Exploring The Enchanted Forest

From: HeartWood
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Skies were dreary and drippy, but last Saturday and Sunday were fine days in Fairyland (also known asCamp Newaygo), as droves of visitors wandered through woods and wetlands in search of fairy houses.

Foster Arts and Crafts Lodge

The occasion was the camp’s Enchanted Forest event, two afternoons of fun and fundraising to support improvements to the camp’s Foster Arts and Crafts Lodge. Generations of campers have explored painting, pottery, dark room photography, nature crafts, jewelry making, tie dye design, wood burning and other activities in that building. But the crafts lodge, built in 1949, is no longer adequate for the camp’s growing number of campers and programs.

“Marcia’s Gnome-acile” by Marcia Holcomb

When Camp Newaygo put out the call to artists and craftspeople, asking them to create and donate fairy houses, event organizers hoped to get twenty-five to thirty houses. They received forty-two little dwellings fashioned from logs, twigs, stones, clay, glass, felt, feathers, acorn caps, pine cones, moss and generous amounts of imagination.

“We want to send a big thank you to all of the artists who took the time and consideration to donate all of the beautiful houses,” said Jane Vitek, Camp Newaygo’s Executive Director. “Without them, the event couldn’t have been possible.”

“Pebble Cottage” by Mary Beth Cooper

“Fairy Chateau” by Linda Cudworth

Camp staff and volunteers hid the fairy houses, gnome homes, pixie palaces and elf abodes in the woods for visitors of all ages to discover (with the help of trail maps, helpful guides and a display showing photos of all the houses to be found).

A trail map pointed out the routes to follow

A photo display showed forest explorers what to look for

Guides Morgan Pope and Jennifer Bell helped visitors navigate the trails

I know it’s in there somewhere!

Ray and I had an edge, having helped hide some of the houses Saturday morning. But even we had to look closely to spot some of them. And once guests began arriving—many sporting fairy wings and other whimsical garb—we had fun watching them search and then react with delight when they spied a tiny house nestled in the leaves or in the hollow of a tree stump.

Violet Jenerou had the look!

Calla Casler wore fairy frou-frou

Emery and Isla Casler flitted in for the afternoon

Fairy Godmother Brenda Huckins Bonter spread magic all around

It’s an imp! It’s a leprechaun! No, it’s an enchanted Mark Kane!

Could a house be hidden here?

Here’s one!

Look at this one!

Two houses offered extra surprises. Alongside Sally Kane’s “Wee One’s Stone Abode” was a poem Sally wrote about the house, and Ray’s “Rustic Retreat” featured a story he wrote about its inhabitants.

A young visitor pauses to read Sally’s poem

Brenda reads Sally’s poem to another forest explorer

Some fledgling fairies made wands or gnome hats at the crafts station and enjoyed a tea party of punch and cookies. Other visitors browsed the garden plants and accessories offered for sale by local shops.

Olivia Jenerou made a happy wand!

Did I hear tea party?

Zoe Hance approved of the cookies

Over the two days, a total of 627 visitors toured the Enchanted Forest.

“We were ecstatic about the positive responses we got about the event on social media, and we were so happy with the turnout,” said Christa Smalligan, Director of Events and Operations. “It was wonderful to see families and friends outside exploring and enjoying themselves in nature.”

Wish you’d been there? Or wish you could visit again? Then come along for a walk through the pictures Newaygo below or a virtual stroll with WOTV4’s Maranda.

If a fanciful creation catches your eye, to bid on one or more of the fairy houses. The auction runs until 11 a.m., Monday, May 9, and proceeds go to the Foster Arts and Crafts Lodge renovation project.

The houses will also be on display at Camp Newaygo, 5333 S. Centerline Rd., Newaygo, during the Mother’s Day Brunch, Sunday, May 8. Between now and then, the public is welcome to view them during business hours, Monday-Friday 8 am-5pm.

Ready for that walk in the woods? Let’s go!