Workshop List

This page contains a list of the workshops we had on offer last year, as an example of what might be available.

Workshop Time: 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Awesome Choir

Led by Pam Blevins Hinkle / Days: MTuWThF

The Awesome Choir is non-auditioned and supports morning celebrations (note that the choir also meets at 8 am Tues-Thurs). All skill levels and identities are welcome. Singers choose what section they sing in. The choir is led by Pam Blevins Hinkle with collaboration from pianist Bonnie Ettinger. Pam's been leading the Awesome Choir at MUUSA for 23 years. She has nearly 30 years of experience conducting choirs and believes singing is everyone's birthright. Five Days: M-F plus additional rehearsals T-Sa @ 8:00am. Registration Requested. Limit: 50. Fee: None.

Contra Dance Will Make Your Soul Smile

Led by Ken Sharp and Laurel Spahn / Days: MTuWThF

Contra dancing is social interaction with old and new friends, set to music that can be lively and energetic or gentle and soothing. A caller provides a "walk through" practice before the dance and gives instructions during the dance. Dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome, and generally wear large smiles during the dances. Although it is a partner dance, you are welcome to join the workshop as an individual. We are committed to maintaining the safety of the activity by implementing social distancing and/or masking as appropriate for the COVID situation at the time. 5 Days: M-F. Registration Requested. Limit: 40. Fee: None.

Introduction to Tarot

Led by Christine Whittaker / Days: Tu

Are you tarot-curious? Join me for an introduction to reading tarot. I will give a brief history, de-mystify the cards and talk about how to use tarot as a spiritual practice . . . and to amaze your friends! This workshop does not include individual readings. If you have tarot cards, it is helpful to bring them, but NOT required. Offered once.Registration Requested. Limit: 15. Fee: None.

Getting Older Ain't for Sissies

Led by Terri Gaitskill / Days: W

Discussion covering age related changes - physical and emotional, as well as other topics of interest to people of a "certain age" and those who love/care for them. Offered three times. Registration Requested. Limit: 20. Fee: None.

Tarot readings

Led by Christine Whittaker / Days: Th

Live tarot reading! Have your cards read or just watch the fun! I will be doing tarot readings for workshop participants. Participants will ask a question to get some insight from the cards. Since this is not a private reading, please avoid questions that may cause embarrassment or pain. Note: We may not have time to have a reading for all participants. Offered once. Registration Requested. Limit: 10. Fee: None. Spectators welcome.

The Book of Delights

Led by Amy Miller / Days: F

We'll read "The Book of Delights" by Ross Gay ahead of time and discuss at camp. He wrote one short essay a day for a year, celebrating a different small mundane delight one may overlook if not paying attention. Offered once. Registration Requested. Limit: 8. Fee: None.

Workshop Time: 1:45 PM - 3:35 PM

Improv for Everyone

Led by Tom Robertson / Days: MTuWThF

Learn and perform the basics of short-form improvisation in this participatory workshop. Learn the principles of improv's "Yes, And" philosophy, how to be confident on stage, and how the skills you learn in improv can be adapted to other areas in your life. No prior improv or theatre training is needed, but new games and exercises each year keep the workshop fresh for returning participants. Tom has a dozen years experience as an improvisor with IndyProv and the Indianapolis Improv Collaborative, and has trained with Second City in Chicago, ComedySportz in Indianapolis, and The Improv Retreat in Wisconsin. 5 Days: M-F.Registration Requested. Limit: 16. Fee: None.

Introductory Swing Dancing

Led by Alex Enersen / Days: MWF

In this workshop, experienced ballroom dancer Alex Enersen will teach you the basics of East Coast Swing and how to dance it with a partner. You don't need to bring a partner in order to do this workshop, you just need yourself and a curiosity for dance. The lesson will last for 1 hour, and then the floor is yours for the next half-hour. You may use this time to either dance, socialize, or make a quiet exit. We can't promise that you'll conquer your fear of dance at this workshop, but we hope you'll at least find it fun. 3 Days: MWF. Registration Requested. Limit: 16. Fee: None.

Mysterious Cloth

Led by Stephanie Robertson / Days: MTuWThF / Fee: $30

Cloth is a record of our souls. We wear it and it conforms to our bodies. We sleep under it to keep ourselves warm, we wipe away tears of happiness or sorrow with handkerchiefs. Cloth is in our life. Dyeing and printing cloth can be a community building practice or a soulful private meditation. In this workshop we will explore a variety of fabric dyeing techniques that can later be transformed into quilts, clothing, collages and more, as well as discussing the presence of cloth, how it adds to our personal meditative practices and connects us to the bigger mystery/Mystery. 5 Days: M-F. Registration Required. Limit: 15. Fee: $30.

Science and Pseudoscience

Led by Carolyn Hildebrandt and Ken Sharp / Days: MWF

Daily, we are bombarded with "scientific" claims that may or may not be true. In this age of "alternative facts" and evidence-free assertions, critical thinking is of paramount importance. In this workshop, we will explore the history of science and pseudoscience and ways in which we can identify facts and misinformation about topics such as creationism, climate change, vaccines, and COVID-19, and help people think about them in more scientific ways. Carolyn Hildebrandt is a professor of psychology who has taught college-level courses on this topic in London and the U.S. Ken Sharp is a retired professor of chemistry and spent many years as a professional chemist. 3 Days: MWF. Registration Requested. Limit: 24. Fee: None.

Getting Older Ain't for Sissies

Led by Terri Gaitskill / Days: Tu

Discussion covering age related changes - physical and emotional, as well as other topics of interest to people of a "certain age" and those who love/care for them. Offered three times. Registration Requested.Limit: 20. Fee: None.

Getting Older Ain't for Sissies

Led by Terri Gaitskill / Days: Th

Discussion covering age related changes - physical and emotional, as well as other topics of interest to people of a "certain age" and those who love/care for them. Offered three times. Registration Requested.Limit: 20. Fee: None.

FreForm Movement, Dance and Meditation

Led by Deb Kline / Days: Th

Participants are invited to intuitively listen to their bodies and let the music inspire them into motion. A variety of music genres, eras, styles, and tempos provide a backdrop for a dance that is all your own. Dancers move spontaneously throughout the space in and among other dancers, each doing their own dance within a community of movement. No dance experience needed. No steps or choreography to learn. This is a non-performance workshop. Each session ends with a guided meditation. Offered three times. Registration Requested. Limit: 30. Fee: None.

Sailing Intro: the Closest You Can Come to Being a Bird

Led by Carole Womeldorf / Days: MTuWThF

Sailing is a wonderful activity: part technical, part physical & part nature. It?s a bit of adventure combined with the grace of flying on the water. Don't let fear of flying hold you back! With practice you?ll learn to connect yourself to the sails & the wind. Join us for a new adventure. We'll start on land with some explanations, laughs, and (as the weather allows) lots of hands on water & wind experience on stable Hobie Bravos hosted by the Y. Beginners welcome. Come learn to fly with us!

Workshop Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Bird Identification and Bird Banding

Led by Eve Cusack / Days: M

Eve Cusack has been an avid birder for more than 20 years! Whether you are also a seasoned birder, or just wanting to get started, join her for two informational sessions and then an on-site field trip! Session 1 will be an introduction to bird watching including slide shows on how to identify birds based on color, size, calls and songs, beak type, flight, etc. We will also cover the Cornell Lab of Ornithology resources including Ebird and the Merlin Bird ID Apps. At session 2 participants will learn about Eve's experiences with banding wild birds over the last five years as a MAPS station operator (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). This will include information about how birds are safely captured and released, how to age and sex birds based on their plumage, and how we take 26 data points on each bird. The final session will be on Friday morning at 6:00 AM as we try out our skills birding around camp before breakfast. Offered two times. Registration Requested. Limit: None. Fee: None.

FreForm Movement, Dance and Meditation

Led by Deb Kline / Days: M

Participants are invited to intuitively listen to their bodies and let the music inspire them into motion. A variety of music genres, eras, styles, and tempos provide a backdrop for a dance that is all your own. Dancers move spontaneously throughout the space in and among other dancers, each doing their own dance within a community of movement. No dance experience needed. No steps or choreography to learn. This is a non-performance workshop.Each session ends with a guided meditation. Offered three times. Registration Requested. Limit: 30. Fee: None. Preregistration Requested.

Sing along playshop

Led by Guy R Loftman / Days: Tu

Let's sing and play together. The first day we'll choose songs from Rise Up Singing, a collection of words and chords for over 1,000 classic folk and pop songs. The second session we'll sing from Rise Again, with another 1,000 great songs. All ages, all voices and all instruments are welcome, as are drop-ins. Offered two times. Limit: None. Fee: None.

Bird Identification and Bird Banding

Led by Eve Cusack / Days: W

Eve Cusack has been an avid birder for more than 20 years! Whether you are also a seasoned birder, or just wanting to get started, join her for two informational sessions and then an on-site field trip! Session 1 will be an introduction to bird watching including slide shows on how to identify birds based on color, size, calls and songs, beak type, flight, etc. We will also cover the Cornell Lab of Ornithology resources including Ebird and the Merlin Bird ID Apps. At session 2 participants will learn about Eve's experiences with banding wild birds over the last five years as a MAPS station operator (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). This will include information about how birds are safely captured and released, how to age and sex birds based on their plumage, and how we take 26 data points on each bird. The final session will be on Friday morning at 6:00 AM as we try out our skills birding around camp before breakfast. Offered two times. Registration Requested. Limit: None. Fee: None.

FreForm Movement, Dance and Meditation

Led by Deb Kline / Days: F

Participants are invited to intuitively listen to their bodies and let the music inspire them into motion. A variety of music genres, eras, styles, and tempos provide a backdrop for a dance that is all your own. Dancers move spontaneously throughout the space in and among other dancers, each doing their own dance within a community of movement. No dance experience needed. No steps or choreography to learn. This is a non-performance workshop. Each session ends with a guided meditation. Offered three times. Registration Requested. Limit: 30. Fee: None.

Workshop Time: 7:00 PM - 8:50 PM

D&D One Shot

Led by Robert Miroballi / Days: Tu

A chance to play Dungeons and Dragons 5e. Offered three times. Registration Requested. Limit: 7. Fee: None.

Sing along playshop

Led by Guy R Loftman / Days: M

Let's sing and play together. The first day we'll choose songs from Rise Up Singing, a collection of words and chords for over 1,000 classic folk and pop songs. The second session we'll sing from Rise Again, with another 1,000 great songs. All ages, all voices and all instruments are welcome, as are drop-ins. Offered two times. Limit: None. Fee: None.

Mixology

Led by Steve Krahnke / Days: Tu

Learn how to fix a variety of different cocktails among friends. One night only! Registration Requested. Limit:12. Fee: None.

Storytime for All Ages

Led by Jocie Luglio / Days: Tu

Jocie will read a variety of diverse picture books for listeners of all ages. These sessions will be offered next to and at the same time as Mixology and one session of Beer Tasting so that adults can attend those while their children have supervised stortyime. Offered twice. Registration Requested. Limit: 20. Fee: None.

Taste the Rainbow of Beer

Led by Nate Warner / Days: W

There's much more to the world of fermented liquids than wine and yellow fizzy stuff; let's appreciate some of it! Come check it out if you'd like to participate in a discussion, learn a bit, and appreciate a lot of flavors. And when class is out, most times some folks will stick around for a little community building! Offered three times. Limit 20. Fee: 6-pack of beer... something unique to share.

D&D One Shot

Led by Robert Miroballi / Days: W

A chance to play Dungeons and Dragons 5e. Offered three times. Registration Requested. Limit: 7. Late evening session: 9:00-10:30 PM. Fee: None. Preregistration Requested.

Taste the Rainbow of Beer

Led by Nate Warner / Days: Th

There's much more to the world of fermented liquids than wine and yellow fizzy stuff; let's appreciate some of it! Come check it out if you'd like to participate in a discussion, learn a bit, and appreciate a lot of flavors. And when class is out, most times some folks will stick around for a little community building! Offered three times. Limit 20. Fee: 6-pack of beer... something unique to share.

Storytime for All Ages

Led by Jocie Luglio / Days: Th

Jocie will read a variety of diverse picture books for listeners of all ages. These sessions will be offered next to and at the same time as Mixology and one session of Beer Tasting so that adults can attend those while their children have supervised stortyime. Offered twice. Registration Requested. Limit: 20. Fee: None.

Taste the Rainbow of Beer

Led by Nate Warner / Days: F

Beverage tasting experience, meant to build community around tasting various fermentations. Offered three times. Registration Requested. Limit: 20. Fee: None.

D&D One Shot

Led by Robert Miroballi / Days: F

A chance to play Dungeons and Dragons 5e. Offered three times. Registration Requestd. Limit: 7. Fee: None.

Workshop Time: 6:15 PM - 7:15 PM

Newcomer Discussion

Led by Julie Enersen and Susan Stafford / Days: M

A gathering for those new - or feeling new! - to camp. Grab your dinner and come to Mallard 4 at 6pm for casual conversation with other newbies. Drop-ins welcome!

Grumpy Old Men: A Gathering

Led by Guy R Loftman / Days: Tu

Grumpy old men and our allies get their dinners and then join together to talk. Our motto: We aim at nothing, and we rarely miss. One night only! Limit: 20. Fee: None. Drop-ins welcome!

Beer Choir

Led by Steve Krahnke / Days: W

We drink beer (or any other libation of your choosing) and sing. Participants will pick up their dinners, grab a drink and head to Mallard 1. Lyrics and musical accompaniment provided. One night only! Registration requested, but drop-ins welcome. Limit: 24. Fee: None.