Callaway Gardens® Announces 2011 Fall Workshops And Hikes

Aug. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- PINE MOUNTAIN, GA (8/20/11) - Cultivate your artistic skills and expand your gardening and natural history knowledge with Callaway Gardens’ Workshop and Hike Series!  Local experts and staff facilitate workshops while the interpretive hikes provide opportunities to explore portions of The Preserve at Callaway Gardens®, the undeveloped land accessible to visitors only on guided programs.

Digital Photography Workshop Series
Foundations in DSLR Photography I: A Beginner's Guide to DSLR Photography (what the camera manual doesn't tell you)
Saturday, August 6, 2011, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $75 includes Lunch, and Digital Handout

Foundations in DSLR Photography I: Introduction to Artistic Composition & Photo Shoot
Sunday, August 7, 2011, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Fee: $40 (must attend Aug 6th Course)

Foundations in DSLR Photography II: Creative Photography Beyond the Auto Mode
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  
Fee: $75 includes Lunch, and Digital Handout

Adventures in DSLR Photography V: Overcoming Challenges of Night & Low-light Photography – Balloon Festival
Friday-Sunday, September 2-4, 2011, Detailed weekend schedule:
Fri   6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.   Classroom
      8 p.m. – 10 p.m.   Photo Shoot
Sat   7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.   Photo Shoot
      9 a.m. – 11 a.m.   Classroom
      6 p.m. – 8 p.m.   Photo Shoot
Sun   7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.   Photo Shoot
      9 a.m. – 11 a.m.   Classroom
Fee:    Fri: $50; Sat: $65; Sun: $50; Discounted rate for entire weekend: $150

Foundations in DSLR Photography III: Mastering Focus & Exposure
Saturday, September 17, 2011, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  
Fee: $75 includes Lunch, and Digital Handout

Foundations in DSLR Photography III: Photo Shoot
Sunday, September 18, 2011, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fee: $40 (must attend Sept 18th Course)

PhotoShop BootCamp: An Introduction to Adobe PhotoShop Elements 8 or 9 or CS4/CS5
Saturday – Sunday, October 1-2, 2011
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Sunday
Fee: $115 includes admission to Callaway Gardens, Lunch on Saturday, and digital handout -- laptops welcome)

Foundations in DSLR Photography V: Beginner’s Overcoming Challenges of Night & Low-light Photography – Fantasy in Lights
Monday, November 14, 2011
Times included in confirmation
Fee: $100 includes admission and digital handout

Adventures in DSLR Photography V: Overcoming Challenges of Night & Low-light Photography – Fantasy in Lights
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Times included in confirmation
Fee: $100 includes admission and digital handout

Art, Garden & Nature Workshops
Birds of Prey Encounter Workshop
Choose between September 24, October 29 and November 19, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Learn about the amazing world of raptors and participate in hands-on activities designed to bring you closer to the raptor world.  Enjoy a behind the scenes look into Callaway’s Birds of Prey.
Fee: $40 per adult (ages 19+); $25 per child (ages 6-18); $115 per family of 4 (2 adults/2 children)

Portrait Drawing in a Day
Saturday, October 15, 2011, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Learn the classic art of portraiture from artist Randy Nguyen.  Nguyen will help participants create their own portrait drawings from a photograph of their choice.
Instructor: Randy Nguyen
Fee: $125 plus $35 material fee, includes lunch

Gemstones & Freshwater Pearls Jewelry Design Workshop
Saturday, October 15, 2011, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Choose from a variety of gemstones and freshwater pearls along with sterling silver and copper beads to arrange in a pattern for the perfect combination.  Each necklace will be custom designed to fit the owner (max 20” long).
Instructor: Patricia Varnon
Fee: $115 all materials included

Gourd Bowl with Pine Needle Weaving
Saturday, October 22, 2011, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Learn how to prepare gourds for artistic expressions.  Coil or pine needle weaving incorporated into the design adds interest, texture and beauty.
Instructor: Talitha Norris
Fee: $60 includes all supplies

Fall Watercolor Workshop
Saturday, October 22, 2011, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Enjoy observing and painting the exciting colors of the fall foliage in this workshop.  Participants will have the opportunity to paint outdoors on location, weather permitting.  Class includes demonstrations, instruction, critique and individual coaching.  All levels of painters welcome.
Instructor: Pat Fiorello.  www.patfiorello.com
Fee: $125

Gourd Snowman
Saturday, November 5, 2011, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Just in time for Christmas, you'll use a gourd, some paint, decorations, and your imagination to create a unique snowman (or woman) that reflects your personal style.
Instructor: Talitha Norris
Fee: $60 all materials included

Wreath-making Workshop
Saturday, December 3, 2011, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Make a unique holiday wreath of your own design using a wire frame and fresh greenery.
Instructor: Patricia Collins, Callaway Gardens’ director of gardens
Fee: $45 per wreath

Holiday Centerpiece Workshop
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Make a centerpiece for a tabletop or fireplace mantle display.  You’ll adorn sprigs of fresh greenery with berries, seeds and fruits of the season to bring holiday cheer to your home.
Instructor: Patricia Collins, Callaway Gardens’ director of gardens
Fee: $45 per centerpiece or topiary

Hikes
Guided hikes are great opportunities to learn more about natural history!  Hikes offer a variety of topics, terrain and time spent on the trails.  Hiking trails are not paved; rocky and steep in some sections – appropriate footwear required.  Wear sturdy hiking boots and pack a light lunch and plenty of water for the trail.

Adventure Hike Along the Pine Mountain Ridge
Saturday, October 1, 2011, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Come join us for an early fall hike along the spine of Pine Mountain and along a clear, spring-fed creek in the Cason J. Callaway Memorial Forest.  Along the way we will discuss the ecology of the Pine Mountain region.  
Length: 6 miles; moderately strenuous; ages 14 and up
Fee: $10 for members; $12 for non-members

Pine Mountain Springheads Hike
Saturday, November 12, 2011, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
This naturalist-led hike will explore an area of the Callaway Gardens’ Preserve on the Pine Mountain Ridge where springheads are abundant.  Amid colorful fall foliage, we’ll discuss the geology of the springheads, longleaf pines and the wonder of Autumn on Pine Mountain.  
Length: approximately 4.5 miles; moderately strenuous (will include off-trail hiking on rocky surfaces) ages 12 and up
Fee: $10 for members; $12 for non-members

Detailed descriptions of these programs can be found at www.callawaygardens.com then click on “Gardens” and then “Educational Programs.”  Enrollment is limited and preregistration is required for all programs. Programs fill quickly, so register soon.

Workshop fees include admission to Callaway Gardens. To register, call the Education Department at 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292), option 5, option 2; 706-663-5153 or email education@callawaygardens.com.  Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before each workshop begins.  For a complete listing, visit See complete listings on www.callawaygardens.com.

For overnight accommodations for any of these workshops or hikes, ask for the special workshop rate starting at $99 in the Mountain Creek® Inn at 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292).  Based on availability, some restrictions apply.

Callaway Gardens®, is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus.  To experience nature at its finest, call 1-800-CALLAWAY or visit www.callawaygardens.com .

# # #

A gardens, resort, preserve and community, owned and operated by the non-profit Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, offering "So Much to See and Do" while "Connecting Man and Nature in a way that Benefits Both." Located in Pine Mountain, Georgia.