Women Veterans Retreats
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“I learned how to laugh again, how to socialize, and how to let go. I’ve learned true friendship again and how to trust and accept support from those who care.”
-Amanda, age 33, June Women Vets Retreat
The Women's Wilderness Institute is honored, and excited, to be working with female veterans, and women spouses/domestic partners of veterans, to offer retreats in 2011 and 2012. We are proud to be offering these courses in a way that is aligned with our mission and that addresses the specific needs and issues of our women veterans and women spouses/domestic partners of veterans.
6-Day Retreat Center Based Programs
Between 2011 and 2012, TWWI is offering six 6-day retreats for women who need support in re-integrating to civilian life after their military service. These retreats are funded by the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009, and are provided entirely free of charge to participants, including airfare. 144 women will be served over the two year period.
The Women Veterans Retreats offer an intensive immersion experience of supportive and challenging activities, in a peaceful natural environment. The retreats allow women to connect with other women veterans and learn tools for dealing with post traumatic stress and other issues that commonly affect women veterans. In addition to outdoor activities and a high and low ropes course, the retreat provides a format for sharing experiences, and education about stress, resilience, and life skills.
Dates and Locations for 2012:
March 17-22 Abiquiu, New Mexico
August 18-23 Buena Vista, Colorado
September 14-19 Connecticut
To be eligible, women must have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in OEF or OIF and must be currently in counseling at a Vet Center, or have been in counseling at a Vet Center for at least six sessions at the time of application.
For more information, please click here.
Click here for an application!
Have questions? Please email us!
Here's what the veterans who attended the June 2011 retreat had to say:
"Attending this retreat made me realize that I am not alone with my PTSD.My anger does not control me, I can control it any way I feel fit to."
"You will see how the world still moves and life is worth healing thru.There are others out there just like you- you are not alone."
"I feel safer already, having you all beside me and behind me, as if the present were closer and the past farther away now."
"Thank you all for letting our hurt be heard and healing begin. I am so genuinely happy for the first time in a loooong time."
"I can't even begin to explain how much you all have helped me in my healing process. You have given me the strength, courage, and motivation and so much more to believe in myself and push through these hard times in my life."
During April 16-21, and April 30- May 5, 2012, The Women's Wilderness Institute is offering 4-day backpacking trips (with a travel day on either end) in the Utah desert specifically for women veterans. Also being offered, April 23-28, is a trip open to all women spouses/domestic partners of veterans. Transportation is provided from our Boulder office to/from the trailhead, or participants may choose to meet in Grand Junction. The fee for participation is $100 per person. Participants must provide their own transportation to/from Boulder or Grand Junction.
Click here for more information on our Veteran Desert Backpack Expeditions and our Spouse/Partner of Veteran Expeditions!
For an application for our backpack expeditions, please click here.
The Women's Wilderness Institute is proud to offer our women veterans and women spouses/domestic partners of veterans opportunities to explore, discover and relax in the wild places that their service has helped to protect.
Questions? please call 303.938.9191 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!