Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community

03/31/2026

*NEW RETREAT ANNOUNCED*

Join us for a beautiful spring weekend, June 5-7! Local artist, Claudia Giannini, will guide participants in a series of simple artistic practices that help us to deeply see plants and nature and the amazing beauty to which we belong. We'll look at how plants and the natural world have been depicted in art through the centuries and how this reflects the thinking of those and our times.

No artistic experience is necessary!

Find all the details and registration on our events page: rollingridge.net/being-with-plants

(Retreat leader, Claudia Giannini, received her MFA from West Virginia University, with specialization in printmaking and photography and has exhibited her work throughout the country. Her 38-year career in the museum field provided extensive experience with both historic and contemporary art. In the last five years, her award-winning work has focused on making mixed-media paintings of the native plants of Appalachia.)

09/23/2025

Happy Autumn! Just a heads up to our hiking and mountain biking friends regarding upcoming trail closures for hunting season. (Any questions can be directed to the Rolling Ridge Conservancy.)

03/19/2025

Our hearts go out to the family of Alta Miller, dear friend and founding member of Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community, at the news of her passing. Alta and her husband, Dabney Miller, were among the original families who—along with their faith communities (Partner Groups)—met and camped on the land regularly beginning in 1976. They gradually constructed most of the buildings, community homes, and gardens that comprise RRSRC today.

Every November we've looked forward to catching up with Alta, who never failed to attend Annual Meeting. She was as eager to hear about happenings here on the mountain as she was to share her own stories from the early days of Rolling Ridge Conservancy. We will always remember Alta’s smile, her kindness, and her wisdom.

In the words of her loving family, "Alta’s greatest joy came from being with others. She loved to dance, enjoyed singing, watching movies, attending concerts, being in book groups, holidays with family, and had a passion for the outdoors. Alta will be remembered for her giving and kind spirit, her enduring love for family and friends, her outspoken advocacy for those most in need, and steadfast devotion to service to others, and of course for her crab cakes and deviled eggs. Her children, grandchildren, and extended family will miss her greatly.

A celebration of Alta’s life will be held at 11 am on March 29 at The Village Church, Greenspring Senior Living Community at 7420 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, VA. The interment of ashes will be in early summer at the Harmony Grove Baptist Church Cemetery at 7722 General Puller Hwy, Locust Hill, VA 23092.

For those wishing to make a gift in memory of Alta, please consider a donation to the Rolling Ridge Study Retreat at 691 Christ Church Road, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 or online at rollingridge.net/donate."

03/18/2025

*NEW RETREAT ANNOUNCED*

Being with Plants: Seeing Nature with Art retreat // May 30 – June 1

Join local artist, Claudia Giannini, in a series of simple artistic practices that help us to deeply see plants, nature, and the amazing beauty to which we belong. Explore the ways plants and the natural world have been depicted in art through the centuries and how this reflects the thinking of those and our times.

No artistic experience necessary!

More info and registration details can be found on the event page linked below!

May 30 - June 1 // Throughout the weekend we will participate in a series of simple artistic practices that help us to deeply see plants and nature and the amazing beauty to which we belong.

01/22/2025

There's nothing like a January snowstorm to get us dreaming about springtime greens! If you're looking to learn more about local forests, you'll definitely want to check out Luke's new offerings for The Wilderness School at Rolling Ridge:

🍃Tulip Poplar Bark Basket Workshop // Saturday, June 7

🍃March Foraging & Wild Plant ID Workshop // Saturday, March 22

🍃April Foraging & Wild Plant ID Workshop // Saturday, April 12

More details and registration details can be found at our events page: rollingridge.net/events

12/05/2024

In light of Joel's passing this week, we would like to extend an invitation to friends and family to come and begin a time of remembrance and sharing together: A fire will be laid Thursday evening and kept burning until Saturday morning to hold space for those who wish to remember Joel together.

This is an open invitation for your grief, your stories, songs, and poems to be shared. There will be a group consistantly holding space from morning to evening on Friday. Visitation from the Blunk family should not be expected but will be a gift as they are drawn to the fire. The fire will be gently brought to a close late Saturday morning.

Updated: The fire will be kept in the yard behind Kristen and Joel's home in the residential community.

Any questions can be directed to [email protected]

Love and light to you all

12/03/2024

On the afternoon of Sunday, December 1, we said goodbye to our dear friend, neighbor and community member, Joel Blunk.

Joel and Kristen joined Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community in 2021, infusing life here with much laughter, poetry and song. Together, along with their three sons Andy, Nate, and Clay, they navigated the ups and downs of Joel's cancer diagnoses since the spring of 2023.

This loss is felt deeply by many. May Kristen and the rest of the family feel the love and support of the wide community that has been touched by their love and Joel's beautiful walk through this life.

10/17/2024

Come enjoy a beautiful October day, volunteering in the woods. Followed immediately by a foraging walk led by Rolling Ridge Conservancy's own, Luke Bauer! (Free to all volunteers)

You can find all the details at rollingridgeconservancy.org/volunteer

09/23/2024

One spot remains for this year's Nature and Soul retreat, led by good friends of Study Retreat: Lindsay McLaughlin, Cheryl Hellner, and Jim Hall.

Life on the Edge: Fierce love and wild wisdom for dark times // October 25-27 // Come wander the wild land of Rolling Ridge; Participate in ceremony and council.

More information and registration details can be found on the Friends of Silence website: https://www.friendsofsilence.net/life-on-the-edge-2024

(Artwork by Doug Van Houten)

08/12/2024

Calling all creatives and nature enthusiasts! Join basketmaker, Luke Bauer, to explore a weaving style that lets you incorporate movement in your design (a lot like pottery!) and add accent colors by using multiple plant species in your basket.

We will meet several local plants in the woods and meadow that can be harvested and prepared for twining. Then we will walk through the technique and have the opportunity to create a basket or two in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Info and registration can be found on our events page: rollingridge.net/twined-basket-workshop

All experience levels are welcome, and youth are welcome to attend with the supervision of an accompanying adult (free for ages 12 and under).

07/04/2024

There's still time to register for this inspiring, relaxing, and informative weekend retreat! Are you ready to explore some art this summer? Reserve your spot today!

*NEW RETREAT ANNOUNCED*

The Art of Mandala weekend retreat // August 9–11

Join local artist, Claudia Giannini, to discover how different cultures (such as Tibetan and Native American) use mandalas to heal, inspire and connect us to our true nature and the cosmos. Participants will then make their own personal mandalas using paint and collage techniques.

No artistic experience necessary!

More info and registration details can be found on the event page rollingridge.net/the-art-of-mandala