The 24th edition of the Women's Outdoor Retreat was a wonderful success! We had 214 people attend this year's event, including 51 volunteer instructors & staff. Click here to see photos from the event.
We owe a HUGE THANK YOU to our sponsors at Cabela's & Hickory Knob State Resort Park for their support of this event each year.
We are also pleased to have the support of several outfitters and organizations - these partnerships enable us to provide a wide variety of activities conducted by a diverse group of expert instructors. A special thank you is due to the numerous individual volunteers who so willingly donate their time to share their knowledge and expertise:
ARCHERY - Jerry Garvin, Clyde Estell & Steve Cockrell (Stone Point Archery) and Herb Strickland & Jordan Harriz (Clemson University Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management)
BACKPACKING - Skip Walker & Kevin Minix (Cabela's Greenville Store)
BACKYARD WILDLIFE HABITAT - Laura Blake Orr (SC Wildlife Federation)
BASIC SEWING – Suzanne Collins, Jean Hutchinson, Angela Metts (Colonial Ladies Society)
BIRDING - Joanna Weitzel (SCWF Palmetto Pro Birder)
CANOEING - Lynn Mazell & Laura Hendrick
CARDIO SELF DEFENSE - Angela Harper
COLONIAL WOMEN’S WORK – Suzanne Collins, Jean Hutchinson, Angela Metts (Colonial Ladies Society)
ESSENTIAL OILS – Crystal Huntley
FISH CLEANING & COOKING - Bernie & Alice Clegg (thank you to SCDNR's Cohen Campbell Fish Hatchery for the fish!!)
FRESHWATER FISHING - Bernie & Alice Clegg (thank you to SCDNR Fishing Tackle Loaner Program for the equipment!!)
GEOCACHING - Wayne Aveyard
JEWELRY-MAKING – Melisa & Corrina Emkjer
KAYAKING INTRO - Laura Hendrick
KNOT TYING – Nancy Simpson
LAKE THURMOND PADDLE - Ed Deal & Deb Mims (Blueway Adventures) & Andrea Turpin
LEAF CASTING - Harley Carpenter & Allison Pederson
NATURAL TREASURES OF SOUTH CAROLINA – Sara Green (SCWF) & Archie Thompson (Berkeley County Blueways)
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY - Chris Hall
NATURE SPA - Beth Rivers & Maria Campbell
OUTDOOR COOKING – Anthony Tollison & Sam McAndrews (Cabela's Fort Mill store)
PADDLEBOARDING - Jimmy & Ginnie Smith (Earth Connection Outfitters)
SALTWATER FISHING – BeBe Harrison, Susan Dalton & Stefany Beals (Angling Women)
SKEET SHOOTING & FIREARMS SAFETY - Ed Prater & Hubert Cox (Clemson University Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management)
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Gina Varat
WILDERNESS FIRST AID – Richard Medlock & Paul Herr (Empowerment Training)
YOGA - Marilyn Schulman & Gail Grouch
SAVANNAH RIVER ECOLOGY LAB - Sean Poppy - https://srel.uga.edu/outreach/
DRUM CIRCLE - Melisa Emkjer
LINE DANCING - Pam Shroyer
SHOTGUNS & SAFETY PRESENTATION - Ed Prater (Clemson University Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management)
THANK YOU also to the volunteers & staff who helped with all the behind-the-scenes jobs such as Scheduling, registration, water cooler filling, boat loading/unloading, volunteer recruitment, etc. etc. etc.:
EVENT CO-COORDINATORS: Dan Turpin & Sara Green
EXTRAORDINARY RETREAT ASSISTANTS:
Laura Blake-Orr
Lynn Cain
Harley Carpenter
Tina Furmanek, Cabela's
Hugh & Dixie Ham
Allison Pederson
Emma Sandifer
Ginger Snelgrove
Lana Stearns, Savannah Lakes Recreation Center
Archie & Cathy Thompson
Andrea Turpin
Kristin Weaver
Jennifer Wilkie, Hickory Knob State Park