sunday
7:00-8:00 a.m. – Morning reflection/yoga/outdoor meditation
8:00-9:00 a.m. – Breakfast, Visit, and Daily outline
9:00-10:00 a.m. – Sketch, hike, sketch  
10:15-11:00 a.m. – Gather for group technique demo: Outdoor Drawing Skills and Nature Journaling
11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. – More sketch, hike, sketch
12:00-12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 p.m. – Depart

Accommodations

GilChrist is located in a rural area on 67 acres of woods and rolling hills, with walking trails, ponds, and a prayer labyrinth. The center has eight cabins; a house for longer term solo retreats and small groups; a small, stone chapel; and a common house called WindHill, which includes the library, meditation loft, and community area. All buildings, with the exception of the Stone Chapel, have modern heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and kitchen facilities.    

For this weekend retreat, we will share space at the Tree of Life house, which has individual sleeping accommodations.

Dishware and essential cookware are provided, along with filtered water, tea, and basic spices. The Tree of Life house has a complete kitchen, with a stove, oven, and a refrigerator. Small appliances include a toaster, a hot water kettle, a microwave, and a drip coffee maker with filters. 

Meals

You are invited to bring your food, snacks, and any specialty beverages you desire. Breakfast and lunch will be up to each of us to bring and prepare for ourselves. We will gather Friday and Saturday evenings for a shared, potluck-style meal. And we may choose to go out as a group to eat on Saturday evening.

Registration

The cost of the retreat is just the overnight fee of $60 ($120 total, cash or check) plus a sliding-scale fee for the facilitator’s planning and instructional time of $100-150 (paid separately).

This is first-come, first-served and is only open for three lovely folks. Local participants may be able to join during the day.

For additional information, and to register by March 1, 2024, contact ‘penny Krebiehl via text at (231) 922-2014 or send ‘penny an email (click here).