Carolinas 2023 Fall Retreat

Accommodations & Facilities

Dogwood on Lake Norman is a waterfront retreat facility in Sherrill's Ford, NC, thirty-five miles north of downtown Charlotte. The facility spans 60 acres along scenic Lake Norman and is fully accessible with paved walkways. Light walking is required to navigate the campus.

Dogwood is a place to breathe deeply, rejuvenate, and invite the stories hidden inside you to come out onto the page.

PARKING

Parking on site is free and easily accessible to the lodges. There are 49 paved parking spots with overflow parking in the field.

ACTIVITIES

Our retreat weekend will be filled with opportunities to learn, develop your Work-in-Progress, and build community with like-minded creatives.

Dogwood offers several options for you to stir your creative juices or just take a breather:

Waterside trail for walking

Obstacle course

Putt-putt

Kayaks

Basketball and soccer goals

Game room with billiards, darts, and air hockey, cards, and board games

LODGES

Guest rooms in the hotel-style lodges are furnished with two double beds, private bathroom, hair dryer, linens & towels, T.V., mini-fridge, a supply of K-cups, and disposable coffee cups.

Each lodge has a common room with couches, game tables, T.V., and a kitchenette which includes a Keurig coffee maker, large fridge, sink, and microwave. Each lodge has a screened porch furnished with rocking chairs.

All buildings are equipped with free Wi-Fi.

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

Both roommates sharing a room must register individually and select the Double Occupancy ticket.

If adding Thursday night to your reservation, you must select whether you will have single or double occupancy on Thursday night. For example, you may wish to arrive on Thursday but your roommate won't arrive until Friday.

In the event your roommate cancels, you will be charged the Single Occupancy rate for the room unless you find another attendee to fill that spot.

When registering under Double Occupancy, submit your roommate's name to Erica Wood, carolinas-ra@scbwi.org.

WHAT TO BRING

Dress comfortably for walking outdoors and sitting indoors. November weather is variable in the NC Piedmont, and the waterfront can be breezy. You may want a sweatshirt and blanket for sitting by the fire.

Camp chair or yard blanket for sitting by the fire

Yard blanket or yoga mat for Waterfront Mindfulness session

Any snacks, beverages, or alcohol you wish to have on hand

Coffee mug if you prefer not to use disposable cups

Portfolio if you are entering the Portfolio Showcase

Bring your Work-in-Progress and the materials you need to work on it

devices (and chargers!)

paper and pens/pencils/markers

journals and/or sketchbooks

that kick-ass draft or poem you wrote in school one time that set you on this maniacal path

the sticky note from your college art professor that says, "Such talent!"

Most importantly, bring your sense of wonder - your curious mind, eager to explore, to listen, to think outside the box.


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