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