NPCG's 17th Annual Shrine Mont Retreat

May 14th -20th 2007

The time is fast approaching for another magical collaborative event at Orkney Springs, Virginia at the Shrine Mont Retreat Center.

This year's registration post date is March 1st. Please download the application (links at bottom of page) and fill out carefully- Yes, there has been another rate increase.

The setting is rustic and rural. There are no concierges, no maids, no elevators AND no dishes to do, no meals to prepare and you don't even need to make your bed! There is plenty of time to work and play in the twenty-four hour workroom, make new friends and renew old friendships. This is a perfect time to blow off the road dust, shelve your everyday concerns and challenges, while connecting in creative, respectful, mindfulness to likeminded artists.

The retreat is open to all polymer clay artists from professionals to beginners. It differs from a conference or workshop where your time is structured. Here you are free to create your own day and share ideas. Many participants choose to share their knowledge and experiences by volunteering to do scheduled demonstrations.

What makes this event such a success each year is that everyone is an active participant. You will be expected to volunteer for an oven monitor slot (or two), in addition to one of the many different volunteer opportunities = helping keep the snack table neat, grab bag goddesses, the silent auction, set-up and clean-up. Many participants opt to volunteer for a demo or two- which could range from being part of a round table of new products to one hour technique demonstration.

Two key on-site volunteer spots that need to be filled this year are:

1) the Oven Goddess: coordinates calibration and oven monitor sign-up sheets for the four ovens

2) The Demo goddess: coordinates volunteer sign-up for the 15-25 scheduled demonstrations/roundtables/discussions that take place over the week.

Shrine Mont is located in rural Orkney Springs in western Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Shrine Mont is a ninety minute drive from Washington, DC. If you are arriving via public transportation and need a ride to Shrine Mont, I will try to help you find a ride to share, but cannot guarantee one. You may need to share a rental vehicle with others arriving from out of town.

Your registration fee includes a shared room in a rustic cottage from Monday afternoon through Sunday morning. The cooking is simple, ample and designed with omnivores in mind. Meals are included from Monday dinner through Sunday lunch. While many of the cabins feature refrigerators, cooking facilities are not available.

While it is possible to drive back and forth between the sleeping cabins, workroom and dining hall by car, not all of the facilities are wheelchair accessible. Many of the walking paths are steep and topped with coarse gravel. If you have accessibility issues please let me know. The setting is rustic and rural, especially suited for the hale and hearty, there a many excellent hiking trails in the area.

The registration deadline is March 1st. You may send your registration in at any time, but the official sign-up begins with that postmark. Please don't use a mailing service that requires my signature or waste money on express mail services.

A confirmation packet including full details will be sent via the e-mail address you provide mid-March. If you prefer confirmation by mail, please enclose a SASE. Your check will not be cashed until you have been confirmed. There is a twenty dollar charge for cancellations prior to April 30th. In the event that you need to cancel after April 30th AND we are able to fill your space from the wait list there will be a $50 charge.

Due to the popularity of the event, part time registrations will no longer be accepted (you may opt to attend for four days but will still need to pay for all six days). Visiting hours are from Noon until 10:00pm on Saturday only, the conference fee (as required by the facility is $10. If you plan to attend a meal then arrangements will need to be made at the Front desk in the Main/Dining Hotel building.

Once again, this year there are two scholarships available. These have been generously donated by Polymer Clay Express (Wilma and Rob Yost) and Van Aiken (Donna Kato). The scholarships include all registration fees. You would still be responsible for all transportation costs.

A) The spirit is to offer the opportunity to someone who would not be able to afford to come otherwise

B) If you received a scholarship in past years, you are not eligible

C) If you opt apply for the scholarship- then you may not submit a duplicate application with the registration fee

D) The scholarship does not include National Guild membership- non-members are encouraged to join and current members are given preference in the selection preference.

Registration form - PDF version

Registration form - DOC file version

As a reminder, you must be a member of the NPCG to apply. You may apply for membership with your registration, or you may join separately by using our online form and payment system .