Felting at Camp Judy Layne
I recently told you about preparing for volunteering at Girl Scout camp. I have returned from Camp Judy Layne in Kentucky where I taught eco printing and four sessions of wet felting. It was a blast and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and introduced wet felting to camp.
Before we went to camp, Debbie (right) invited us to her cabin on Lake Cumberland. When Susan (left), Dennis and I arrived there was a big sign on the cabin. This is an old joke having to do with plaques at camp where I signed my name really large (even on plaques I wasn’t supposed to be on).
Debbie who is not at all “arts and crafty” made this sign to make me laugh.
We went on Curt’s (Debbie’s husband) boat and had a great time on a gorgeous day.
Dennis (my husband) went fishing with Curt and John (Susan’s husband) and he was the only one who caught a fish. The stay at the cabin was very relaxing in preparation for the craziness of camp the following week.
We all got camp shirts when we arrived and here is the staff and volunteers for the first session of camp on Sunday afternoon.
On Monday morning, staff and volunteers are encouraged to wear muu muus. Here we are on Moo Moo Monday!
After breakfast on Monday, I helped Poecat (the arts and crafts director) and we eco printed some book covers for small books that the campers were creating. I was concerned the eco printing wouldn’t be successful but I was happy with the prints. The campers learned how to make a folded 8 page book (from an 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper) and then used waxed linen thread and the pamphlet stitch to attach their covers to the books.
Monday night is crazy hat dinner so here we are in the dining hall with our hats. Look closely to see my hat 😉 At camp we have camp names, mine was Montana, and then we had Mac and Snooz. Mac and Snooz were teaching a unit of girls to play guitar which was called Treble in the Trees.
The next day was crazy sock day. Mac got us matching “friend” socks that hold hands. Ramblr is to the right of me. She stayed with us at the Air BNB cabin just outside of camp.
Then on to my four felting sessions, two on Tuesday and two on Wednesday. The first three groups were smaller but then the last group was 18-20 campers (10-11 years old).
I started them out with batts that I had made at home (packed into a large suitcase and brought on the plane) and then had them add the design on top.
I wanted them all to create different designs. The first group listened to music and created a piece inspired by the music. The next was inspired by “fauvist” landscapes as I had a bunch of crazy colors. The third group made portraits and the last group their favorite flower.
We had two hours for each session and the girls did a great job. Everyone ended up with a piece of felt that was holding together. Yay!
Here’s the Treble in the Trees group with their creations.
These are the CIT’s (counselors in training) with their landscapes.
This group was the theatre group who gave a show at the end about llamas.
And here is the final group that created their favorite flower. Didn’t they all do a great job?
For Wednesday night, it was crazy hair dinner. I made these wool dreads for us to wear and we sang a ukulele rendition of Three Little Birds. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a video of our performance 🙁
And don’t the men rock the dreads? Curt and Dennis at the Lake Cumberland cabin.
Snooz and Mac presenting the signed guitar to hang on the dining hall with the first session of Treble in the Trees. Here’s a link to their performance:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1234964726359457
And a link to the drama performance:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1002727975461627
If you want to see more photos of what’s happening at camp, you can view them here. You’ll have to scroll down to the first week photos (June 7-12) to see our session.
https://www.facebook.com/CampJudyLayne
Here is an award that we made for Kat, the camp cook. She works so hard to provide meals for all the campers, volunteers and staff. Billie was the cook for many years during the time I was a camper and staff member.
And to show that I was still paying attention to the beauty of nature, here’s a moth I photographed while we were setting up the music performance.
A good time was had by all but we were a bit worn out. Here’s our new shirts for this year. Hopefully, I will be able to go back next summer!






























16 thoughts on “Felting at Camp Judy Layne”
The campers all look like they’re having terrific fun and the felting seems to have worked extremely well. You really packed those felting sessions in – it’s no wonder you were worn out by the end. You clearly put lots of work into the whole event – both in your advanced preparation and your work at the camp itself – and it definitely looks as if it paid off. Well done!
Thanks Lindsay, we had a great time and I hope that the campers enjoyed wet felting. It was good to spend time at one of my favorite places.
What a camp and what organisation behind the success! The felting the campers achieved is wonderful – well done Ruth for passing on the skill so well.
Yes there was obviously a lot of hard work gone into this camp but the rewards for campers and staff alike appear to have been very enjoayble and so worth it.
This post made us smile – you can see happiness in every photo.
Thanks Ladies, camp is definitely a happy place. The camp organizers and directors are great which makes things run smoothly. Glad it made you smile 😊
Yes what a lot of Happy Campers you all were. So much hard work and fun. I was smiling too right from the first image to the end. Hope you have a chance to have a good rest Ruth, lots of laughter is great and helps to keep going – till you stop. Plenty of memories to see you through to next year – hope to hear that you go then too.
Ann
Thanks Ann, I have finally gotten used to the time change and getting my energy back. But it was worth it and I plan on going back next year. Thinking of new craft activities for the future 😁
What an experience for both the adults and the young people Ruth! The American summer camps are well known here in Ireland. My daughter Katie got the opportunity to teach dance in one back when she was at college and it was quite formative for her, with friends she still keeps in contact with.
As tutors you all look like you had a blast (I love the friends socks !!!). A real testiment to your teaching skills to work with the four groups and for each of them to have produced beautiful pictures of felt – great pieces and memories to take home (you won’t be forgotten and perhaps some may catch the felting bug in years to come). The eco printing pieces are beautiful.
The guys look like they had a fabulous time too.
I hope you get to go back next year.
Helene x
Thanks Helene, one of the best things about camp is the lifelong friendships. It’s great that your daughter experienced that. Hopefully, just a little of the felting bug got passed on. I was proud of the effort the campers put into it.
Oh my goodness, what a fantastic, uplifting post Ruth! The joy on everyone’s faces says it all. It must have taken some organising but you and your friends obviously had a blast too. Loved the dreadlocks and the socks and once I’d found my magnifying glass I even saw your “hat”🤣
Hoping some of those young feltmakers have caught the bug and go on to develop their skills further.
Thanks Karen, we had a wonderful time. Glad you appreciate the dreadlocks, it was definitely our silliest look. And yes, the hat was miniscule 😜
I hope I did set someone on to a felting journey.
A bit worn out is putting it mildly!
Don’t want to discourage anyone from participating 😜
😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
🎶I know a place…🌳🔥🏕️
Thanks Spike, it was so good to be back!
Rather you than me in a tent full of children/young girls/’yoof’ of today Ruth. You seemed to be in your element, and thoroughly having huge fun. The felt activities produced lovely work too. The star has to be that moth – stunning.
Well the good thing Marie, is that we didn’t stay in the tents/cabins overnight with the girls. We had an Air BNB about 5 minutes outside of camp where we spent our evenings/nights. That way we had regular beds, air conditioning, our own snacks/food and time away. So that it made it much easier to survive.
I agree, the moth was truly beautiful.