Winter Adventure 2025
Date
December 27, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Starts 4:00 PM · Ends 12:00 PM
Location
The Y at Watson Woods
Painted Post, NY
Schedule
- International Folk Dance —
All 4 daysCome connect with cultures from around the world through dance. Whether fast or slow, in circles or in lines, serene, joyful, or anything in between, every dance can move us in body, mind, and spirit. Great music, great exercise, great fun, great community! No partner necessary, and absolutely no need to do them "right"!
- Leadership Playground —
All 4 daysWelcome experienced and aspiring leaders! We'll unpack ECRS's magic and emerge with insights, ideas, sharpened skills, and greater self-awareness.
- Chair Yoga —
Days 1–2Stretch your body, relax and feel renewed with Chair Yoga. Yoga poses and exercises done in a chair or standing next to a chair.
- Breathe and Be —
Days 3–4A gentle introduction to mindfulness through breath, easy movement, and self-compassion. You'll explore simple practices to slow down, reconnect, and manage stress. The final session closes with a calming sound bath.
- Sketch 101: From Blank Page to Big Laughs —
All 4 daysTurn your everyday observations into laugh-out-loud sketches! Learn the fundamentals of sketch comedy writing through a proven step-by-step process.
- Sacred Circle Dances —
Days 1–2Circle Dancing is a folk art danced together around a central focus point. These tend to be simpler dances held for a longer period of time, encouraging each of us to sink into the rhythmic movement.
- Games! —
Days 1–2Lots of games! Some new, some old, some active, some quiet, lots of laughter, ALL FUN! For all ages and abilities, with leadership strategies to bring the ECRS spirit into your everyday groups.
- Crafts: Deck the Halls —
Days 1–2Join the merriment as we create décor for our New Year's Eve celebration. Follow preplanned designs or bring your festive imagination.
- Empathy Games —
Days 3–4In this interactive workshop, we'll use empathy games to explore interpersonal connection and support. Each activity builds toward deeper connection and a shared understanding of the meaning of interdependence.
- Joy of Movement: Moving to Heal —
Days 3–4Let's dance and stretch your body's way. Music and dance will be fun, playful, and healing. All levels invited.
- Relax with Board and Word Games —
Days 1–2Enjoy relaxing with friends over new or old games. Play an old favorite, or learn a new game. Bring your own to share!
- Small Scenes —
Days 1–2Using scripts (no memorizing required!) we'll rehearse, perform, and discuss a collection of scenes. Comedy, drama, we have it all. Explore, discover, and create!
- Hat Game —
and
Days 1–2Equal parts ice-breaker, improv lab, and rapid-fire creativity workshop. Every participant writes a brief activity prompt and drops it into a hat — then we bring them to life.
- Improv Games —
Days 3–4Are you ready? No? Perfect! Come make it up as you go. We'll learn a little, play a lot, and laugh too much. No experience needed.
- Explore Your Encore —
Days 3–4Explore your post-career ideas for life with others. Geared to anyone age 50 and older. Leave with new ideas, insights, and an action plan.
- Rock Opera Build —
and
Days 3–4A mini-lab guiding participants through the creative arc of producing an original rock opera — from seed idea to song building. No prior music theory required.
- Children's Program —
All 4 daysWhy should the grown-ups have all the fun? ECRS offers a completely integrated program for children ages 2–11 during two class periods. Children may learn new games, create new crafts, sing silly songs, and more.
Patricia Williams
Folk Dance Instructor
Patricia has led International Folk Dance and Scottish Country Dancing at ECRS for many years, bringing dances from around the world to our community.
View full profile →Kim Neubauer
Leadership Theory
Kim is an award-winning Learning and Development Consultant with expertise in leadership development and career transition. She has supported US Department of State diplomats, USAID development professionals, graduate business students, and Fortune 500 company employees with coaching, workshop facilitation, resume writing and interview preparation.
Kim is a folk dancer, dance musician and a popular guest leader for two Israeli dancing groups.
As a child, Kim enjoyed collecting frogs/tadpoles while absorbing ECRS values, theory and practices well enough to be invited onto the staff by age 18. She has since served on the Board as well as designed and facilitated the first ECRS leadership retreat. She has coordinated Evening Sings, and led singing, games and international folk dances. She has mentored multiple ECRS leaders and has offered a variety of leadership classes.
Judi Powers
Movement
Judi has been a member of the ECRS family for over 10 years. She has her blue belt in NIA and is a certified instructor for Moving to Heal. She loves teaching joy of movement-moving your body's way. Dancing is an experience that can be so uplifting and healing on many levels-in a group it's just infectious!
She lives in the Adirondack Mountains where she enjoys her many outdoor passions from skiing to gardening. She is a licensed Adirondack guide in hiking, camping and whitewater. She is part of the local theater group of dancing witches. Hope you come join me and share some smiles!
Allie Cliffe
Improv and Sketch Comedy
While Allie's education and work background is in astrophysics and biomedical science writing, her true passion lies in writing and performing outside her comfort zone - the comedic arts. A self-proclaimed creative trapped in a scientist's body, Allie is in a local sketch comedy group up in Portland, Maine and has graced the stages of the Portland Fringe Festival, the Portland Maine Comedy Festival, and recently tickled funny bones at a Halloween show at Three of Strong Distillery. Join her for "Sketch Comedy Bootcamp - From Saturday Night Live to YOUR Life" and discover how to unleash your inner comedian, no matter your background!
View full profile →Sharon Underberg
Folk Dancing
Sharon Underberg believes in the power of play and its importance for adults as well as children; her membership in ECRS since the age of 16 is a large foundation of this belief. As a pediatric radiologist, she combines state of the art high tech imaging with being able to sing all the verses of "The Wheels on the Bus," motions included. Her passions include live action role play, singing and acting. As well as being a member of the Programming and Staffing committee, Sharon teaches folk dance workshops (ask her about teaching dance in Sweden and Finland) and works as a coordinator at ECRS events.
View full profile →Lane Neubauer
Leadership Theory
Lane has been attending ECRS since she was 11 (over 55 years!). She has been on staff many times teaching a variety of classes including Informal Dramatics, Games, Square Dancing, Group Dynamics and Leadership. She has been Staff Coordinator as well Evening Program Coordinator multiple times. Lane served on the ECRS Board and was Chair for two years of her three year term. Professionally, Lane was Associate Dean of Students for 17 years at La Salle University. She initiated and facilitated a Peer Education program and grew this to be over 60 students. Prior to La Salle, she was Director of 'Wellness Services' at Arcadia University for 10 years and was an Adjunct Faculty member teaching Group Dynamics to Masters level teachers; in this course, she incorporated ECRS philosophy in teaching teachers how to build a positive, inclusive climate with their students. Throughout her professional career as well as after she retired, Lane has been called upon by a variety of different populations to facilitate workshops focusing on team building, conflict resolution and leadership.
View full profile →Kay Gering
Crafts
Kay first attended ECRS with her family when she was 16. In her 20s she was offered a position as Children's Program Leader where she loved trying to engage the kids with a wide variety of activities. But creating art has always been her passion. So it was inevitable that she find her way to leading Craft classes. Now she is ever on the hunt for new art and craft projects to bring to the welcoming and creative ECRS community.
View full profile →Isaac Lebwohl-Steiner
Improv and Drama
Isaac has been coming to ECRS his entire life and currently serves as Board Chair. He leads improv, cooperative and theater games, Small Scenes, and other ways to play at ECRS events. He has served on various committees over the years.
He invites you to join him at ECRS for the same reason he leads here: connecting with a caring community and playing just because we can.
Heather Klemanski
Well-Being and Self-Compassion
Heather Klemanski is a well-being expert in stress management, mindfulness, and self-compassion. She empowers individuals and groups through transformations that build resilience, self-worth, and compassion. With qualifications in Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Safe Space Facilitation, and Somatic Practices, Heather supports individuals navigating overwhelm, burnout, and emotional disconnection through a trauma-sensitive approach, gently guiding them back to balance and well-being.
With a love for creativity and play, whether it's making earrings, collaging, or weaving beauty into the everyday, Heather brings warmth, presence, and meaning into all she does. To learn more: heatherklemanski.com
Rob Eames
Relationship Coach
Rob Eames, M.A., is a Certified Trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication and a Relationship Coach who specializes in helping people build relationships rooted in authenticity & compassion. As founder of Couples Focus and Relational Academy, Rob offers coaching and workshops that blend practical skillbuilding with experiential discovery. His approach centers on cultivating relational skills—both with ourselves and others—as the foundation for interdependence, resilience, and meaningful connection.
View full profile →Bonnie Ostrofsky
Music and Ukulele
ECRS history: member for 30 years, past Board member, and current co-chairperson of Program and Staffing committee. Enjoys the opportunity to play games, dance, sing, and play music together. Leads a monthly ukulele "jam" (play and singalong) in eastern PA.
View full profile →Josh Silverbauer
Music and Games
By day, Rachael is a creative director and Josh is a director of analytics—but they've woven creativity into every corner of their lives. Josh has written two full-length rock operas, while Rachael is in the process of publishing her own children's books. Together, they've collaborated on numerous projects, including an annual musical retelling of the Purim story. Improvisation and creative play are their love language, and they've been playing the Hat Game through every chapter of their journey together. Now as parents, they're bringing that same spirit of music, play, and imagination to their kids. They're thrilled to lead classes at ECRS this year—and can't wait to stretch your creative limits right alongside them.
View full profile →Rachael Silverbauer
Music and Games
By day, Rachael is a creative director and Josh is a director of analytics—but they've woven creativity into every corner of their lives. Josh has written two full-length rock operas, while Rachael is in the process of publishing her own children's books. Together, they've collaborated on numerous projects, including an annual musical retelling of the Purim story. Improvisation and creative play are their love language, and they've been playing the Hat Game through every chapter of their journey together. Now as parents, they're bringing that same spirit of music, play, and imagination to their kids. They're thrilled to lead classes at ECRS this year—and can't wait to stretch your creative limits right alongside them.
View full profile →Reed Dewey
Transition Coaching
Reed Dewey is a transition coach with What's Next Coaching. He supports clients who want to explore and plan for the life they want — and dream of having — especially in later life. Reed holds numerous coaching certifications and received his coach training from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (accredited through the International Coach Federation). Prior to his encore career, Reed was a senior leader at numerous local and national nonprofits. He ran the Montgomery County Volunteer Center where he supported thousands of volunteers and hundreds of nonprofit agencies. Visit Reed Dewey's website at www.whats-next.org.
View full profile →Lisa Natle
Children's Program
Lisa loves to grow, create, and play. She's been fortunate to pursue these passions under the tutelage of experts—children. A grateful mom and teacher, she has spent the last eight years crafting meaningful learning opportunities for people at various points in their educational journeys, from preschool to college. In every classroom and every community she has experienced, she strives to inspire openness, curiosity, and collaboration.
View full profile →