Gathering 44 Trip/Workshop Descriptions

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THURSDAY

8:00 - 11:00 am:  Early morning bird walk with Albany's Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

Join our "resident" bird expert, Beth W., at a bird walk with the local bird club. This would be ideal for anyone arriving early on their way to the camp. Note: You will need to meet at the walk location, NOT at Camp Scully. The location is not yet determined, but RSVP to Gathering@womenoutdoors.org by Sep 4, and Beth will get back to you with the meet location and other details.

 

4:00 - 5:30 pm: Nature Photography

Find out what your camera can do and get off of AUTO. Learn basic techniques for capturing photographs in the outdoors. We will review composition, light, scenes, manual settings, and equipment. Most will apply to both phone and point-and-shoot cameras.

7:00 - 8:00 pm: Gentle Yoga

Gentle yoga is a great yoga for beginners. In gentle yoga, you move your body in a gentle, comfortable way; it encourages movement without the potential for strain. Poses are generally held for over 5 minutes each, and you utilize pillows and cushions for comfort. Gentle yoga focuses on alignment and breathing techniques of the common, foundational yoga poses giving beginners ample opportunity to learn practice the basic principles can participate.

7:30 - 8:30 pm: Get to Know You Games

Meet or reconnect with fellow Gatherers. Join us for welcoming activities that will help us laugh, play and get to know each other better. No previous knowledge, skills, or equipment required! All are welcome.

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FRIDAY

All Day starting after Breakfast: Chair Massage

Neva White is a licensed massage therapist since 2006 and specialized in deep tissue massage in her own CT practice. Here she will be providing chair massage, which is typically only for the upper body, like the back, neck, head and arms, (or any subset of that,) done over hopefully no more than one layer of clothing. Less is more! 10-15 minutes can be all that's needed to improve wellness and productivity! Techniques can include Swedish, deep tissue, percussion, and/ or passive stretch, all depending on the needs of the person. I use jojoba oil on exposed skin such as the arms and neck if desired.

I plan on doing this for all incoming women on Friday only starting right after breakfast, and throughout that day. Please signup ahead of time to ensure your time and maximize efficiency! You don't want to miss this!!

Cost: $15 for 10 minutes; $20 for 15 minutes, and there is only a 5-minute break between so please be prompt.

9:15 am - 12:15 pm: Bike on the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail

The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail is about 9.8 miles each way along a mostly flat, scenic paved road, passing some rivers and falls. The trail connects the towns of Delmar and Slingerlands and ends in Voorheesville. There is a Porta Potty at the beginning and end of trail, as well as a Stewart's Convenience Store along the way.

9:30 am - 4 pm: Tubing the Battenkill River

In the shadow of the Green Mountain National Forest, lie the sparkling, pristine waters of one of the East’s most delightful rivers: the Battenkill. The surrounding forest and grassland is teeming with wildlife: trout, deer, mink, songbirds, heron, eagles, and osprey. Each year, the Battenkill invites thousands of fisher-persons, canoeists, kayakers, and yes, tubers. This will be a full day excursion. You will need to bring your own inner tube, quick-dry clothes, and water shoes or sneakers. Pre-registration requested! Details, Maps & Directions

10:00 - 11:30 am: Wild Plants of New England

Join this workshop presentation based on Tom Seymour’s book, Wild Plants of Maine featuring 20 common edible or useful plants that are common to much of New England.

2:00 - 4:30 pm: Canoeing Instruction

This will be a canoe class taught by an ACA-certified instructor and suitable for beginner or intermediate paddlers. Tandem canoes and lightweight solo canoes available for use. Come try out a skin-on-frame 12 foot solo canoe under 20 lbs. We will work on turning strokes (sweep, draw, cross-draw, pry) from both bow and stern and correction strokes (rudders, J-stroke, C-strokes) for straight paddling. Intermediate paddlers will work on static strokes like the hanging draw and supportive/bracing strokes. A buoy course will be set up to practice maneuvers.

4:00 - 5:30/6 pm: Bird Watching Basics

Learn from veteran birder Beth W. how to be a better birder.   Topics -field guides, binoculars, bird anatomy, websites, App(lication)s onto your phone, vocabulary, resources to more birding.

4:00 - 5:30 pm: Mindful Mandela Rock Painting

Mandala means ‘circle’ & is made up of geometric shapes & designs meant to symbolize ‘the Universe’. Many people use mandala art as a tool to ‘relax our overworked minds’ and as a meditative tool.

June will guide participants in a short breathing heart center meditation/awareness. Mindful rock painting does not use brushes rather a dipping method with using different size dotting implements. This allows ease of simply enjoying the creative process without any planning or end goal in mind. This is very relaxing, fun & rewarding. It is done mindfully. A large flat smooth rock will be provided to each participant.

7:00 - 8:00 pm: Gentle Yoga

Gentle yoga is a great yoga for beginners. In gentle yoga, you move your body in a gentle, comfortable way; it encourages movement without the potential for strain. Poses are generally held for over 5 minutes each, and you utilize pillows and cushions for comfort. Gentle yoga focuses on alignment and breathing techniques of the common, foundational yoga poses giving beginners ample opportunity to learn practice the basic principles can participate.

7:30 - 8:30 pm: Slideshow Presentation - WO 2025 South American trip

Women Outdoors is planning an adventure of a lifetime!

We're working with Adios Adventure Travel on an amazing trip to South America in July, 2025. Adios Adventure Travel helped plan our trip to Machu Picchu in 2022 and we loved it so much, we've asked them to help us out again. Come see and hear about our 2022 adventure and learn more about the upcoming 2025 trip.

7:30 - 8:00 pm: Astrology Readings

Gain insight into what is happening in your life and why it is happening.… Have your transit chart interpreted to learn about trends in your life. Bring the time of your birth. Limited availability so sign up early. 

7:30 - 9:00 pm: Fire Making

Learn how to make a fire in wet or damp conditions using natural materials.

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SATURDAY

6:45 - 7:45 am: Pre-Breakfast Bird Walk

Join birder Beth Wong before breakfast to walk around Camp Scully Rd and the Lake Snyder Beach and identify members of the local bird population by song and sight.

8:00 am: Breakfast with a Board Member – a chance to share your suggestions & thoughts

The board believes members may have ideas for improvement or topics on their minds. If you have a suggestion or concern that you would like to share with a board member, please plan to have Breakfast with a Board Member Saturday. This is an opportunity to make suggestions and voice concerns directly to a board member prior to the annual meeting. A board member would love to hear what’s on your mind.

8:45 am: Group Photo

Please gather in front of the Dining Hall to take a group photo for Gathering 44!

9 am - noon: Beginner Kayaking

Lead by Bonna, a ACA certified kayak instructor, this workshop will cover learning and practicing basic strokes and some more advanced strokes, safety and rescue techniques. You will be on the lake in a kayak.

9:00 - 11:00 am - Hike at Burden Pond Preserve

Join us on a hike at Burden Falls. This will be an easy hike: 2.5 miles and 177’elevation.

We’ll hike as far as time allows (so that we are back in plenty of time for lunch) then turn around and come back out the same way we entered. Last year some were focused on hiking while others stopped frequently along the way to check out fauna, flora or views; both approaches worked well. Also, it was quite hot and very humid last year, most of the hike is in shade. Sun screen & bug spray are recommended.

9:00 - ~1:00 pm - Paddle at Peebles Island State  Park

Join us for a paddling adventure around Pebbles Island State Park. Peebles Island is at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers with spectacular views of both rivers and waterfalls. Bring your own kayak or rent! Pre-registration required!  Details, Maps & Directions

10:00 - 11:00 am - Yoga and Meditation

Start Your Day with Meditation and Yoga! (45 -60 minutes) We will begin with sitting meditation (with guidance at the beginning) and then a brief silent meditation period. We will then have the option of walking meditation or continuing to sit. A gentle yoga practice will follow and includes both standing and seated poses to warm up the body for the day ahead (all can be done seated). We will end with optional sun salutations. No yoga or meditation experience is necessary... All levels are welcome. Please feel free to come to all or part of the workshop. We will meet outdoors, weather permitting, and chairs will be set up. Offered by Gretchen and Karen Browne-Courage. Bring Yoga mat and water.

1:30 - 4:30 pm: Intermediate Kayaking

We will review boating safety and basic and advanced paddling techniques, including forward and reverse strokes, turning strokes, draws for lateral movement, and braces for stability. Assisted and self-rescues will be demonstrated, and participants are invited to get wet and try re-entering their boats from the water. Other rescue techniques such as towing boats and swimmers may be practiced. Bonna and Deb, ACA Certified Instructors.

2:00 - 5:00 pm: Forest Therapy/Shinrin Yoku Walk

Forest Therapy, also known as “forest bathing,” stems from the practice developed in Japan known as the Art of Shinrin Yoku and is a profound way of deepening the connection with yourself, with others and all of nature. A Forest Therapy Walk is not a hike for exercise rather a mindful quiet slow walk, allowing you to experience the wonders and healing powers of nature. June, a Certified ANFT Forest Therapy Guide will provide a series of relaxing invitations to engage all your senses (sight, smell, sound, touch, taste, imagination, heart sense), release your mind chatter, deepen connections to nature, allowing you to connect with yourself and others through nature in new ways. You will have opportunities throughout for both individual reflection and to come together as a group to listen and share what we are noticing. This 2 hr. walk ends with a tea ceremony with wild foraged tea from the local area.

Limited to a max of 15 attendees. Advance sign up is required. We will meet at Barberville Falls Preserve at the Creek Walk Trail. Parking is across from the cemetery at 280 Plank Road. If you'd like to carpool, meet outside the dining hall at 1:30 pm for this  20 minute drive. The walk will start on time at 2 pm.

3:00 - 5:00 pm: Worm Composting

Are you a woman who would like to make your own soil for your garden, or indoor plants? Would you like to recycle vegetable food scraps to keep wet waste our of our garbage? Join me to learn about worm composting. I will be harvesting my own bin as a demonstration, and then we will recreate our own bins in the process. We had a blast last year!

Space is very limited, so please sign up ahead of time to reserve your bin. I only have 6! This is a "get your hands dirty" kind of a workshop, so bring gloves if you have them. No gloves will mean that your hands will get black from newspaper ink; wet newspapers will be used for bedding. I will have some small gloves to lend, which may not be your size.

Cost of materials is $40, which includes: the worm bin, a wooden pallet, red wiggler worms, row covering and elastics for securing such, instructions on the layering, and NEW THIS YEAR a harvesting sieve. (handmade!), which is very important!!

3:30 - 5:30 pm: Kayak Games

Join us on Snyder's Lake at Camp Scully for fun and games on the water! Kayaks and solo canoes welcome. Exercise your artistic side with synchronized choreographed paddling. Try some silly races (hand paddling, backwards relays, swimming with a paddle) and goofy games such as kayak sponge ball and our own version of kayak polo.

7:30 - 8:30 pm: Astrology Readings

Gain insight into what is happening in your life and why it is happening.… Have your transit chart interpreted to learn about trends in your life. Bring the time of your birth. Limited availability so sign up early. 

8:00 pm: Talent Show

Do you sing, dance, play an instrument, write/recite poetry/stories, are you a comedian, magician or have a talent you'd like to entertain us with? Or create a skit with others when you arrive! There will be a prop box with fun and interesting items. Look for the sign-up sheet at the Gathering, please sign up for a 5 minute slot. See the organizers, Stef and Monica, for questions.

9:00 pm: Saturday Night Bonfire

Come sit by the bonfire and hang out with other Gatheringistas. Maybe we will make S’mores and sing.

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SUNDAY

7:30 - 11:30 am: Early morning bird walk to search for the Fall Migrants at Albany Pine Bush Preserve

Join our "resident" bird expert, Beth W., and the local bird club, as they explore the Karner Barrens East unit of Albany Pine Bush Preserve.. We will be looking for warblers, vireos, and flycatchers. The dune overlook trail has a moderate climb and descent. This is approximately a three-mile loop. Take proper precautions to avoid ticks.

Meet at 07:30 for carpool from Gathering site. Drive is 16 miles, 22 minutes. Note: You will miss sit-down breakfast, but coffee/tea and other cold items will be available before you leave. We'll be back before lunch.

9:00 - 11:00 am: Hike to Barberville Falls

Easy and beautiful hike to Barberville Falls via the Falls and Ridge Trails. Total distance approximately 1.60 miles. Note that there is a steep descent to the bottom of the falls on the Falls trail and narrow water crossings (with stepping stones) on the Ridge Trail.

9:00 am-noon:  Paddle Around the Lake with Deb and Bonna

Join Bonna and Deb for a paddle on Lake Snyder.

9:00 am-noon:  Bike ride on the Albany County Rail Trail

The Albany County Rail Trail follows the path of the former Delaware & Hudson Railroad, with paved trails perfect for biking, running, and walking. The ride covers a breadth of scenery, from steep ravines and rapids in the Normanskill, to suburban communities, to woods and farmland. While no sections are steep, note that there's a steady incline in the early part of the trail. The ride is approximately 20 miles roundtrip.

11:00 am - 12/12:30 pm:  Cordage

Learn how to make reverse wrap cordage from natural materials. This workshop will teach applicants how to select natural materials and how to prepare them to make cordage.

11:00 am - noon: Beginner yoga for inflexible people

Mostly stretching. No difficult “pretzel shapes” lol . No limit on attendance.

1:00 - 3:00 pm: Open for onsite ad-hoc activities

Most of us will be packing up and cleaning the campus, getting ready to leave. But you can take a last dip or paddle in the water, hike around the campus, or arrange to meet up with others for an off-campus hike on your way home.

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