RUXers new & old gather at Pennyrile for Third Weekend
Hiking the Lake Trail at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park. Photo by Hannah Almon Matangos.
Over the weekend, RUX alumni, members, current cohort and their loved ones gathered at Pennyrile State Forest Resort Park for RUX’s annual alumni gathering, Third Weekend.
From September 5-7, the RUX network soaked up the natural beauty of Pennyrile while enjoying alumni & network-led workshops ranging from wild plant identification, cyanotypes, swamp ecology, fiber arts, and more!
Third Weekend is an alumni-led, relaxed weekend gathering that provides the RUX network:
a launch point for the cohort member’s Alumni experience, kicking off their “3rd year” and giving them a first step in RUX leadership as the hosts of this event,
current and past RUX participants a chance to gather, build collaborations, and support the new cohort,
the cohort an opportunity to gather after the Community Intensives in an informal atmosphere that is focused on welcoming them into the alumni network,
an opportunity for the cohort’s families to engage with the RUX experience.
Each fall, Third Weekend takes place at the state resort park nearest to the following year’s host community.
On Friday night, folks rolled in from all across the Commonwealth for a potluck, “sell ‘n swap,” social dance, and campfires.
Saturday was jam-packed with RUXer-led workshops including hikes, yoga, cyanotypes, rubber stampmaking, collaging, wild plant identification, and more. Staff also led a workshop about this year’s microgrant opportunities and provided participants time to workshop their ideas and network.
RUXers take a group photo on a hike during Third Weekend.
On Saturday afternoon, RUXers were able to choose-their-own-adventure with two excursions. One led to a self-guided art tour to Cadiz’s Janice Mason Art Museum and to the Princeton Art Guild & Black Patch Festival. RUXers reconvened for a catered dinner and farm tour at Adams Breezy Hill Farm Restaurant.
Touring Consolation Farm in Crofton, KY.
Touring Adams Breezy Hill Farm.
Saturday’s big finale was the Kentucky Foundation for Women RUX Talent Showcase, where we enjoyed a variety of songs, poems, karaoke, and standup - and we even learned how to call squirrels!
On Sunday, we began in the morning with morning workshops including a swamp ecology hike and fiber arts crafting circle. Third Weekend closed out with classic RUX storycircles (including a children’s storycircle) before everyone safely made their way home.
Sunday closed out with storycircles around Pennyrile Lodge.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to gather with current RUX cohort members, RUX alumni, members at large, and their loved ones. These Kentucky change-makers inspire us, and Third Weekend provides a unique opportunity to stay in touch year after year.
We would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Consolation Farms, Adams Breezy Hill Farm Restaurant, Janice Mason Art Museum, the Princeton Art Guild, and our workshop leads, including Hannah Almon Matangos, Lauren Kallmeyer, Rae Strobel, Lexie Erskine, Nicole Garneau, Papa Tom Morton, Carrick Moon, Maria Eskerden, Mark Kidd, & Liz Hammonds.
The weekend was thoughtfully planned by our Third Weekend Planning Committee, including Robin Verson, Contea Allan, Lauren Kallmeyer, Rae Strobel, Jenny Williams, Lexi Erskine, and John David Hurley, in collaboration with RUX staff Maggie Goodman, Hannah Almon Matangos, and Savannah Barrett.
Third Weekend is made possible by Kentucky Foundation for Women, and our funding partners at W.L. Lyons Brown Foundation, Fund for the Arts, Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Performing Arts, and the many businesses, organizations, and individual Kentuckians who support our work. We hope to see you next year!