Turning Clay into Community - The 2025 Lakeside Pottery Retreat

When 28 enthusiastic participants from 9 different states gathered at Camp Fellowship for our inaugural pottery retreat, something magical began to take shape—just like the clay on the throwing wheels. From the moment the weekend kicked off, we witnessed not just the forming of beautiful creations, but the forging of friendships, the sharing of creativity, and the birth of a new rhythm of retreat life.

A Gathering from Near and Far

The three-day retreat welcomed 28 artists, hobbyists, and curious newcomers from Connecticut, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida and South Carolina. Some arrived having worked with clay for many years, while others came entirely for the experience of trying something new in the serene setting of our waterfront and woodlands campus. The diversity of backgrounds (and clay-crafting experience) made for rich conversations, shared learning and a real sense of community.

Clay, Conversation & Community

The retreat schedule balanced hands-on teaching/building sessions with downtime for reflection, conversation and evening fellowship. Mornings began in the pavilion in our outdoor studio. As hands shaped clay—centering, throwing, trimming, building —we watched silence alternate with laughter and lively exchange. Between sessions there was time to wander the grounds, sip coffee, or simply pause along tree-lined paths to take in waterfront views and let inspiration quietly set in. Several people in the group decided to take the kayaks out for a relaxing paddle together.

Evenings brought more than just finished pieces; they brought shared dinners, show-and-tell, and fireside chat. Many brought beautiful mugs and other pottery items they had made to trade in a swap.

Creative Growth + Personal Renewal

What started as kneading clay turned into something deeper. Several participants told us how much they enjoyed the retreat. As one attendee said “the thing I enjoyed most was the camaraderie of fellow potters, the natural setting, and the focused time to create”. By the end of the retreat we saw beautifully shaped creations. More importantly, we witnessed people leave with a renewed sense of connection — to their craft, to themselves, and to one another.

What’s Next?

Because this retreat was such a success, we are already planning the next one! We’re aiming to build on what worked and add a few new elements. Whether you are a seasoned potter, or are newer to the hobby, our next retreat promises to be just as enriching — and even more connected.

Save the Date & How to Join

Details (exact date, pricing, registration info) will be posted soon on our website and via our newsletter. If you’d like advance notice, please drop an email to info@campfellowship.org requesting further future information and we’ll let you know as soon as registration opens. This is a special opportunity to carve out time in your busy life for creative renewal, community connection and the joy of making — set in the beautiful setting of Camp Fellowship. We’d love for you to join us. As Joey stated after the last participant drove away, “What an amazing group of people, with their generosity, their skills, and their creativity! I’m so grateful they all decided to come.”

Thank Yous

A special thank you to our retreat teacher and host, Joey Holmes from Laurens, SC. And to everyone who attended, brought their heart and hands, shared their energy and stories — thank you. Your presence made the retreat an amazing experience. To those considering joining us next time: we can’t wait to meet you, to spin clay, to build community, and to make new memories together.