Retreat for Survivors of Trauma
Email this page
It's amazing when you are so supported what unfolds to be healed. My fears no longer hold me down, my breaths are more peaceful, centered, stronger and wiser, nothing is impossible.
~ Jenny Kellogg, age 41, Boulder, CO
~ Jenny Kellogg, age 41, Boulder, CO
Location: Blue Moon Ranch
August 19-22, 2010
$590
This retreat provides an affirming and open forum for women with a history of domestic violence or sexual trauma to take safe steps toward recovering the personal and interpersonal confidence often lost in the aftermath of trauma. The nourishing wilderness environment and support of others in a similar space provides a comfortable opportunity to practice new ways of being with one’s self, others and unfamiliar situations. At least one of the two staff members will have a Masters degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field; and both staff women have extensive experience working with survivors in a wilderness setting.
What Should I Expect?This retreat will strive to harness the healing power of the natural world to help guide and support you through the challenging process of recovery. All participants will enjoy the sharing of cooking, camp chores, and responsibilities of living outdoors. You can expect your two facilitators to take on many different roles during the course. The primary job of the staff is to ensure physical and emotional safety for all participants, as well as to help the group create a fun, non-judgmental atmosphere of support and encouragement.
What Do I Need to Bring?Not much! After you have enrolled you will be sent a packet that includes a list of things to bring. Women’s Wilderness can supply all gear, including backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, and stoves. In most cases we can loan you outdoor clothing if needed, including raingear and fleece clothes. When you meet on the evening before your course, the staff will make sure you have all the appropriate gear and clothing, and will loan you what is needed. Thanks to Sierra Designs, we have women-specific sleeping bags available to demo. Just email us to arrange.
Where Are We Going? Blue Moon Ranch is a privately owned piece of land covering 150 acres near Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, approximately 50 miles northwest of Fort Collins. Rock outcrops, wildflowers, meadows, and forests cover the area, offering plenty of terrain for scrambling and exploring. A covered cooking shelter, propane stoves, and a “Sunny Jane” composting toilet provide a comfortable camping environment.
Itinerary The exact itinerary will vary according to the needs and interests of individuals and the group. Daytime activities include low ropes course “initiatives” with themes covering issues common to survivors of trauma, art projects, journal writing, and exploring the land. One day will be spent rock climbing and rappelling, with lots of different climbs offering a wide variety of challenges and choices. Optional solo time will be available, ranging from several hours to overnight. Evening activities will include discussions, creative activities, and enjoying the night skies together. Plenty of light playtime is also an important element!
Pre-Trip MeetingThere will be a pre-trip meeting from 5-7pm on the evening before the course. This meeting gives participants a chance to meet each other, the staff, check and borrow gear and clothing, get last minute questions answered, and confirm carpooling plans. Please bring everything to the meeting that you’re planning on taking, and your field staff will help you make sure you have what you need and don’t have what you don’t need.
What Will We Eat? All food is included in the course cost. There is always plenty to eat, and we pack snacks for munching throughout the day. Meals are designed to accommodate a full range of preferences – from vegetarian to full meat loving divas! We can accommodate some common food allergies and dietary needs, so if you have dietary restrictions please let us know at least one week before your course.
How Will I Get to the Course Site?Transportation will be provided from the Women’s Wilderness office in Boulder at 8:00 a.m. to Blue Moon Ranch. The course will return to Boulder at 6:00 p.m.
What About Fitness?The Trauma Survivors course will take place entirely outdoors. Participants will be sleeping in tents, and physically active for most of the day. The course requires good health, but does not require more than average physical fitness. The most strenuous aerobic activity will be walking uphill for approximately 20 minutes. Rock climbing and other activities can be done with an average amount of strength. If you have questions about your level of fitness or would like suggestions about how to physically prepare for your course, please give us a call.
Financial AidScholarships are available for low and lower-middle income women. In order to stretch the available funding to serve as many women as possible, we ask that each woman applying for financial aid make an honest assessment of what she can afford. Those that receive financial aid may be asked to write a thank you letter. Please request a financial aid application if you would like to apply.
Payment Schedule & Cancellation PolicyA $60 application fee will hold your spot on the course for two weeks while you receive and return your completed enrollment packet. This fee is non-refundable, unless for some reason we cannot accept you on the course. Half of the remaining course fee is due with registration, and the rest of the fee is due two months before the course start. Payment plans may be able to be arranged - please contact us if this would help you pay for the course.
CANCELLATION POLICY - PLEASE READ!Our cancellation/refund policy is based on our investment in staff time, course planning, and food and equipment purchases before your course. Course tuition includes a $60 nonrefundable application fee.
Cancellation refunds will be given according to the following schedule:
Days prior to course start:
The Wilderness Recovery course is both a mirror and a practice ground. The nourishing wilderness environment and the support of others on a similar journey provide a place to practice new ways of being with one’s self, others, and unfamiliar situations. Lots of new and unfamiliar experiences give each woman an opportunity to witness her strengths and capabilities, and to observe, with compassion, the areas where domestic violence or sexual trauma continues to influence her relationships with the world, others, and herself. The range of issues that can be explored during a course is endless, but many common themes emerge, including trust, setting boundaries, giving and receiving support, staying present, staying true to one’s self in relationships, and finding one’s strength and competence.
There are many common themes facing survivors of domestic violence and sexual trauma, yet each woman has a unique inner journey. While we believe that this stretching and reconnecting process is essential to recovery, we also believe firmly in the right of each woman to determine the pace and direction of her own inner journey. Staff will help each participant explore what is true for her, but the choice of what kind of emotional and physical risks to take is up to each woman to decide for herself.
This course is meant for women who are actively working on recovery from sexual assault, sexual abuse or domestic violence, and is designed to help women reconnect with themselves, others and the natural world. At least one of the two staff members will have a Masters degree in counseling psychology; both staff have extensive experience working with survivors in a wilderness setting.
Dates:
Number of Days: 4
Fitness Level: Gentle
August 19-22, 2010
$590
This retreat provides an affirming and open forum for women with a history of domestic violence or sexual trauma to take safe steps toward recovering the personal and interpersonal confidence often lost in the aftermath of trauma. The nourishing wilderness environment and support of others in a similar space provides a comfortable opportunity to practice new ways of being with one’s self, others and unfamiliar situations. At least one of the two staff members will have a Masters degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field; and both staff women have extensive experience working with survivors in a wilderness setting.
What Should I Expect?This retreat will strive to harness the healing power of the natural world to help guide and support you through the challenging process of recovery. All participants will enjoy the sharing of cooking, camp chores, and responsibilities of living outdoors. You can expect your two facilitators to take on many different roles during the course. The primary job of the staff is to ensure physical and emotional safety for all participants, as well as to help the group create a fun, non-judgmental atmosphere of support and encouragement.
What Do I Need to Bring?Not much! After you have enrolled you will be sent a packet that includes a list of things to bring. Women’s Wilderness can supply all gear, including backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, and stoves. In most cases we can loan you outdoor clothing if needed, including raingear and fleece clothes. When you meet on the evening before your course, the staff will make sure you have all the appropriate gear and clothing, and will loan you what is needed. Thanks to Sierra Designs, we have women-specific sleeping bags available to demo. Just email us to arrange.
Where Are We Going? Blue Moon Ranch is a privately owned piece of land covering 150 acres near Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, approximately 50 miles northwest of Fort Collins. Rock outcrops, wildflowers, meadows, and forests cover the area, offering plenty of terrain for scrambling and exploring. A covered cooking shelter, propane stoves, and a “Sunny Jane” composting toilet provide a comfortable camping environment.
Itinerary The exact itinerary will vary according to the needs and interests of individuals and the group. Daytime activities include low ropes course “initiatives” with themes covering issues common to survivors of trauma, art projects, journal writing, and exploring the land. One day will be spent rock climbing and rappelling, with lots of different climbs offering a wide variety of challenges and choices. Optional solo time will be available, ranging from several hours to overnight. Evening activities will include discussions, creative activities, and enjoying the night skies together. Plenty of light playtime is also an important element!
Pre-Trip MeetingThere will be a pre-trip meeting from 5-7pm on the evening before the course. This meeting gives participants a chance to meet each other, the staff, check and borrow gear and clothing, get last minute questions answered, and confirm carpooling plans. Please bring everything to the meeting that you’re planning on taking, and your field staff will help you make sure you have what you need and don’t have what you don’t need.
What Will We Eat? All food is included in the course cost. There is always plenty to eat, and we pack snacks for munching throughout the day. Meals are designed to accommodate a full range of preferences – from vegetarian to full meat loving divas! We can accommodate some common food allergies and dietary needs, so if you have dietary restrictions please let us know at least one week before your course.
How Will I Get to the Course Site?Transportation will be provided from the Women’s Wilderness office in Boulder at 8:00 a.m. to Blue Moon Ranch. The course will return to Boulder at 6:00 p.m.
What About Fitness?The Trauma Survivors course will take place entirely outdoors. Participants will be sleeping in tents, and physically active for most of the day. The course requires good health, but does not require more than average physical fitness. The most strenuous aerobic activity will be walking uphill for approximately 20 minutes. Rock climbing and other activities can be done with an average amount of strength. If you have questions about your level of fitness or would like suggestions about how to physically prepare for your course, please give us a call.
Financial AidScholarships are available for low and lower-middle income women. In order to stretch the available funding to serve as many women as possible, we ask that each woman applying for financial aid make an honest assessment of what she can afford. Those that receive financial aid may be asked to write a thank you letter. Please request a financial aid application if you would like to apply.
Payment Schedule & Cancellation PolicyA $60 application fee will hold your spot on the course for two weeks while you receive and return your completed enrollment packet. This fee is non-refundable, unless for some reason we cannot accept you on the course. Half of the remaining course fee is due with registration, and the rest of the fee is due two months before the course start. Payment plans may be able to be arranged - please contact us if this would help you pay for the course.
CANCELLATION POLICY - PLEASE READ!Our cancellation/refund policy is based on our investment in staff time, course planning, and food and equipment purchases before your course. Course tuition includes a $60 nonrefundable application fee.
Cancellation refunds will be given according to the following schedule:
Days prior to course start:
More than 60 days: 100% of full tuition minus $60 application fee.
21-59 days: 50% minus $60 application fee.
8-20 days: No refunds, however 50% minus the $60 application fee may be transferred to another course in 2010.
Less than 7 days: No refunds or transfers.
If we cancel a trip: TWWI reserves the right to cancel a trip if
sign-up is inadequate to make the trip economically feasible for us to
operate. If this happens, we will fully refund the stated cost
including the application fee. However, TWWI is not responsible for
additional expenses incurred by you in preparing for the trip, e.g.
transportation costs, gear, etc.
Trip InsuranceSafeguard your adventure!
Plans can change without warning, which is why we recommend securing
your course by investing in trip insurance, for example with:
Travelguard.com 1.800.826.4919 Insuremytrip.com 1.800.487.4722
The Wilderness Recovery course is both a mirror and a practice ground. The nourishing wilderness environment and the support of others on a similar journey provide a place to practice new ways of being with one’s self, others, and unfamiliar situations. Lots of new and unfamiliar experiences give each woman an opportunity to witness her strengths and capabilities, and to observe, with compassion, the areas where domestic violence or sexual trauma continues to influence her relationships with the world, others, and herself. The range of issues that can be explored during a course is endless, but many common themes emerge, including trust, setting boundaries, giving and receiving support, staying present, staying true to one’s self in relationships, and finding one’s strength and competence.
There are many common themes facing survivors of domestic violence and sexual trauma, yet each woman has a unique inner journey. While we believe that this stretching and reconnecting process is essential to recovery, we also believe firmly in the right of each woman to determine the pace and direction of her own inner journey. Staff will help each participant explore what is true for her, but the choice of what kind of emotional and physical risks to take is up to each woman to decide for herself.
This course is meant for women who are actively working on recovery from sexual assault, sexual abuse or domestic violence, and is designed to help women reconnect with themselves, others and the natural world. At least one of the two staff members will have a Masters degree in counseling psychology; both staff have extensive experience working with survivors in a wilderness setting.
Dates:
Thu, 08/19/2010 - Sun, 08/22/2010
Price: $590.00Number of Days: 4
Fitness Level: Gentle