​MARK YOUR CALENDARS. . . . 
. . . .  for our annual Heritage Day at Camden Grange event:  Saturday, 17 June 2023, noon to 3 P.M., in conjunction with our local Elk Pioneer Days celebration - this event is FREE to everyone.

We will have displays of pioneer-era tools, appliances, quilts, music boxes, and lots of vintage photographs for your viewing and touching.  We will once again have demonstrations and hands-on opportunities for you (and your youngsters!) to try corn shelling, cornmeal grinding, butter churning, wool spinning, and much more.  We will also show off our recently-discovered stage “backdrop cloth” found during our Grange basement clean up:  it’s huge, as you might expect, and was used as a backdrop on our stage, probably 1950’s vintage, with hand painted scenery, and commercial advertising for then-local businesses.  You will definitely want a “selfie”, featuring you and yours on-stage. I’ve attached a picture of the backdrop – maybe you can help us identify some of the business names?

LOOKING FOR ARTIFACT DONATIONS
Speaking of you and yours, we are looking for the one-day loan of additional artifacts of early Elk and Camden residents:  kitchen utensils  such as washboard and tub, rolling pin, butter mold, floor stand butter churn, iron (I recently learned that the hot irons were used primarily to kill the bedbugs and other creepy-crawlies that infested clothing seams, and not to make the overalls look good!), egg beaters, coffee grinders, etc.; carpentry tools such as buck saw and saw buck, bench plane, brace and bit, “Yankee” screwdrivers, etc..  Even better for the community members, would be if YOU participated by demonstrating how to use those utensils and tools!

If you would like to loan us those artifacts, or if YOU would offer to assist with demonstrations, please contact me.

Hope to see you there,
Jim McGinty
509-292-0326

We are selling tickets for our Grange quilt raffle:  lovingly created by our own Quilting Club, this full-size quilt features nine-point stars, vintage barns, and farm scenes. 

Tickets are available for $2 each, or $10 for six, and you can call Jim at 509-292-0326 to arrange a ticket purchase, or you can send a message at info@camdengrange.org or on our Facebook page (Camden Grange and Community Center, in the community center group), and we’ll fix you up! 

The quilt drawing is scheduled for 17 June, in conjunction with our annual Camden Grange Heritage Day.
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*06 March:  6 P.M. – Camden Grange and Community Center committee meeting.  All are invited to bring their interests, skills, and suggestions.

*13 March, 27 March:  6:15 P.M. – Girl Scout Troop 2354 Daisies (age 5-6 years old) meet for lots of fun!

*14 March:  6 P.M. – every Tuesday evening, SHiNE dance fitness class meets for friendship, and enjoyable movement.

*14 March:  7 P.M. – Elk-Camden Garden Keepers garden club meeting.
*15 March:  10 A.M. to noon – quilting club meeting.

11 March – GARDEN SEED STARTING
Learn to unlock the magic of seeds – start your own plants from purchased or saved seeds. Save money (?), grow the plants YOU want (rather than rely on the expensive nursery starts), and have fun watching green things popping up.
We’ll talk about seed starting supplies, what to do and when, and how to take care of your precious plant progeny.  As always, our gardening classes are lots of fun, and have the potential to dirty up the hands and clothing, so please appropriately dress.
Class runs from 1-3 P.M., and costs $10 per student, due to supply expenses.

15 March – SAVORY BISCOTTI – PERFECT!
Biscotti’s satisfying crunch is an excellent canvas for your favorite savory seasonings and ingredients:  cheese, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, cracked black pepper, and more.  Savory biscottis are perfect with soups, salads, and especially chili – think of them as large, dip-able croutons (always a hit with the kids!).  Join biscotti enthusiast Russ Ford for another exciting and fun home-baking class, from 7-9 P.M.
There is no cost for this class, and kids over the age of twelve are welcome to attend with a supervising adult.

18 March – SEWING CLASS FOR YOUTH
Learn how to make your own clothes!  This class is designed especially for beginners (age 10 and up), and you will be making your own pajama pants.  This will be a fun-filled afternoon, and you will make new, like-minded, crafty friends.  Please e-mail instructor Marylee at gmamarylee@gmail.com for more information, and a complete list of supplies to bring.  Don’t have a portable sewing machine?  We can help!
Class runs from 1-4 P.M., and costs $10 per student.

22 March – WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER SAFETY
This class is rescheduled from February - join Gina Claeys, owner/operator of Cedar Grove Wildlife Guiding service, to learn about our abundant local wildlife.  Gina will talk about wildlife ecology, recognizing signs of wildlife, avoiding negative encounters, and what to do if you do have an encounter.
Class runs from 7-9 P.M., and costs $5 per person.

25 March, 26 March – SOAPMAKING 101
Learn how to use the cold process to safely create your own kitchen-made soap.  Learn the science behind the process, then make 6 bars of soap to pick up and take home the following day – homemade soap makes an excellent Spring stimulant after our Winter hibernation!  More details on the class from instructor Gayle Kruger at her website:  dancingpinesoapworks.com.
Cost is $35 per person, and all supplies and equipment are provided for the class.  Class runs from 1-3 P.M. on 25 March, and students must be at least 13 years old.  Soap pickup day details will be arranged by the students during class.  Class size is limited to 12 students, so be sure to register early!
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For more information on what is happening at Camden Grange and Community Center, you can check our Facebook page (Camden Grange and Community Center, in the Community Center group).

​A new Troop of Girl Scout Daisies is forming in our area, sponsored by Camden Grange and Community Center. 

Troop 2354 is open to girls, aged five to six, or from kindergarten to first grade, and will meet for the first time on Monday, 13 February 2023, at 6:15 P.M. in Camden Grange, located at 7 Camden Road, Elk, WA  99009.
Activities planned for the Troop include outdoor exploring, STEM, community service, life skills, character building, and a lot of FUN!

For more information about the Troop, or how to get involved, call adult leader Kelsey van Anrooy at 509-638-5600.

18 February - Beekeeping isn’t what most people think.  By the end of this class, you will know what you don’t now know about keeping bees, and understand why $60 per gallon for local honey is a steal.

Class costs $10 per person.

Registration for our classes is required, so that we have sufficient handouts and/or supplies. 

You may pay for your classes at the door, using cash or checks.

                          HIGHLIGHTS AND ON-GOING SPECIAL EVENTS
*13 February:  6 P.M. – Camden Grange and Community Center committee meeting.  All are invited to bring their interests, skills, and suggestions.

*15 February:  10 A.M. to noon – quilting club meeting.

Please note that the Elk Camden Ham Radio Group now meets at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5924 (located at 39716 N. Camden Extension Road, Elk, WA  99009).  You can e-mail Rick Knapp at FLKnapp@gmail.com for more information.

04 February – DOG TRAINING SEMINAR
During this one hour seminar, Freddie B., ABCDT, will help you understand how to establish a foundation with your dog for any basic training program, or undesirable behavior modification program.  You will learn how to establish leadership and the importance of it, the importance of understanding canine breed identification,  understanding canine body language, and much more.
You can check out Freddie B.’s credentials and services at his website:
www.FreddieBtheDogTeacher.com
Class runs from 2 -3 P.M., and costs $10 per person.  This class is limited to fifteen (15) students, so please register early.  As an added bonus for attending this class, the instructor will offer all attendees complimentary microchipping of their pets at the END of the seminar.  Your pets MUST remain contained in your vehicle during the seminar, and this offer is limited to a maximum of two (2) pets per attendee.

11 February – VALENTINE CINNAMON ROLLS
Just in time for Valentine’s Day:  join home-baking enthusiast Marylee Rozelle for a class on how to make Valentine-themed cinnamon rolls for the special ones in your life.  Learn how to make an easy yeast dough that can be used for a variety of baked goods, and go home with cinnamon rolls ready to eat!
Cost is $5 per person, kids are free and welcome to attend with their parents, and class runs from 7-9 P.M.

15 February – MEXICAN COOKING CLASS!
Depressed and tired of the whole “Endless Winter” blahs?  Then it’s time to learn how to prepare a delicious Mexican dinner, in your own home kitchen.  Cooking aficionados Mollie Ford and Chris Bennett will guide you, step-by-step, in creating amazing and EASY chicken enchiladas, and mouth-watering Pico de Gallo (a traditional condiment, and a tasty treat for other meals) – time to wake up your taste buds – we will be sampling throughout the class – YAY!
Class is geared toward cooks with at least beginning cooking skills and knowledge – class costs $10, due to ingredient costs, and runs from 7-9 P.M.

22 February – WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER SAFETY
Join Gina Claeys, owner/operator of Cedar Grove Wildlife Guiding service, to learn about our abundant local wildlife.  Gina will talk about wildlife ecology, recognizing signs of wildlife, avoiding negative encounters, and what to do if you do have an encounter.
Class runs from 7-9 P.M., and costs $5 per person.

For more information on what is happening at Camden Grange and Community Center, you can check our FaceBook Page :
             Camden Grange and Community Center, in the community center group

Members of the Camden Grange Quilters Club recently created Winter-themed quilts as a donation to the Elk Homemaker’s Club, for distribution to local needy families.  If you are a quilter, or would like to learn how to quilt, you can contact Club organizer Carol Wood at her email address (carolcwood79@gmail.com), or at her Facebook page (Camden Grange Quilt Club).

The Second Annual Kids’ Christmas Crafts Workshop at Camden Grange and Community Center was a well-received venture.  Kids were able to choose from ten different opportunities to make crafts and ornaments, from snow globes and pine cone trees, to giant paper snowflakes and jingle bell necklaces, just to name a few.  We had a great turnout, and comments from parents were so encouraging. 

​We plan to offer this event next Christmas, so please reserve 02 December 2023 for more family fun.