Regenerations: Cultivating Connections to Earth, Art & Activism

Regenerate: to bring into renewed existence, to replace that which is injured, to give it a new and more vigorous life.

Regenerations: Cultivating Connections to Earth, Art & Activism is an active investigation of our relationships to nature, community, and creative expression through outdoor immersion, writing, and visual art.

Collaboratively taught by visual artist Ivy Kim and writer Molly Murfee, each day explores a different topic and environment on Drala Mountain Center’s stunning mountain campus. Daily sessions will investigate the practices of stillness and noticing, journaling and brainstorming, and ephemeral land art. We will  channel our creative skills and tap into deep emotions by playing with the inherent symbolism found in Nature and sculpting with natural and introduced objects in the landscape.

These inspired activities will invite us to:

• Reconnect to our inherent relationship with the earth
• Experiment with mixed-media artmaking and word play
• Locate an internal sense of creative motivation that is rooted in stillness, curiosity, and reciprocity
• Empower our unique creative voices to effect positive change in our home environments and communities

This retreat is a space to reawaken what may have gone dormant, to regenerate our sense of wonder and agency, and to remember that creativity—like the natural world—is both a refuge and a force for transformation. Whether you are a seasoned artist or simply seeking new ways to engage with the world, Regenerations offers a nourishing container to explore, express, and emerge renewed.

TESTIMONIALS

“I have come to realize through my writing exploration and silent still time in nature, that what the both of you are doing and envisioning is what I had buried in my bones when I tried to get a Masters in Botany and felt the dry and brittle world of academic botanical study … I was searching for something much juicier and more meaningful! Your work speaks to me so deeply! Thanks for being you.” – SF

“Molly and Ivy are capable of seeing many perspectives and speaking them with grace and eloquence. They are a pleasure to work with and be around. Conversations with them always leave me looking forward to the next time I can get a glimpse into their minds and hearts. They both have an intelligence that is refreshingly nuanced and refined.” – BH

“After taking your workshops I decided I would try to carry on the torch because it was so meaningful to me. A long-distance friend of mine and I are getting a sit spot zoom nature meditation off the ground! An hour. A call to the directions and a poem or a song. Sign off zoom and go find your spot where you can sit, draw, listen. Sign back onto zoom and share reflections. Closing words! Thank you for the inspiration.” – AN

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES
Participants do not need to be professional or even aspiring writers or visual artists to take this course – it is open to everyone! We playfully and experimentally use creative expression – both visual and written – as tools for connecting with nature, ourselves, and each other.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
Along with your packing list for staying on the Drala campus (toiletries, clothes for eating dinner in the evening, etc.), please bring the following:

Walking Supplies

• Backpack with day hiking gear you typically bring
• Capacity for carrying 2 quarts of water (i.e. water bottles, Camelback, etc.)
• Trail snacks
• Hiking clothes such as flexible, quick dry shorts or pants and short sleeve shirts
• Sturdy close-toe hiking boots or shoes
• Rain pants and jacket
• Warm layers such as fleece
• Visor or sun hat
• Warm, lightweight hat and gloves
• Sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen.
• A packable / portable camp chair (you would bring this in your backpack on the trail for our hike)
• Any particular trail snacks you enjoy (i.e. trail mix, protein bars, etc.)

Art & Writing Supplies

• Journal: This is really a sketch book, such as a watercolorist might use. The recommendations are for it to be unlined; spiral; blank, black cover; heavy duty enough paper you can glue or paint on it; perforated pages are nice. The size is up to you, but you will be hauling it around in your backpack and working with it sitting on the ground on the trail, so make it something you want to work with on that level – i.e., a smaller, 5×8 might be better than a notebook sized 8×11 (but it’s up to you). Here’s a link to one from Amazon just to give you a visual, but these kinds of books are available at independent art supply stores, independent book shops and other venues. Shop independent businesses when available. If you don’t have access to such a shop, places like Wal-Mart also have these kinds of items.
• Writing utensils (pens, pencils, etc.). Include a felt tip or other lovely juicy writing tool. This pen will be used for drawing too.
• Colored pencils
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Any additional art supplies you like to work with such as travel watercolors, pastels, charcoal, etc.

Please note participants are responsible for bringing the above individual art supplies. The course fee includes tuition + a $10 art supply fee per person for other special art supplies provided by the instructors. 

PHYSICAL ABILITY
Moderate hiking required with ability to climb some hills, sit, stand and walk on uneven terrain for the full day. A typical day includes hiking in with activities along the way, staying still in place for activities during the middle portion of the session, then hiking out.

DAILY COURSE THEMES

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (Day 2)

Connecting in Nature: Stillness & Noticing

Slow down. Tap in. And allow the modern world to fall away. Through silence, stillness and observation, reconnect to the deep resource of Nature. Process what you find there through imaginative visual and written art exercises that allow your senses and the floodgates of creativity to open, exploring complexity within the simple.

Thursday, April 30, 2026 (Day 3)

Nature as Healer: Finding the Regenerative Creative Resource

Identify your personal “Nature as source” through investigating concepts of beauty, solace and appreciation. How does Nature support you? What does it have to teach you?  Notice how Nature arrives to relationship with you. Celebrate these sources through art and words that recognize and honor place.

Friday, May 1, 2026 (Day 4)

Nature & Despair: Accompanying & Transforming Grief

Acknowledge the difficulty of despair that is a part of being awake to these turbulent times and destruction of the environment. Explore how to creatively honor the wisdom of grief that can propel the hero’s and heroine’s journey forward towards empowerment and positive action. Learn how to process and express these raw emotions through land + art sculpture projects and powerful yet organized writing.

Saturday, May 2, 2026 (Day 5)

Creative Voice in Nature: Activating Your Expression

Explore how Nature can intersect with and support your creative vision. Ponder the concept of expression, how it moves through you and what you feel compelled to express while in collaboration with the natural world. What do you want to say about your relationship to Nature? Your joy or despair in it? How do you take these concepts and translate them?

Sunday, May 3, 2026 (Day 6)

Creativity & Nature Activism: Inspiration, Approaches and Actions

Investigate historical and contemporary approaches for creatively engaged activism within the visual and written arts. Experiment with expressing your creative vision that incorporates your connection to Nature and playful activism as a way to shift culture towards a more compassionate, sustainable relationship with the Earth.

Please note: This course focuses on conducting all sessions outside in nature. We will often go out for the day with a pack lunch, spending the day on the trails around campus, and return for the evening meal. Program sessions will include group activities and discussions as well as personal time to work with the contents of the course.