Family Retreat highlights and invitation to the Retreat Committee (plus awesome photos)
(Thanks to Tania Marsh, Tanya Spirak & Chelsey Corrigan for all the excellent photos of the retreat, posted below)
The family retreat over Labour Day weekend was heart-warming and inspiring, one of our best ever. There were eleven adults, seven children, four staff and two dogs, all nourished by the blissfully warm and sunny days.
We played, rested, ate healthy food, learned about our body types and how to feed and discipline our children for their type. Amber started us off on Friday evening with a delicious relaxation session. Chad led us in a music meditation by the pond one morning and showed us how to make spelt bannock over a campfire while we sang songs on a beautiful evening with a full moon and howling coyotes. Kim made wonderful vegan meals to which we added coconut oil and lots of things made with tahini — I’m sure everyone thinks I live on the stuff!
Kim also showed the children how to make fairy gardens on the front lawn, which kept them totally focussed for 1 1/2 hours on both days while adults attended a class. We went for a walk in the woods, some of us in our bare feet, and learned a movement routine to music with the kids (during which Felix got into a fight and ended up on my back while I was demonstrating a yoga pose—very realistic, as this also happens at home).
We picked comfrey from our garden, discussing the need for organic food, and then made comfrey oil for everyone to take home and include in their first aid kits for cuts, bruises, sprains and breaks.
My conclusion after this retreat is to run it every summer and rent a large tent so we can invite more families! Also, we’d like to create a volunteer retreat committee to complement our staff, one which meets almost every month over a healthy dinner at my home to plan, with kids welcome to join us and do some wholesome supervised activities next door. If you’re interested in being part of this committee, please contact me at katherine@ecowellness.com. I look forward to seeing you!
~ katherine
