COORDINATE YOUR GROUP RETREAT TODAY!
Celebrating Handcraft & Group Camaraderie
FIBER ARTS | QUILTING | KNITTING | SCRAPPING
Camp Wonder Wander was established by a former graphic design professor to help people engage in the sense of wonder and practice the act of wandering (let your mind wander... get lost in thought, in a good book, in conversation, in the project flow). Nestled in the high forest of mid-south Tennessee near lovely Hohenwald (German for "high forest") and the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, the Lemon Lodge on the edge of 5 acres is ideally suited to, and welcomes all creatives to congregate for camaraderie and a focused escape from the rigors of daily life that may distract us from our passion for craft in all its forms. Located just under two hour drive southwest of Nashville and under 3 hours east of Memphis makes this an ideal Tennessee retreat.
Whether you are an expert crafter or just want to get your besties together for a stitch and 'bitch' or a coloring-book marathon for a special birthday, we can help you in your escape and plans.
SQUEEZE THE DAY AT THE LEMON LODGE
FEATURES
The Lemon Lodge has three main areas for creative projects plus an exterior studio when not being used by artists in residence (see the outside garden photo structure near the picnic table).
First is the front gathering area which is the width of the entire house - approximately 30+ft x 10 ft of space. The chairs are on casters and could be rearranged. Portable tables can be placed in this room and the bench seating or other chairs available upon request.
The pine room is in the back of the house and features many windows overlooking the donkeys and the field providing lots of natural light. This room has two large tables also on casters with bench seating. If you want to move the tables out of the way in the evenings and watch a movie on DVD you can do that with our small collection of titles or bring your own. (TV can also be relocated to the front room upon request). There is a twin bed in the corner with a trundle that can be tucked under the day bed when not in use. An additional table could be arranged in this room if not needing the extra beds.
The third space is a 3-season porch with 3 walls of windows. There are also smaller tables approximately 4 ft in width or 3 ft in diameter. This room is best during temperate months that don't required fans or heating).
Then you'll need a space to sleep. The Lemon Lodge features the following:
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Private Ensuite with a King and Twin bed. An empty closet can also be set up as small workspace by moving the desk or a small table in there. The bathroom features a river rock floor and a shower/tub.
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Private Full bed that uses the hall bathroom.
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Dormitory style Loft featuring 7 twin beds. You'll need to walk up stairs and know that the ceiling is vaulted, but it's super comfortable for sleeping.
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Daybed in the gathering room. Trundle below is an option if you would like us to set up one extra mattress.
Meals. You have full use of the kitchen to bring your own items. You can add-on the meal prep plan. Or if you prefer, the towns of Hohenwald and Waynesboro each have a few restaurants. We can also help with your take-out food plans.
Phone/WiFi. Your phone probably will not have a good connection here due to the geography. There are spots outside that work better for calls, but text messaging works for many inside the house. We have MLConnect rural broadband wifi for your needs such as streaming music, watching videos, connecting to family and friends. It's highly encouraged to disconnect in general while you are on site, but guests have often wanted to make sure they can at least contact home to check in.
Parking. Plenty of parking options.
Tents/RVs. Definitely room to set up a tent or park an RV if someone in your group is traveling that way. In addition, if you have more people than beds or you want to stretch out to be able to use the lodge space, we can help you identify RV rental that would be delivered and set up for you.
Add-on Options
PATTERN DESIGN for fabric or paper
Have you ever wanted to design your own fabric to include in your quilting or crafts?
Utilize your own doodles, drawings, hand-lettering to create your own design. Book this add-on workshop and Val, a former tenured graphic design professor, will guide you and your group thru a series of basic design exercises and share how to use resources to customize your own fabric. Basic Adobe Illustrator information. 2 hrs session and one-on-one coaching per person
MEAL PREP or COOKING CLASS
If you would rather not spend time cooking, Val will help customize a menu for your retreat and help with one ore more meals.
Or how about a cooking class?
Ask Val to help coordinate. If you are interested in special meals, she has been wheat, corn, and almost dairy-free since 1996. Lately that encompasses gluten-free so she is happy to share cooking and health tips. She's also learning about herbs and edible plants on the property so she can provide a tour or insights too.
DESIGN A BOOK
Have you ever wanted to transform your handmade scrapbooking into a printed copy your friends and family can collect?
Book this add-on workshop and Val, a former tenured graphic design professor, will guide you in how to scan and use online resources to create printed books available print on demand. This basic design workshop will also cover typography, basic principles and elements of design to transform your work. This two hour session will include additional individual time for using the camp computer equipment.
CYANOTYPES
Have you ever wanted to try handmade art as a nature based elements?
Blend your nature immersion with your interest in handcraft with this workshop using natural light and the origins of photography by creating cyanotypes. Workshop rate includes instruction and materials on average about 6 small sheets per person.
RATES & RESERVATION PROCESS
Your booking includes the entire Lemon Lodge for up to 14 (if larger beds are shared). Most craft groups may average 5-8 people to take advantage of the workspace.
Lodging fee includes access to the furnished lodge, linens on each bed, one towel per person, electricity, housekeeping before and after your stay, credit card processing fees, local and state taxes, and the view with donkeys to hug out the back door. Lodging fee does not include daily housekeeping and there is no laundry option in the lodge. Firewood is additional. Ask about other hospitality services.
Base rate is $300 / night for up to FOUR people adding $40/person.
SPECIAL: Two nights non-weekend rate = $500 for the first four and $70/person 5 to 12.
Extend to four nights non-weekend (arrive Monday / depart Friday) and receive 15% discount on the base rate = $1,020 plus $140 per extra person.
Extend to 7 nights and receive 25% discount on the base rate = $1,575 plus $175 per persons 5 to 12 for that week.
FALL 2023 BOOKING SPECIAL - COMMIT TO YOUR DATES in 2023/2024 AND PAY IN FULL TO RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT FROM THE TOTAL RESERVATION. (non-refundable, but can be rescheduled based on the calendar availability).
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS:
You'll receive a contract for your rental term after a date has been set. To save that date if it's a special holiday, one or two night stay, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required with the balance due 45 days before arrival. Your reservation must be paid in full and is non-refundable if cancelled any later than 45 days before the arrival date. If you book your group within a 45 day window, 100% of the booking fee is due and is non-refundable for any reason including any participant needing to withdraw for health reasons including covid. It is highly recommended that you acquire travel insurance for this possibility. Those staying longer than two nights will require a one night full rate for the entire group as your deposit and the balance due within 45 days.
Please inquire about the add-on options including the Forest Walk.
If you have more than 12 people or you prefer a bit more room to spread out, please inquire about availability of the Raspberry Residency House or the option of renting RV(s) that can be delivered and parked on-site for your participants.
RESERVATION PROCESS:
Contact Val at mail@campwonderwander.org with your details including number of participants, preferred date options (please provide at least two, or identify months if you don't have specific dates), general purpose for the retreat (what type of craft or art or other activities will you be doing?), any special requirements or needs (cutting matts, irons, extension cords, etc.), and any add-on activities you would like to include. Val will respond with a quote. If you agree to the terms, then you will receive an invoice for the deposit with the balance scheduled to be due no later than 45 days from your arrival date. The deposit is non-refundable and the balance is non-refundable if cancelled at any time there-after for any reason. This is a small, woman-owned operation, not a giant hotel franchise that can take a hit from cancellations.
Please note that if anyone in your group has any issues with the outside natural world like bugs, humidity, rain, heat, dirt, etc. then this may not be the place for you. Please make sure to show your group pictures of the facility before arriving.
ABOUT CAMP WONDER WANDER
Born out of the desire by Val, the proprietor and founder, for a quiet inspirational place to commune with nature and be reinvigorated as a creative person on her sabbatical journey back in 2015, this slice of beauty and serenity is the actualization to create a community for camaraderie and artistic endeavors of various forms. Val really believes that rewarding experiences occur when we get LOST – lost in thought, lost in a good book, lost in translation, lost in conversation, lost in place. Here you will be allowed and encouraged to do so at your own pace or in a more structured session.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO BECOME A WONDER WANDERER!
Camp Wonder Wander is open year round, but limited availability may occur during certain seasons so please inquire and plan far ahead. The space was designed for customized creative retreats or booking general workshops in nature immersion creative activities. When the facility is not reserved for these formal events, you can request to customize or create your own adventure in the rural rolling hills of mid-south TN near Hohenwald.
Individuals or groups working on creative projects of any kind will find that the facility has been developed to embody the value of retreat methodology within a natural environment and encourages the fellowship that comes from connecting with others in small communal opportunities. We are committed to aiding participants and short-term residents in connecting to a deep, enhanced level of creativity & camaraderie. Please contact Val to coordinate your stay whether it be a weekend, week-long or longer term experience.
The goal is to provide a safe, carefree place for guests and workshop participants (crafters, quilters, scrapbookers or thrifters, designers, writers, artists, musicians, storytellers, creatives of any discipline or those just seeking a creative outlet) to Get Lost – to explore their inner dreamscapes and rejuvenate one's inner spirit.
You will be immersed in and on a beautiful mid-south Tennessee 5-acre property combining pasture with woods in the hills near the Natchez Trace Parkway in Lewis County (named after explorer Meriwether Lewis). We have an additional acreage across the street as an untamed piece of primitive land on the edge of the Buffalo River that has primitive campsites.
Approximately 1.75 hours drive from the rich, culturally diverse city of Nashville, 1 hour north of Florence, AL, 1 hour west of Columbia, TN, about 2 hrs nw of Huntsville, AL, 2 hrs from Murfreesboro, and 3 hrs east of Memphis.
LOCATED IN A BEAUTIFUL PART OF TENNESSEE WITH LITTLE LIGHT POLLUTION. The Western Highland Rim of the mid-south is convenient from Nashville, Memphis, Florence, and Huntsville. You may want to see our campground information and possibly schedule your time so that you can see starry nights (weather permitting).
