Workshops

We are sorry, but the Great Escape has reached capacity.
If you would like to be put on the wait list, please email

gsgreatescape@gmail.com

and we will notify you if space opens up.

2023 Workshop Schedule

All Workshops will be held on Saturday

Session Time
A 7:00AM
B 9:45 – 11:45 AM
C 2:00 – 3:30 PM
D 4:00 – 5:30 PM

Click on workshop images for a larger view of the photos.

Workshop A: 7:00 AM

A0Free Time

Snack, play cards, sleep, hike, make new friends, relax….the choice is yours.

A1Sunrise PaddleFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

Weather permitting, join us for a sunrise paddle on the pond! Meet at the boathouse. Bring your cell phone/camera (in a waterproof container) to catch early-rising wildlife, steam rising from the peaceful water and sunny rays! Hot coffee/tea greets us upon return to the dining hall!

Supplies Needed: Canoes, paddles, and life jackets will be provided and are required to be worn.You are welcome to bring your own if you have them.

Presenters: Pat Gardner and Paula Ruozzi
A2Early Morning Bird WalkFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

Are you up with the birds?  Come join Laura to see what birds are X around the camp.  We will check out the pond area and the nearby trees.  Please bring binoculars if you have them.

Presenter: Laura Lane
A3Sunrise PhotographyFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

Let’s take a break and capture some pictures of the first Great Escape at Wind in the Pines. All you need is your smartphone! We’ll use the Ambassador Girl Scout Photography badge to lead us through some activities and learn more about perspective, action shots, still life, distance, light and more.

Supplies Needed: Your smartphone (that has a working camera), your curiosity, and a willingness to experiment.

Leave with: Some photo memories, a new knowledge of your device’s capabilities, and a selfie!

Presenter: Lori Beverage

Workshop B: 9:45 – 11:45 AM

B0Free Time

Snack, play cards, sleep, hike, make new friends, relax….the choice is yours.

B1Needle Felt an OwlFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

Our theme this year is owls so if you want a cute reminder of your time at Great Escape come learn how to do needle felting. Needle felting is a fun and relaxing craft that produces a fun creation.

No prior experience necessary.

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies.

Presenter: Lesley Murray
B2Tie Dye Mandala

Use directed fabric folding and ice dying to make unique Mandala patterns.

Supplies: Please bring Large black trash bag, large 22×16 plastic bin, 15-20 medium binder clips, and a 100% prewashed cotton item to tie dye.

Presenter: Melanie Kutschke
B3Macrame - The Art of Knots

In Girl Scouts, we learn all about the practical uses for knot tying. But knots can be used to make beautiful works of art for your home decor! Join us to explore macrame, a fun and functional art form. Participants will create a piece at camp to take home as well as learn the skills to continue this hobby. All abilities welcome with several options to choose from to suit individual skill levels!

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies.

Presenter: Heather Huizenga
B4Folded Christmas Ornament

The Christmas ornament is made of fabric that is ironed, folded around a ring and held together by decorative buttons. Hand sewing (the buttons) is required.

Supplies: The presenter will have a variety of supplies available. Participants can bring their own fabric and buttons. 1/4 yard of fabric and 9 buttons are necessasry.

Presenter: Dianne Porter
B5Chocolate WorkshopFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

Join us for a fun time making different flavor filled chocolates along with various design lollipops, including a Girl Scout lollipop mold. No experience necessary, however this workshop is not suitable if you have a peanut allergy.

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies.

Presenters: Ginny O’Neill and Beckey Fischer
B6High Ropes Challenge Course - Holy Cow!!!

Did you ever want to go on the high ropes course, now is your time to have fun! We will run the Holy Cow (Giant Swing) for those interested in stepping outside of their comfort zone. Participants will need to wear closed toe shoes.

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies.

Presenter: Sarah Kelley
B7Leaf Canvas PaintingFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

Painting leaves on canvas. We will gathering leaves and we will paint them and lay them on the canvas to create a beautiful keepsake.

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies. 

Presenters: Yvonne Burdette and Gabrielle Parker
B8Kaye's GlassworksFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

With tools specific to the craft, you will make 2 lovely pieces of art using glass panels.  You may produce the design of your choice for an original 10″x10″ frosted window or use one of the templates provided.  Using a 4″x4″ clear piece of glass, you can create a lovely “suncatcher.”  Using your choice of colors and design, your artwork will be a wonderful addition to your home decor or the perfect gift for a favorite friend.

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies.

Presenters: Kaye Glass and Karen Brown
B9Giant Games

An overnight with the girls?  A rainy-day activity?  It’s A Bug’s Life in real time!  We’ll give you some enormous ideas for filling your supply bag with oversized fun.  Perhaps YOU will be the “X” or the “O” for a game of Tic Tac Toe.  What about a monstrous game of Backyard Dominoes?  Or ginormous Banana-grams?  Just think of the possibilities!!  Join us for some gigantic laughs and see just how creative we can be when we play larger-than-life-sized games!

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies.

Presenters: Pat Gardner and Paula Ruozzi

Workshop C: 2:00 – 3:30 PM

C0Free Time

Snack, play cards, sleep, hike, make new friends, relax….the choice is yours.

C1Know a Gnome?

Create an adorable gnome made out of a knit glove. This is an easy craft for yourseld or your troop.

Supplies: Each participant needs a glove. The inexpensive ones are perfect … look around for singles in your mitten draw!  Each gnome uses two fingers of the glove.

Presenter: Ann Selig
C2Handmade Giftboxes from Old Calendars

We will take unused or out of date wall calendars with beautiful pictures on good stock paper and make small to medium size boxes that can be used for gift presenting, collecting items, or a pretty thing to look at! Your Girl Scouts of all ages will love this adaptable item!

Supplies: Presenter will have some supplies, but feel to bring your own scissors, calendars, or paper stock. Scrapbooking paper is great and I’ll have a supply of calendars to choose from as well. 

Presenter: Janine Hart-Hueber
C3I Found a Quilted Heart and other Service Projects

We will make quilted hearts for I Found A Quilted Heart (IFAQH.com) – a random act of kindness project and talk about other service projects that our troop and our service unit have done. We would love to hear more about service projects that you have done with your Scouts – feel free to bring examples or photos.

Skill Level: Participants should be able to hand sew such as making simple seam and sew on a button.

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies.

Presenter: Peggy Soper
C4Explore WIP

Take a hike around beautiful Camp Wind in the Pines and explore the hidden treasures.

Supplies:  Please wear comfortable walking shoes.

Presenter: Marielle Thorne
C5Canoeing for RelaxationFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

Take a spin around the pond with as much or as little instruction as you’d like. Enjoy the lovely sunshine and autumn colors on this lovely little lake in America’s Home Town.

Supplies Needed: Canoes, paddles, and life jackets will be provided and are required to be worn. You are welcome to bring your own if you have them.

Presenters: Pat Gardner and Paula Ruozzi
C6Low Ropes Challenge Course

Did you ever wish that you could do all the fun things the girls do at camp? Learn team building excercises while having fun on the WIP low ropes challenge course.

Supplies: Please wear comfortable clothing and closed toed shoes.

Presenter: Hope Roth
C7Scherenschitte

Learn the art of paper cutting to create a design out of paper as was done by early German & Swiss settlers to Pennsylvania.

 

Supplies Needed: Small pointy scissors, glue stick, exacto knife (if you have one), small cutting board or thick magazine.

Presenter: Peggy Stoudt
C8Singing in the Round

Girls today are missing the joy of hearing their voices blend with other voices to make harmony. Come join in with great harmonies while we sing rounds old and new, long and short. We may even sing them together with other rounds at the same time!

Presenters: Karen Brown and Kaye Glass
CD1Outdoor Cooking (double session)

You will make several different dishes that will be shared at Saturday evening’s meal.  As an added delight, watch and learn the technique of cooking turkey in a trashcan!

Supplies NeededBring your appetite and a desire to learn more about Dutch oven cooking.  

Presenters: Lou and Allison Clark

Workshop C: 4:00 – 5:30 PM

CD1Outdoor Cooking (double session)

You will make several different dishes that will be shared at Saturday evening’s meal.  As an added delight, watch and learn the technique of cooking turkey in a trashcan!

Supplies NeededBring your appetite and a desire to learn more about Dutch oven cooking.  

Presenters: Lou and Allison Clark
D0Free Time

Snack, play cards, sleep, hike, make new friends, relax….the choice is yours.

D1Tags and Swags

Gift tags, Luggage tags and Swag – creating fun tags and swag using plastic laminate samples.

Supplies Needed: Hot glue gun and glue sticks, paper scissors, jewelry findings, any small hardware or trinkets, jewelry pliers.

 

Presenter: Joy Cohen
D2Yoga for BeginnersFULL

yogaSORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

Have you ever wanted to try yoga?  Now is the time!  A basic yoga class will be provided with a focus on stretching, breathing, and meditation.  You can use this yoga practice with your Girl Scouts!

Supplies Needed: Please bring a towel or yoga mat, wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes. 

Presenter: Lynne Ruozzi
D3Prairie Point Star

Prairie points stitched to a round base make wonderful stars to enjoy on a tree during the holidays. Fall fabric and buttons will be used for the stars. They will also be fun hung just about anywhere around the house. Make them for yourself, or give as gifs.

Supplies Needed: Everyone should bring a pair of scissors for cutting fabric. 

Presenter: Peggy Soper
D4Octopuses for PreemiesFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

We will be crocheting octopuses with curly legs for premature babies in the NICU. The legs resemble the umbilical cord and are comforting for the babies to grab onto. All levels of ability are welcome. Beginners will be taught this easy pattern.

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies.

Presenter: Lois Howry
D5Beginner Watercolor PaintingFULL

SORRY!  THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.  Please join us for one of our other fabulous workshops!

Participants will learn some basic techniques to create watercolor cards, bookmarks and paintings that they can take home.

Supplies: Presenter will provide all needed supplies.

 

Presenter: Wendy Finnerty
D6Music Jam

Bring your songbooks, instruments(if you play), music stand, your voice and your enthusiasm. A Round Robin where everyone gets to choose the music and you will get new music and old favorites.

Supplies Needed: Bring your own instruments or sheet music.

Presenters: Kaye Glass and Karen Brown
D7Ready Aim Shoot

img_4160_3571Come join in the fun! Here’s your chance to relive those childhood camp memories of archery or learn what the fuss is all about. This is your time to shoot without your girls around.

Supplies Needed: All equipment provided and instruction will be given. All ability levels welcome.

Presenter: Cathy LeBlanc

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