Women's Veterans Retreat

Adirondack Women Veterans’
Arts & Reintegration
Second Annual Retreat
Monday, August 9th - Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Learn more about what happened at the 1st retreat
Listen to the WAMC report about the event

To register and/or apply for a scholarship download and complete
the registration and scholarship form (.pdf format)
and email or mail to:
Christine Dixon, director@wiwaka.org
Wiawaka Holiday House PO Box 564 Troy, NY 12180

Agenda

The Adirondack Women Veterans’ Arts & Reintegration Retreat
is open to any woman who has served our country in any branch of the
military at any time. The retreat will focus on reintegration issues arising out of military service. We will provide a safe space to share experiences, learn from others who have served our country, gain skills that will enhance quality of life, enrich a sense of self and sense of community
and build a network with other women who have served our country.

Our retreats have become known as a place where women can connect with others and their inner selves. In many sessions, we have had people from the same community meet each other for the first time and discover new friends and support that they can maintain after they leave.

Combat

This retreat is a forum for learning how to use the arts
(visual, verbal, musical, physical, literary) and dreams to express feelings and experiences; learning how nature, exercise, massage and yoga can strengthen the personal care, foster relaxation and uplift spirits; and learning how to use ritual, joy and humor to help take control over their lives. We look forward to seeing you there.

We've got your back
and thank you for your service
as shown through this great cartoon from Garry Trudeau
(click on the cartoon to see it full screen)

DOONESBURY (c) 2009 G. B. Trudeau. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE.
All rights reserved.

This retreat is
co-sponsored by

http://www.patriothills.org

Join us at the
Fuller House at
Wiawaka Holiday House

Fuller House at Wiawaka

the retreat location.

Monday

The Arrival and Welcome

Agenda

Participants arrive in the afternoon. Once registered, they are welcomed by staff, make and decorate name tags and fill out a survey. Tea, snacks and first conversations mark our beginning. Then each woman finds her room and settles in. Most have time to explore the grounds, see the lake and meet others. After dinner, we meet as a whole group to introduce ourselves, orient everyone and explain the schedule. Workshop leaders describe their activities and philosophies. We end up with song, story and meditation. Participants sign up for workshops.

Tuesday

Optional yoga session

Staff leads morning and afternoon concurrent workshops.

Storytelling with Fran Yardley

Fran will tell a story and then present a series of exercises designed to give the participants an opportunity to identify the important stories in their lives. We will experience firsthand the power of listening and being listened to. The goal is to gain a sense of perspective about where we are now and confidence in our ability to go forward. Fran has been writing and telling stories and presenting workshops for over twenty-five years.

Songwriting with Peggy Lynn

Peggy will lead the group in some quiet, easy singing. Then participants will experiment with images, words, humming, rhythm and rhyme. A song evolves naturally. Each woman has the opportunity to add her soul’s expression to the song. Percussion instruments are available. Peggy has been writing, recording and sharing music for over two decades.

Dreamwork with Wanda Burch

Wanda will lead personal dream exploration into how we can use our dreams for self-diagnosis and self-healing. She shows participants techniques for remembering and using dream images to draw on energy and guidance from deeper sources than the everyday mind. Wanda is an 18 year breast cancer survivor and author of She Who Dreams, published in 2003.

After dinner, we return to the whole group for a time of relaxation. 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.

Wednesday

Closing Ceremony

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.

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