Maine Knitting Workshop Retreat Center Medomak Fiber Artists Learning

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JULY 26-31, 2010

Join us for our seventh annual ecology retreat at the Medomak Retreat Center in beautiful mid-coast Maine. Become more familiar with your surroundings as you learn to develop the skills necessary to understand how our environmental communities have become what they are today. Tom Wessels, a professor of ecology at Antioch New England Graduate School in Keene, New Hampsire, will lead participants in a variety of field studies throughout different landscapes in the mid-coast region of Maine. This is the longest workshop that Wessels conducts and the program is limited to twenty participants to allow ample opportunity for one-on-one learning. From the historic woods of our retreat center property to the granite domes of Acadia National Park, you will learn to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes as you uncover their ecological mysteries. Within each community, Tom will interpret cultural and disturbance histories from the evidence at hand, lead discussions in geologic history, examine plant adaptations, and discuss evolutionary ecology. In addition to field studies, Tom will be leading evening slide shows as well as a series of lectures elaborating on the importance of sustainability as outlined in his latest book, The Myth of Progress.

HIKES & FIELD TRIPS

*Please note, as these outings involve moderate hiking, participants should be in reasonably good physical condition.

Historic Walk of Medomak Property (Washington): formerly cultivated lands with historic stone walls

Fernald's Neck Preserve & Megunticook Mountain (Lincolnville/Camden): 315 acres featuring mature pine, hemlock, and spruce forests, the "Great Bog," and beautiful mountain views of the Maine coast

Beech Hill Preserve (Rockland): approximately 315 acres, managed as a grassland bird habitat, with scenic views of Penobscot Bay, trails lined with wild rose and blueberry bushes, and a historic stone house

Acadia National Park (Mt. Desert Island): a diverse, protected land that boasts granite domes, ocean shoreline, lakes, old growth forests, complex lichen communities, and the only fjord on the east coast of the United States

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Tom Wessels has been conducting workshops in landscape ecology and teaching students from elementary to graduate school level the process of reading the landscape for over thirty years. This is his passion and favorite pastime--to wander through fields and forests and solve their mysteries. he compares this process to a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel: "To people not as experienced in the process of 'reading the landscape,' I might appear somewhat like Holmes through Watson's eyes. Yet this process is not as difficult as it seems. It demands only some new observational skills--and knowledge about the kinds of clues to look for." Wessels lives in Brattleboro, VT. he is a professor of Ecology and the founding director of the Master's Degree Program in Conservation Biology at Antioch New England Graduate School in Keene, NH. His published works include Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England, The Granite Landscape: A Natural History of America's Mountain Domes from Acadia to Yosemite, and The Myth of Progress: Toward a Sustainable Future.

OUR FACILITIES

Hosted at our Retreat Center, Medomak's guests enjoy beautiful pine and oak woods, a sparkling clear lake just down the hill, fields of ripe blueberries, and simple, yet comfortable cabins complete with full bath. Start your day off with an energizing yoga class or a morning walk. You may also choose to have a relaxing afternoon massage by our licensed masseuse! Our learning spaces vary from rooms in our historic lodge, to an outdoor amphitheater; from rocking chairs on our porch to seating around a campfire. Meals that will be dreamt about for months are served family-style in our dining hall or outside at picnic tables on the front lawn. Our aim is to make you feel at home.

TUITION & GROUP DISCOUNTS

Tuition is all inclusive of food, lodging, instruction, field trips, and use of our lakefront facilities. For tuition prices, click the registration button at the top of the page or call us toll free at 866-633-6625.

We offer a discount to groups of five or six. The fifth person comes for free and the sixth person gets half price tuition! Or you can split the difference amongst yourselves. Groups taking advantage of this discount will share a dorm style cabin complete with full bath.

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Check out the organizations that support the ecology retreat!

Here's what our participant's are saying about Tom's 2009, 2008, 2007 & 2006 workshops:

"Overall one of the nicest weeks I've ever had as an adult! Terrific company, much learning, many laughs! This week exceeded my expectations."

"Being here, the food ,the people, the beauty and the learning was great. Having to leave not so much. I will take home with me a calm fullness in my heart."

"Tom's retreat met my expectations and then some. Medomak is a great place. It offers great food and a nice proxcimity to other points in Maine."

"Tom was a great teacher and mentor for the week. Thank you for everything - This experience you provided to me was more than I could have asked for. I hope to share more adventures here in years to come."

"The Acadia hike, canoe trip to the marsh and the outing to Fernald's Neck Preserve were all favorites. The accomodations were just right, your staff is excellent and the food & company wonderful!"

"This workshop was worth every penny I paid and more."

"Tom is a truely great group leader - creating a enjoyable, lively learning community. My time here was definately worth it!"

"OUTSTANDING!"

" I will absolutely recommend this workshop to my family and friends."

"I loved the food, it was the best. Your staff is very professional and took good care of us."

"The food was STUPENDOUS. "