North Carolina
Arts at Montreat: Choose Your Own Learning Adventure
Program No. 25731RJ
See More Photos
Arts at Montreat: Choose Your Own Learning Adventure
Arts at Montreat: Choose Your Own Learning Adventure
1 of 11
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
14 meals (
5B, 4L, 5D
)
12 expert-led lectures
11 hands-on experiences
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Montreat, NC
Arts at Montreat: Choose Your Own Learning Adventure
Aug 15 - Aug 20, 2027
Program Number
25731
Day
1
Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Montreat, NC
Meals:
D
Stay:
Assembly Inn
Activity Note
Inn check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your name tag.
Afternoon:
Welcome to Beginning Metalsmithing! Unleash your inner artist and dive into the exciting world of jewelry metalsmithing! Join us in a vibrant and friendly setting where creativity knows no bounds. We’ve got everything you need right here in the classroom: tools, supplies, and a sprinkle of inspiration. Whether you’re a complete beginner or just curious, you’ll be amazed at the incredible skills you’ll develop throughout the week. Starting with wire and sheet metal, you’ll embark on a journey to design, texture, forge, solder, and finish stunning, unique jewelry pieces that are sure to impress your loved ones. Let your creativity shine! This program requires the ability to see well up-close (magnifying glasses may be needed), and there will be hammering and other loud noises that may impact those with hearing aids. Each student will have a table at which to be seated and work, but the classroom will be set up in stations and will mean students need to be able to move frequently and stand for periods of time during demonstrations and completing tasks. Note: You will share the week with other Road Scholar programs. Be sure to check out what's offered this week to see if you have friends who might want to join you for a different program. 4:00-5:30 p.m.: After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Feel free to relax in your room, meet and enjoy fellowship with other participants in the beautiful lobby, or stretch your legs with a walk around the campus before dinner.
Dinner:
Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Evening:
Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will also meet the instructor. This is a Road Scholar Retreats program. Programming at Retreat locations includes opportunities for light morning exercise, interaction with members of the local community, simple communal meals, and evening entertainment. Sleeping and dining facilities are in one building, with approximately 300 yards walking required. On some evenings, there will be entertainment such as a concert, dance, or storyteller followed by opportunities for fellowship in the lobby of the Inn. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll finish up around 8:30 p.m. with some “get to know you” activities and then have refreshments and fellowship in the lobby. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Introduction to Classroom Stations & Tools, Overview
Location:
Montreat, NC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Assembly Inn
Activity Note
Studio space may be outside of main building, requiring walking about 500 yards. For beginning students. Requires the ability to see well up close (magnifying glasses may be needed) and hammering and other loud noise may impact those with hearing aids. Students will have tables to be seated, but the classroom is set up in stations and students need to be able to move frequently and stand for periods of time during demonstrations and completing tasks.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Morning:
We will gather in the classroom on the third floor of Freeland Hall (entering through the street level with a ramp). We’ll start the morning by showing the tools and supplies on the student benches and at different stations around the room. You’ll find a variety of hammers, pliers, metal shears, jewelry saws, cleaning and finishing tools, and torching supplies. We’ll also chat about safety and how to use fire, chemicals, and sharp tools safely. Then, we’ll dive into the practical part and learn how to anneal metal using the torches, and finally, we’ll move on to cutting and texturing the annealed metal.
Lunch:
Lunch is served from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Afternoon:
In this session, you will explore the art of metalworking by shaping and connecting pieces using cold connections like jump rings, rivets, ear wires, and wire wrapping. The fun part? You’ll get to design and create a pair of earrings or a simple pendant! An elective walk around Montreat is offered after class ends.
Dinner:
In the dining room.
Evening:
Our evening program will feature a local musician/band or a storyteller. The remainder of the evening is at leisure, with activities in the lobby of the Inn for fellowship.
Day
3
Panel Bracelet – Using Skills, Tools & Techniques
Location:
Montreat, NC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Assembly Inn
Activity Note
Studio space may be outside of main building, requiring walking about 500 yards. For beginning students. Requires the ability to see well up close (magnifying glasses may be needed) and hammering and other loud noise may impact those with hearing aids. Students will have tables to be seated, but the classroom is set up in stations and students need to be able to move frequently and stand for periods of time during demonstrations and completing tasks.
Breakfast:
In the dining room.
Morning:
Today, we’re diving into creating a panel bracelet that’ll test our new skills. The fun part is mixing and matching different techniques to make each panel stand out. We’ll explore cold connections, soldering, forging, forming, and using sheet and wire elements. We’ll chat about design ideas, link options, clasps, closures, and sizing. We’ll also show some cool examples of what we can include on the panels—think domes and bowls, negative space, wire elements, metal stamps, and rivets. With the skills we picked up on Day 2 and the introduction of soldering (hot connections), we’ll start crafting our own unique designs. The morning’s goal is to brainstorm a design, cut the panel backgrounds to size, and get started on the individual panels.
Lunch:
In the dining room.
Afternoon:
Let’s kick things off with a quick check-in to chat about any questions, challenges, or “a-ha” moments you’ve had so far. Then, you can keep working on your individual bracelet panels. (Chocolate might just spark some creative inspiration!) We’ll also talk about sanding, filing, and giving our pieces those final touches to make them shine.
Dinner:
In the dining room.
Evening:
Evening program from 7:00-8:00 p.m.; games/cards and TV available in the lobby for fellowship throughout the evening.
Day
4
Panel Bracelet, Free Time
Location:
Montreat, NC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Assembly Inn
Activity Note
Studio space may be outside of main building, requiring walking over rocks and roots with uneven terrain about 500 yards. For beginning students. Requires the ability to see well up close (magnifying glasses may be needed) and hammering and other loud noise may impact those with hearing aids. Students will have tables to be seated, but the classroom is set up in stations and students need to be able to move frequently and stand for periods of time during demonstrations and completing tasks.
Breakfast:
In the dining room.
Morning:
We will continue work on the panels and check in with everyone regarding plans for linking the panels together and dive into forming the links and clasps. Remember, everyone works at their own speed!
Lunch:
In the dining room.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
In the dining room.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Patinas & Tumbling
Location:
Montreat, NC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Assembly Inn
Activity Note
Studio space may be outside of main building, requiring walking over rocks and roots with uneven terrain about 500 yards. For beginning students. Requires the ability to see well up close (magnifying glasses may be needed) and hammering and other loud noise may impact those with hearing aids. Students will have tables to be seated, but the classroom is set up in stations and students need to be able to move frequently and stand for periods of time during demonstrations and completing tasks.
Breakfast:
In the dining room.
Morning:
Wrap up building your bracelet panels by lunchtime. We’ll watch a demonstration on making links and clasps; that way, we can dive into links, clasps, patinas, and tumbling in the afternoon.
Lunch:
In the dining room.
Afternoon:
Once we have completed the connections and clasps on our bracelet, we’ll discuss finishing touches to ensure they’re sturdy, comfy, and polished. We’ll then treat our bracelets to a Liver of Sulfur patina, tumble them in an abrasive medium, and finish with steel shot to give them a burnished and hardened surface and edge. Tumbling may continue Friday morning.
Dinner:
In the dining room.
Evening:
Our evening program will feature Bobbie Pell, the Moonstone Minstrel, who will share some wonderful stories with us. Afterwards, prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Wrap-up, Show & Tell, Program Concludes
Location:
Montreat, NC
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Class ends by 10:15 a.m.; check-out by 10:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
In the dining room.
Morning:
We will polish our finished pieces and sign them with an etching pen. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Aug 15 - Aug 20, 2027 Itinerary Differences:
Metalsmithing for Beginners