Women's Wellness Weekend - Fall 2011

I'm a big fan of the YMCA ever since I became a member there a few years ago. So I consider it an honor when they ask me to teach at Women's Wellness Weekend every time, either at Camp Colman or Camp Orkila. This past weekend I had a chance to return to Camp Orkila for the fifth time (three times to teach a craft and twice as a participant) and I must say it was one of the best times I've had there.

As a change this year I didn't go with a full cabin of women I knew. Instead I went with a friend of mine that I had actually met at the Camp Colman WWW. Going into a full cabin of 14 other people and only knowing one person was such a different experience. For three days I lived with a homeopathic doctor, an African dancer, a novelist, a teacher, an elderly home caregiver and so many more women that I would have never met otherwise. For many of them, this was their first experience at a WWW. With all the new faces, there were still a lot of women I knew from years past throughout the camp.

I learned how to make piroshky, spring rolls and secret books. I got a message, learned how to knit a headband and attempted to make a crochet flower. I came home with a handmade wood box, a couple of holiday greeting cards, a tummy full of great desserts and a few less pounds from the never ending hike that happened several times a day between the cabins and the lodge. I wasn’t feeling very physical this time, so I passed on the giant swing, zipline, rope course, hike up Turtleback Mt and kayaking, but that’s okay, there is always next year!

For my class this year, we made button rings and here was the sample that I brought to the camp for others to see.

I also took this great photo of the deer with his little antlers starting to come out. The deer on Orcas Island have no natural predators, so it’s quite amazing how close they get to you, not knowing fear.

For more photos, especially the beautiful rings my students made, please visit my Facebook page.