2023 GHOST RANCH WORKSHOPS ~ contact Ghost Ranch to register

Hiking the Harmonies of the Land  –   May  2023

Welcome Letter, Items to Bring and Sample Itinerary.

Hello  and  welome  to ‘Hiking the Harmonies of the Land’. My name is Connie B Burkhart and I am thrilled to have you join me for this unique experience as we hike and explore the heart and soul of Ghost Ranch.  With over 25 years of instructing various workshops at Ghost Ranch and decades of leading wilderness/archaeology/geology expeditions with other organizations through the 4-corners region, I am excited to have the opportunity to share this amazing location in the high desert of northern New Mexico with you. Ghost Ranch is indeed a place that begs for exploration, so here we go!

This workshop will be a blend of hiking, stories of the land and it’s people, a campfire, a visit to the museums at the ranch, and adventure through exploration of rare sites of Ghost Ranch and the surrounding area.

You will be led off the marked trails with stories of the history, geology and archaeology of the region. Hikes will be between 2 to 5 miles in one day. You will be on uneven terrain over 6,500ft elevation. 

Time will be given to find quiet space in the wilderness, where the experience is often more about the journey rather than the destination we are heading toward. There will be time to breathe and sit in silence to hear the songs of the desert on the wind.  We will pay attention to the ancient stories of the land and people and there will be opportunities to explore and discover the treasures of this land, possibly finding fossils or artifacts that speak of ancient days.

The day you are scheduled to arrive, we look forward to meeting you at evening orientation after dinner where we will circle together and discuss the days to come. Our adventures will start the following morning with an overview of the geology of northern New Mexico and a walk through our museums of anthropology and paleontology. We will then hit the trail and eat lunch on the trail. We usually arrive back at the ranch around 3pm. Depending on the weather we may be away from the dining hall for lunch on multiple days, which means that we will pack our sack lunches after breakfast before we head out in the van for our destination of the day. Of course food is provided for us, but if you want extra 'snacks' on the trail you may bring them along. When we have lunch out on the trail we should arrive back to the ranch around 3pm so you will have some free time before dinner. During the week you might enjoy the O’Keeffe Landscape Tour or a horse back ride – find tour or ride info at ghostranch.org

Please find below a list of things that would be good to consider having for this adventure.  Some items are available to purchase at the Ghost Ranch trading post, down the road at Bodes store or at the Family Dollar store you’ll see as you near Abiquiu. Also included below is a SAMPLE itinerary. Weather will dictate our final itinerary and length of time out on trails. Hikes will range from 2 to 5 miles with spring storms being our main focus of concern and safety.

We are going to have a wonderful experience together.  I look forward to sharing some of my most cherished areas and stories of the ranch with you. Please don't hesitate to contact me for any other information that you may need.  

Take Care and enjoy your day,

Connie Burkhart ~ 505 484-9887  rdrckwmn@msn.com

connieburkhart.com 

ITEMS TO BRING FOR 

HIKING  THE  HARMONIES  OF  THE  LAND

Multiple water bottles for long hikes

Flashlight or head lamp

Sunscreen

Bug Spray

A hat or bandana

Good shoes for off trail hikes. Heavy duty tennis shoes are fine.

At least one long sleeve shirt (for sun protection if needed)

Rain poncho or jacket

Light weight fleece or jacket – wind and evenings can get chilly

Baggies & TP for sometimes needed ‘bush breaks’ out on the trail

Lip balm

Sunglasses are a great idea too

Camera / Phone : A note about cell phones. We know a lot of us use our phone as a camera, but now that there is more phone coverage at the ranch and the surrounding area, we ask that you turn off your ring and/or notification of texts while on the trails. It can be a HUGE distraction in the wilderness.  Thank you! 

SAMPLE ITINERARY:

Daily Options may vary due to weather or ranch road access

DAY 1 / ARRIVAL DAY:  Evening orientation AFTER dinner and a break out circle to meet one another and begin our journey together. We'll go over the schedule for the week as well.

DAY 2: 9 am – 3 pm Pack a lunch after breakfast then meet at 9am. Geology overview lecture, then hike. Bring your water, lunch, rain gear if needed and prepare to be out in the wild and return to the ranch for the afternoon free time.

LECTURE - Where am I? A brief orientation of the lay of the land, the rocks, the rivers, and the volcanoes  - let the stories begin.

HIKE - Visit one of several AWESOME destinations. Pack a lunch. Prepare for good things!

EVENING – Free

DAY 3: 9 am – Noon: 

HIKE - Out on one of the spectacular trails and locations - back for lunch at the ranch. Afternoon free.

EVENING – Campfire,  S’mores  (weather  permitting) &  Bluegrass  coffee  house

DAY 4:9 am - 3 pm Pack a lunch, bring your rain gear, water, etc and prepare to be out in the wild until about 3pm.

CIRCLE UP/ 4:30 pm- Giving Circle before dinner

EVENING  ~ Bluegrass  Concert

DAY 5:  DEPARTURE after Breakfast – I know, I always want it to last longer too! 

FIRE  IT  UP!  ART  WELDING WELCOME  LETTER  /  July 2023

Get ready! Get set! Get fired up for your fun-filled class of creativity, sparks and the enticing smell of burning metal.  We have all the tools you need and we delight in helping you safely and efficiently cut, form and work metal.  For our class, dress in layers using a cotton long sleeve cotton shirt to put over your T-shirt when needed and always wear long pants and closed toed leather shoes. A cap or bandana is also usual to protect your hair and hold your goggles on your head when not in use. Bring clothes you won’t mind getting dirty or burning small holes in. People always admire our outfits at every meal! Please bring your own snug fitting leather ‘deer skin weight’ work gloves that fit properly for better dexterity for most parts of your work. Check out gloves at a home improvement box store or online shopping option to help keep the cost down. We do provide large, heavy welding gloves for your bigger spark throwing activities as well as your eye and ear protectors, aprons, Oxy/acetylene and mig and stick welders, plasma cutters, power grinders, scrap metals, tools and personal work stations.

Some folks like to bring their own metal treasures to incorporate in a project or share with the class, but it is not a necessity.  We ALWAYS accept metal donations to our ‘treasure pile’ if you bring some scrap and want to leave something behind for the next ‘welding bug bitten’ victim that’s great. Speaking of bugs, every year is different, but it’s good to bring some bug repellent as swatting a mosquito while holding a lit torch does not usually turn out well for the insect, you or the welder next to you. Also remember that you will take home what you design and build, so it has to fit in the overhead bin, under the seat, in the bed of the truck or on top of your vehicle. Create responsibly. 

Our studio space for our sessions will be located in Longhouse near the Kitchen Mesa/Box Canyon trail head. This amazing secluded space allows us to be as loud and obnoxious as only welders can be without distractions and it’s only a few minutes walk to the dining hall. When you arrive at Ghost Ranch on Sunday afternoon check in at the Welcome Center first. Dinner is from 5:30 - 6:30 and then we will gather at 6:45pm for general ranch orientation and first class meeting. We will not weld the day you arrive, but we will briefly discuss what to expect for the coming day when we ‘Fire It Up’! We work from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Thursday with  a break from noon to 1:30pm for rest and lunch. Friday we work from 9 a.m. to just after lunch to finish up our pieces and clean up the work stations. After the area is cleaned on Friday afternoon, as a group we will transport and set up our creations for your after dinner Friday Art Show. This show is an anticipated event for the culmination of the week’s work. Please plan on taking your creations with you after the art show on Friday evening, that is, unless you sell your piece to an admirer! 
We anxiously await your arrival at the ranch and look forward to continuing the wretched welder legacy! (We will share that story during class) Travel Safely and get ready for a great experience surrounded by the incredible inspiring beauty of Ghost Ranch.
Take Care, and please feel free to contact us with any additional information you may need regarding Fire it Up! Art Welding!
Connie B. Burkhart Rdrckwmn@ msn.com
David KadlecDavidkadlec109@gmail.com

SENIOR  HIGH  INITIATIVE  ~  WELD  AND  WANDER  /  July 2023

Hello and welcome to Senior High Initiative, Weld and Wander.  My name is Connie B. Burkhart and I can’t wait to share this week with you. I am a metal design artist from Abiquiu, NM and I’m known as The Dinosaur Lady because I worked for many years collecting fossils at Ghost Ranch and doing educational programs around Colorado and New Mexico. I teach geology, history, archaeology, hiking, music, and of course Art Welding at Ghost Ranch and I look forward to sharing some great stories around these subjects with you during our time together. Get ready for a week full of varied experiences, including learning to weld, walks to special places on the ranch, boating at the lake, and sharing some stories and songs around a campfire. 

The week will end with an art show featuring work from all the classes at the ranch including our class!  

First off it is very important to bring the right clothes for your welding, walking and boating portion of the week.    WELDING DRESS CODE: You’ll need to have long pants to wear welding.  They should not be anything tight fitting and synthetic like leggings.  Some people get thrift store pants to pull on during class, or wear older jeans or cargo like long pants for protection from sparks. Also closed toed shoes are a must.  Be aware sparks can burn marks in shoes, so your brand new designer footwear may not be the best choice for welding, unless of course you want a good story to tell! If you can bring good fitting gloves, like deerskin or leather gardening gloves that really helps with dexterity needs.   We have heavy welding gloves for you to use when needed, but you will be better off with a pair of light weight leather gloves for most of your work. Many people like to bring or have an old long sleeve shirt available for use with the plasma cutter or cutting torch too.  For safety reasons you may miss out on firing up your torch if you are not properly dressed for welding.  HIKING ITEMS: For our short hikes, comfortable shoes to walk in would be the best.  We will be on and off trails, so keep that in mind when packing shoes. Water bottles are a must for being at Ghost Ranch, as is sunblock.   Sometimes a small day pack is a good idea to haul your things around and keep your hands free.   SWIMMING/WATERFRONT: There will be a day of taking boats out on the lake, so bring your water wear to enjoy that and some pool time when you want to.  Water shoes or sandals are great to have at the lake.   YOUTH ACTIVITIES & CAMPFIRE: Weather permitting we will have a campfire with s’mores and time to enjoy the evening at the ranch. Also, during the week there is a ranch wide open mic ‘coffee house’ event so you can offer your talents there after activities are over. 

So, that’s about it I think.  If you have any questions you may contact me.  We’ll have a fun unique week together and you will have down time to just hang with friends or family, too.  Ghost Ranch is a place where magic happens.   Connie Burkhart  rdrckwmn@msn.com 505  494-9887

HEALING  THROUGH  HIKING  /  SEP  3-7,  2023  -  COURSE  DESCRIPTION

Since ancient times, being in the wilderness has provided a space to contemplate and heal from experiences in the journey of life that have wounded our spirit, soul or body.  Sometimes all it takes is to be surrounded by beauty and wonder out on a trail to acknowledge and release what hinders our ability to move on and live to our full potential.  During our time together you will be led with stories of geology, archaeology and history while we discuss how the unseen world is especially strong at this ‘thin place’ known as Ghost Ranch.  With this full immersion into the wilderness, we will stop on the trail for times of silence or listening to the sound of a native flute on the wind. Hikes will range from 2 to 4 miles at 6,500ft elevation on uneven terrain with some light climbing over boulders, inclines and sandstone surfaces. You are invited to this circle as we gather and find a place to release and restore peace to the soul.  

WELCOME  LETTER  & SUPPLIES  LIST

Hello  and welcome to Healing Through Hiking. My name is Connie B Burkhart and I am honored to have you join me for this unique experience as we hike and explore the heart and soul of Ghost Ranch while acknowledging areas within ourselves that need a tender touch that only the wilderness can bring. With over 25 years of instructing various workshops at Ghost Ranch and decades of leading wilderness/archaeology/geology expeditions with other organizations through the 4-corners region, I am excited to have the opportunity to share this amazing location in the high desert of northern New Mexico with you. Ghost Ranch is indeed a place that begs for exploration and introspection. It is a place of peace.

You will be led off the marked trails to unique locations with stories of the history, geology and archaeology of the region. Hikes will be between 2 to 4 miles in one day on uneven terrain over 6,500ft elevation. Time will be given to find quiet space in the wilderness, where the experience is often more about the journey rather than the destination we are heading toward. There will be time to breathe and sit in silence to hear the songs of the desert on the wind.  

We will circle up daily as a group to safely open up conversations for those that wish to share with the group. I believe in organic experiences brought out by the unseen spirit and goodness in people. For me, being in the wilderness has allowed me to heal and walk through deep loss and pain. Sometimes this happens without words.  Sometimes this happens while listening to others, but always there is a sense of peace when we gather together in circles of understanding. 
I look forward to our time together.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions. Take care and safe travels!

Connie B.  Burkhart

505 484-9887

rdrckwmn@msn.com

ITEMS TO BRING FOR 

HEALING  IN HIKING 

Multiple water bottles for long hikes

Flashlight or head lamp

Sunscreen

Bug Spray

A hat or bandana

Good shoes for off trail hikes. Heavy duty tennis shoes are fine.

At least one long sleeve shirt (for sun protection if needed)

Rain poncho or jacket

Light weight fleece or jacket – wind and evenings can get chilly

Baggies & TP for sometimes needed ‘bush breaks’ out on the trail

Lip balm

Sunglasses are a great idea too

Camera / Phone : A note about cell phones. We know a lot of us use our phone as a camera, but now that there is more phone coverage at the ranch and the surrounding area, we ask that you turn off your ring and/or notification of texts while on the trails. It can be a HUGE distraction in the wilderness. 

WELDING  FOR   WOMEN  /  MASTER’S  WEEK 2023 ~  COURSE  DESCRIPTION

Join our “welding-in-the-round” circle of women and experience the thrill of metal art welding surrounded by the incredible beauty of Ghost Ranch. Metal design artist Connie B Burkhart will teach the basics of oxygen acetylene welding, brazing and plasma cutting to make metal sculpture inspired by the feminine fire within. Beginners are encouraged, but all levels are welcome. We will focus first on smaller work creating your pieces using scrap metal and other materials such as glass beads or old jewelry to adorn your designs.  All materials are provided, but we suggest you bring your own light weight snug fitting leather gloves. Imagine the thrill of melting metal and letting your creative juices flow with this unique art form.

WELDING  FOR  WOMEN  ~  WELCOME LETTER & DETAILED WORKSHOP INFO
MASTER’S  WEEK  /  SEPTEMBER 2023

Hello and welcome to Welding for Women during Master’s Week at Ghost Ranch! This is the second year this workshop has been offered and it promises to be a week filled with art, laughter and a space to create from the heart. I have instructed welding at Ghost Ranch for over 25 years and I have always wanted to combine this wonderful art form with mindful creation using stories and experiences that feed the soul.  We will focus on some intentional projects and designs using gas welding and plasma cutting. This class is for all levels, but also wonderful for first timers working with welding torches. We will focus on smaller projects to fine tune the amazing process of welding and brazing to join metal. In our work we will use power tools like a metal chop saw, varied types of grinders and drills to shape metal. Our other course called ‘Fire It Up! Art Welding’ (taught in October and/or July) adds in electric welding options like MIG and stick for larger heavy metal designs. Both classes complement each other and although there is some overlap, ‘Welding For Women’ will offer an integrative experience that includes stories of some of the women in the history of Ghost Ranch as well as the ancient cultures that called this land their home. I find that knowing more about the space and place where you ‘dive into the river of creativity’ sparks the fire of inspiration.  As women, I believe we have feminine fire within that is full of unique insight, strength and understanding that adds to the depth of our artistic creations.

The day after you arrive at the ranch you will learn the basics of oxy/acetylene welding from the ground up as we walk through tank safety and welding procedures. You will be lighting your torch by lunch the first day, so get ready for the fun to begin!   We will hold class in Longhouse by the Kitchen Mesa and Box Canyon trailhead.  Our daily schedule will have two welding sessions - 9am to noon & 1:30 to 4:30. Evenings are free for you to enjoy the ranch. Tuesday - Thursday afternoon sessions are flexible for those who would like to book a tour or be away for a time if desired. Our last day of class we work from 9 a.m. to 3pm when you will finish up those last minute welds and clean up your space in Longhouse. After the area is cleaned we will transport and set up our creations for your after dinner Art Show. This show is an anticipated event for the culmination of the week's work. Please plan on taking your creations with you after the art show ends in the evening, that is, unless you sell your piece to an admirer!  

Now for some logistics and items that will add to your success during the week. It is very important to dress appropriately for class. Please come with your own snug fitting work gloves for our detailed work with the torch.  I use lightweight garden leather gloves I buy through Amazon or other stores like Lowes. Bode’s here in Abiquiu also carries work gloves, but they are expensive compared to what you can find and bring with you. Often, it can be hard finding small women’s work gloves which is irritating!!  The better your light weight gloves fit the more success you’ll have maneuvering the knobs and other tools. We supply heavy large gloves for activities that throw sparks. Long cotton pants are best (leggings are not suitable) and closed toe (leather/like) footwear to protect your legs and feet from sparks and molten metal. T-Shirts are OK but bring a cotton long sleeve shirt to use when you are creating sparks with grinders or other tools. It is fine to work in short sleeves and put your long sleeves on when needed. Another helpful item is a bandana for your head. It helps keep your googles in place especially when you move them up and down as you are working. I’ll provide aprons to protect clothing but be aware, you most likely will get a few holes in what you choose to wear for welding. You will have your own work station area and you may leave things there to have for the week. There are bathrooms close by to change in if you want to wear different things for lunch.

As I mentioned in the course description I will guide you in creating a ‘guardian’ figure. In making this piece you will learn varied processes that are used in creating metal designs as well as taking some time to consider those in your life that have been ‘guides or guardians’ to you. These figures are referring to my signature design called ‘She Who Walks With Me’ that are made mainly from steel (for the base), copper pipe (for the body), and mixed media decorative items. Each figure ranges from about 9”-10” high and they are all unique to how you are called to design them. All materials are provided so you do not need to worry about bringing any scrap metal - that is included in the cost of the class.  The figures are decorated with beads, stones, feathers, and/or other mixed media objects, which will also be provided. However, if you have special decorative items like small stones, jewelry scraps, crystals, etc., you may consider bringing those and incorporating them in your design.  I use a lot of old jewelry I received from my mother and that makes my ‘She Who Walks With Me’ designs even more meaningful when they come to life. You are welcome to bring some of your own things that you may want to use as a design element on your pieces.  I use a variety of items to finish a piece after the welding is done. A supply of ‘fun’ things will be available for class so don’t feel you need to figure it all out before you come.   Also note that this will be only one of the projects during the week and there will be opportunities to make other designs, as inspired. Welding classes have a permanent large scrap pile that workshop participants can pull from for extra materials.



I anxiously await your arrival at Ghost Ranch and look forward to seeing you briefly at the ranch orientation at 6:45pm after dinner on the day you arrive. Our meeting that night will be quick so you can get some rest and know what to expect for the coming day when we gather at 9am in Longhouse. 


I hope this information is helpful for your planning. 
Please feel free to reach out with any other questions that you may have. Travel safely and get ready for a great experience surrounded by the incredible inspiring beauty surrounded by beauty of Ghost Ranch.


Take Care,
Connie B. Burkhart

rdrckwmn@msn.com

ConnieBurkhart.com
505 484-9887
Abiquiudome.com

HIKE  THE  ‘OLOGIES’  ~  October 22 -  27 , 2023

Explore the geology, paleontology, and archaeology of Ghost Ranch through easy to moderate hikes to places that tell the stories of the rocks, the people, and the fossilized life of the past.  Learn how these ‘ologies’ fit together bringing history to life as we set the stage with lectures, time at the museum, and of course adventures out in the field visiting sites and important geologic areas.  Participants must be able to hike at 6,500ft in elevation on uneven terrain carrying a light pack for water and a sack lunch as at least one of our hikes will take us out in the wilderness until early afternoon.  This earth science-based hiking excursion will weave together the stories of time, taking us back to the period when the first dinosaurs roamed the land that is now Ghost Ranch.

WELCOME  LETTER  FOR  HIKE  THE  ‘OLOGIES’

Hello and welcome to Hike the ‘Ologies’. I’m excited to offer this new program which focuses on geology, archaeology and paleontology of Ghost Ranch and the surrounding area.  I have been leading hiking programs at the ranch for over 24 years and although all my events have components of the ‘ologies’, this week with be filled with specific visits to sites and areas of interest to each of the disciplines we are addressing.  
Ghost Ranch boasts amazing sites to study about Triassic life as well as cultural sites where excavations have produced artifacts that are over four thousand years old! Located at the edge of three geologic zones, the rocks of the ranch and nearby Abiquiu tell intriguing stories of the earth’s tectonic movements in North America. When we visit the various sites, we will hike to some locations and drive to others and some days will have multiple stops.  As always, our adventures are weather permitting and we will be spending two days out on trails with sack lunches so we enjoy the full wilderness experience. 
Be prepared to walk/hike 1 to 4 miles over uneven terrain at 6,500ft, although the hikes for this program will be less vigorous than other classes I lead.  Below I have included a list of items that will be good to bring for our time out on the trail.  Hikes will be in the mornings until lunch or longer if we are on our sack lunch days, which are Tuesday and Thursday. If you want to book an afternoon tour or horseback ride with the ranch, Monday and Wednesday are good days to do so. 
Time will be spent in the two museums at Ghost Ranch while we are in class.  There will be some evening opportunities after dinner during the week as well.  Remember, the weather can get chilly and possibly freezing at night in late October.  Every year is different, so check the forecasts before packing your gear!
I look forward to our time together to explore the amazing sites in this beautiful time of year.  Please don’t hesitate to be in contact  with me with any questions. 
Take care and safe travels!

Connie B.  Burkhart

505 484-9887

rdrckwmn@msn.com

ConnieBurkhart.com 

ITEMS TO BRING FOR 

HIKE THE ‘OLOGIES’

Multiple water bottles for long hikes

Flashlight or head lamp

Sunscreen

Jacket

A hat or bandana

Good shoes for off trail hikes. Heavy duty tennis shoes are fine.

At least one long sleeve shirt (for sun protection if needed)

Rain poncho

Baggies & TP for sometimes needed ‘bush breaks’ out on the trail

Lip balm

Sunglasses are a great idea too

Camera / Phone : A note about cell phones. We know a lot of us use our phone as a camera, but now that there is more phone coverage at the ranch and the surrounding area, we ask that you turn off your ring and/or notification of texts while on the trails. It can be a HUGE distraction in the wilderness. 

The week schedule (sample)

SUNDAY: Arrive at the ranch, orientation after dinner and short meet up with the class

MONDAY: Intro lecture on the ‘ologies’. Overview of where we are and what to expect

                 Hike to our first site. Back for lunch at the ranch.

                 EVENING:  Hike to the Coelophysis quarry site.

TUESDAY: Pick up your sack lunch at breakfast for our geology locations. Back by 3pm

                 EVENING: FREE

WEDNESDAY: Museum Time. Hike / archaeology. Back to the ranch for lunch.

                 EVENING: TBD

THURSDAY: Pick up your sack lunch at breakfast. On the trail until 3pm.

                 EVENING: Gathering & wrap up.

FRIDAY: Depart after breakfast.