July 8–12, 2024
Embark on a summer adventure and go wild – fusing creativity with nature! Join photographers CARLA RHODES and CHARLES PURVIS for a photographic exploration within the strikingly varied habitats of The Mountain Top Arboretum.
Our bridge to the world of nature connection is awareness. As we begin to see with the eye of the artist, we build that bridge to the endlessly rich natural world, to the majesty of plants, and to the secret life of animals as they move undetected through the forest.
Collaborating together we’ll develop key awareness skills, touch upon basic environmental photography techniques, set up camera traps to create “wildlife selfies” while exploring animal track and sign, make cyanotype photograms, and create our own books for sketches, journaling, plant pressing, and more!
The Mountain Top Arboretum will be our living classroom, where trails and boardwalks connect 200 acres of plant collections, meadows, wetlands, forest, Devonian bedrock and the oldest bog currently found in the Catskills, clocking in around 14,900 years old!
Carla brings her experience as a wild storyteller, creating environmental photographic stories that inspire and educate. Charles brings his rich photographic background including a passion for uncovering the creative potential of photography while offering insights into the art of seeing beyond the literal, encouraging participants to discover and express their unique visual perspectives.
We welcome teens and young adults from ages 14-20 to join us on this unforgettable adventure!
WHAT TO BRING: We will spend the majority of the time outside walking on trails. Please prepare for the weather accordingly! Students should bring hiking boots, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. Please bring a raincoat and muck boots if you have them.
Bring whatever camera you prefer: digital, SLR, Polaroid, Phone, etc. We’ll also have a few cameras available to use.
MONDAY, JULY 8 – FRIDAY, JULY 12
10:00 – 4:00 pm
WHERE: Students will meet at The Mountain Top Arboretum
(4 Maude Adams Rd, Tannersville, NY)
TRANSPORTATION: CPW will provide transportation between Kingston and Tannersville. Teens under 18 will need a signed permission slip from parent or guardian. Participants are welcome to ride with the group, or travel separate.
LUNCH: Students will need to bring their own lunch. There will be no food to purchase on site. Healthy snacks and beverages will be provided free of charge throughout each day.
TUITION: $450
CLASS LIMIT: 12
Please note: Registering for a workshop entails a $100 non-refundable fee for cancellations. Please read our full workshop policies here.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:
CHARLES PURVIS graduated from the Art Center College of Design in 1981, then worked as a commercial photographer in New York City for twenty-two years. After moving upstate in 1989, he initiated the nature connection movement in the Hudson Valley that became Wild Earth. He’s designed, organized, and facilitated summer camps and year-round programs for youth and families and rites of passage for adolescents. Through the years Charles has taught and mentored hundreds of people in photography, art, and creative expression. He understands the necessity of personal healing and is passionate in supporting people to realize their full creative potential. He lives and works in New York’s vibrant Hudson Valley, close to family, friends, and the river outside his front door.
CARLA RHODES tells visual tales of the natural world through her photography, focusing on the overlooked and misunderstood. From endangered storks to everyday moths, her work is a testament to the beauty found in the unexpected. Her journey, once rooted in the realms of comedic ventriloquism, now flourishes in the wild, capturing images that inspire and educate. Skillfully morphing her narrative craft from the stages’ spotlight to the boundless theater of the wilderness, she is truly a wild storyteller, unveiling the hidden narratives of the unsung heroes of the wild. Published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Guardian, and more, Carla’s images challenge perspective while encouraging a deep appreciation of our shared environment.
Banner image © Carla Rhodes.
Have questions about the workshops? Visit our FAQ page here.