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Schedule and Activities
24 to 30 women will participate on each retreat. Mealtimes and some parts of each day will
be spent in a large group, but most of your time will be spent in a smaller group of eight to ten participants, two facilitators
from The Women’s Wilderness Institute, and one Vet Center counseling support staff. You can expect your facilitators
to take on many different roles during the retreat, but their primary job is to ensure the physical and emotional safety of
all participants, as well as to help your group create a non-judgmental atmosphere of mutual support and encouragement. They
will teach tools for managing stress, connecting with people, and just dealing with life, and offer you with lots of opportunities
to practice those things.
This retreat will provide you with a wide range of
activities. Some will be educational, some will help you explore your vision for your life, some will teach nourishing practices
that you can use for stress reduction, and some will offer opportunities for you to practice different ways of being with
yourself, others, or unfamiliar situations.
You can expect each day to be full! Each morning will
begin with an optional session of stretching, yoga, exercise, or other stress reduction practice. Each day will include outside
group activities, discussions, and personal time for art-work, journal writing, or walking. You will have opportunities to
do a high-ropes course, to do a ‘forest solo’, and to do a half-day hike or canoe excursion. See the sample schedule
at the end of this packet. If you see something that is unappealing to you, remember that all activities are optional, with
other options for those who choose not to participate in a particular activity.
About The Women’s Wilderness
Institute
The Women’s Wilderness Institute, a non-profit organization, was established in 1997 with the mission of building courage, confidence, and leadership for girls and women, and was selected by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide this series of retreats for women veterans. TWWI facilitates wilderness- and facility-based courses and retreats, using a program philosophy that supports every participant in making self-affirming choices and discovering her innate strength and capability. The Women’s Wilderness Institute is accredited by the Association for Experiential Education.
Health, and Fitness These retreats are designed to accommodate a wide range of physical abilities and levels of health. The facilities are rustic, with unpaved paths between buildings and activity areas. You will be most comfortable if you can walk for short distances (up to five minutes) and be able to negotiate slightly uneven terrain. Some facilities may have hills or longer hikes to get to some activities, but participants who cannot manage that distance may be transported in most cases. All activities can be modified to accommodate individuals with physical disabilities. If you have a significant disability, or cannot walk uphill or for more than five minutes, let us know when you apply so we can choose the location that will be the easiest for you to negotiate. Locations
Women’s Wilderness Institute uses facilities around the country to host the Women Veteran Retreats. While the facilities serve other groups and populations, we bring our own staff and our own program. We will either have exclusive use of the facility, or will have our own private meeting areas. |
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