Participants arrive any time after 4:00 in the afternoon. Once registered, they are welcomed by our staff, make and decorate name tags and fill out a survey. Tea, snacks and first conversations mark our beginning.  Our founder, Naj Wikoff, also greets each participant.  Then each woman finds her room (help with luggage is available) and settles in. Most have time to explore the grounds, see the lake and meet others.  

A bell rings to signal dinner which is buffet style. 

After dinner, we meet in the Playhouse to introduce ourselves. Karen Glass and Mary Ellen Blakey are co-directors and are joined by Sue Grimm (Music), Judith Prest (Community Art) and Gail Testa (Yoga). We orient everyone to Sagamore and explain the schedule. Workshop leaders describe their activities and philosophies. We end up with song, story and meditation. 

Participants sign up for workshops.

The day will inlcude workshops and participants will have the opportunity to join in sessions of collaborative visual art and gentle yoga. After dinner, we return to the Playhouse for our PJ Party. We celebrate our newly formed community with silly songs and stories, snacks, sometimes drumming and dancing, sometimes quieter reflection and sharing, depending on the mood of the group.

After breakfast, we gather once again for our closing ceremony. We form a circle to give each woman time to describe her highlights of the retreat. We share firelight, songs, stories, poems, dream images and guided meditation. We disassemble our artwork and choose a piece to take home. We take pictures, share hugs and contact information. As we cross the bridge to leave, we begin plans to return.