Looking back on the past year, we want to recognize the many generous people who have helped us along the way - from our new young campers, to our devoted volunteers and donors. We are so grateful to have shared this special experience with you! 2019 saw the hills and valleys of Turtle Island filled with laughter and learning. The eager children and adventuresome visitors have given way to the quiet and stillness of winter's embrace. As is our custom this time of year, we greet you now with a friendly recap of 2019 and a vision of what we'll offer in the 2020 season to come...
2019 in review...
Another successful season of winter filming of Mountain Men featured a former summer-camper-turned-grown-up, Raleigh Avery, lending Eustace a hand and helping out on many projects around camp. When the snow melted and the film crew packed up, we kicked off 2019 with our annual "Families Learning Together" outdoor expo. The event, enjoyed by over 600 visitors, raised several thousand dollars and awarded quite a few families the chance to send their children to our renowned summer camp.

Springtime saw several school groups and college visitors and Turtle Island was invited to demonstrate at the Mother Earth News Fair in Asheville, NC. Accountants from the Piedmont enjoyed a Corporate Work Retreat, and adult workshops peppered the weekends of spring as the flowers and butterflies returned to our happy little hollow.

Summer was a warm and friendly occasion with Father/Son Camp followed by back-to-back summer youth camps for boys and girls. We grew an assortment of garden goodies and built a new and improved wood-fired cobb oven - a collaborative project that was sculpted by both boys and girls in each of the summer camps. We installed a new fireplace crane in our kitchen hearth and everyone loved the meals that came from the new wood cook stove, donated by a devoted volunteer.

Autumn, was a bit of a whirlwind and commenced with the first annual ALL STAR WEEKEND - featuring incredibly talented live musicians and some of the most skilled artisans and teachers who also happen to be successful TV stars. We hosted a wide array of visitors for various weekend workshops, some of the most dedicated and tireless volunteers, and accepted kind donations that we are very grateful for. There's too many of you to thank individually here, but you know who you are and we really, really appreciate all of you who help make this dream come true.

Now that the cold north wind blows through our valley once again, we think fondly back on a year lived with purpose and intention, and we hope you remember us too as we cast a circle of light around the globe on the evening of December 24. Our tradition of lighting a candle on Christmas eve, is a ceremony that goes all the way back to our roots in Camp Sequoyah, the summer camp founded in the 1920's by Eustace's grandfather. May the spirit of the season touch your heart, and may your longest nights be filled with comfort and joy!
JOIN US IN 2020
AT TURTLE ISLAND PRESERVE:
VOLUNTEER WEEKEND
March 21-22, 2020

WOODSWOMAN 101
March 28-29, 2020

BLACKSMITHING
April 4-5, 2020

KNIFE SHEATH MAKING
April 4-5, 2020

FAMILIES LEARNING TOGETHER
April 18, 2020

HIDE TANNING WEEKEND WORKSHOP
May 1-3, 2020

KNIFE MAKING
May 2-3, 2020


SPOON CARVING
May 2-3, 2020


FATHER/SON CAMP
June 19-21, 2020

YOUNG BOYS CAMP
June 21 - 27, 2020

OLDER BOYS CAMP
June 28- July 11, 2020

YOUNG GIRLS CAMP
July 19 - 25, 2020

OLDER GIRLS CAMP
July 26 - August 1, 2020
Girls Age 12 can attend one or both weeks!

HOMESTEADERS OF
AMERICA CONFERENCE
October 2020

Summer Camp is filling up faster than ever, so please do register as soon as possible. We've updated our application process, forms can now be filled out online!
TURTLE ISLAND PRESERVE /]