Embark on a summer adventure and go wild – fusing creativity with nature! Join photographers CARLA RHODES and CHARLES PURVIS for a photographic exploration within the strikingly varied habitats of The Mountain Top Arboretum. 

Our bridge to the world of nature connection is awareness. As we begin to see with the eye of the artist, we build that bridge to the endlessly rich natural world, to the majesty of plants, and to the secret life of animals as they move undetected through the forest.

Collaborating together we’ll develop key awareness skills, touch upon basic environmental photography techniques, set up camera traps to create “wildlife selfies” while exploring animal track and sign, make cyanotype photograms, and create our own books for sketches, journaling, plant pressing, and more!

The Mountain Top Arboretum will be our living classroom, where trails and boardwalks connect 200 acres of plant collections, meadows, wetlands, forest, Devonian bedrock and the oldest bog currently found in the Catskills, clocking in around 14,900 years old! 

Carla brings her experience as a wild storyteller, creating environmental photographic stories that inspire and educate. Charles brings his rich photographic background including a passion for uncovering the creative potential of photography while offering insights into the art of seeing beyond the literal, encouraging participants to discover and express their unique visual perspectives. 

We welcome teens and young adults from ages 14-20 to join us on this unforgettable adventure!

Tuition is $450 (only $100 deposit if reservation is made before May 1st). Registration is required and space is extremely limited.