We are very excited about our May 2026 EFMLS Wildacres Workshop. We now have fixed dates for our workshop from Monday May 11 to Sunday May 17, 2026.
We also have a terrific line-up of classes and instructors: Cabbing with Rick Marshall; Faceting with Bernie Emery; Stone Inlay (not intarsia) with Chuck Bruce; Fused Glass with Carol Zodrow; Precious Metal Clay- Silver with Susan Brooks; Viking Knit with Val Johnson; Advanced Wire-Wrapping with Jacolyn Campbell; and Geology with Dr. Mike Wise.
All classes will be now 4-day classes. This will strengthen and unite classes, without having new students come in later, and will make registration choices easier.
Our 2026 EFMLS Speaker-in-Residence will be Robert Weldon. He is one of the world’s most prominent gem and jewelry photographers and a respected journalist with over 35 years in the trade. His images and stories have enriched numerous articles in Gems & Gemology and other publications and books, with over forty of his photos gracing the journal’s cover. I am sure that all our Wildacres participants will be fascinated with Robert’s photos and stories from all over the world. He is a kind and gentle soul, with a great sense of humor, and is thrilled to be able to come to Wildacres and share his passion.
The Registration fee for 2026 will be $525. This covers class tuition, room with bath (double occupancy) and three full meals per day. Additional materials class costs will range, depending on the class’s materials needs. All that information will soon be on the EFMLS/ Wildacres website.
To all club Presidents, please consider offering your club members a scholarship to Wildacres. At the Chesapeake Gem & Mineral Society, interested participants put their name in a hat, and the scholarship winner is drawn during the Holiday party. Quoting longtime Wildacres participant and Committee member Lynne Emery, “once someone has been there, they get ‘hooked’ and will then convince others what a fabulous adventure and opportunity it is.”
Looking forward to seeing all of you “On The Mountain” in 2026.
All my best,
Helen Serras-Herman
EFMLS Wildacres Committee Chairman and Speaker-in-Residence Coordinator
