experience the exquisite medicine of the forest
Winter Camp
for Women*
February 24 – 26, 2023
Van Etten, NY
Creativity is intelligence having FUN.
- Albert Einstein
* Our usage of the word women refers to every human who holds this particular gender identity, regardless of the sex they were assigned at birth.
Why should kids get to go to CAMP and not us? Our lives can be really stressful! We coordinate practically everything – schedules, meals, activities, events and holidays, health care.... We keep everyone focused, on-time and in the right place at the right time…. Oh, and we work – outside the home, inside the home, in our community, and in support of our world.
Okay, well at least, we try to.
You know, times they are a changin’ and pressures seem to be increasing from all directions. Perhaps you agree that it’s time to unplug, indulge your creativity, and have unbridled fun together!
Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules,
making mistakes, and having fun. - Mary Lou Cook
Why do we need Winter CAMP ~ for Women*? Because FUN feels good and because science clearly demonstrates that a relaxed and playful mind is a creative mind and that engaging in playful activities makes us more productive and motivated. We need creativity and truly fresh innovation to address the challenges of our sometimes-crazy world and lives. Plus, (as if you needed a logical reason,) according to Harvard Business Review, innovation is the #1 quality that employers seek most. Precisely because old ways of doing things are clearly not going to keep working in our new world.
Will you renew yourself, even bring a friend(!) and join us for Winter CAMP ~ for Women*?
The soul should always stand ajar,
ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.
– Emily Dickinson
When: February 24, 2023 4pm through February 26, 2023 3pm
Where: The stunning Light on the Hill Retreat Center, Van Etten, NY (an easy drive from Rochester, Syracuse, and Ithaca airports). Lovely, simple accommodations in a beautiful setting, www.lightonthehill.org
Your CAMP Counselors:
Deb Denome is a Forest Therapy Guide, Horticultural Therapist, Herbalist and Educator with over 25 years of experience guiding people into deeper relationship with the Earth, one another and our own true nature. Her greatest joy is in helping individuals to create more joyful, conscious and regenerative lives, rippling out to their communities and our precious planet.
Melissa Kelly-McCabe is a strategist, MCC and GPCC™ credentialed executive coach with over 25 years of experience. She assists leaders to develop clarity of strategy, create positive and lasting change and realize their vision. She coaches women looking to design their next era and live their most fulfilled life.
Investment: The total all-inclusive price includes all Winter CAMP ~ for Women* sessions, two nights of lodging at Light on the Hill, and all of your meals, snacks, supplies!
Between 12/15/22 and 1/15/23: $715 (= $425 for CAMP plus $290 for all-inclusive accommodation)
After 1/15/23: $740 (= $450 for CAMP plus $290 for all-inclusive accommodation)
Our goal is to make Winter CAMP available to as many people as possible! Everyone deserves an opportunity for this kind of sisterhood and renewal. Are you in a position to donate a full additional scholarship for someone in financial need? Or even round up to add to our scholarship fund?
To Register:
Tell us you’re coming: Email Deb (FLForestTherapy@gmail.com) or Melissa (mkmccabe@ClearIntentStrategy.com) for payment instructions.
If you must cancel: Thank you for understanding that if you must cancel, we will refund your CAMP fee minus a $25 administrative fee. Your all-inclusive lodging/accommodation is, regrettably, non-refundable.
A relaxed mind is a creative mind. -Yogi Bhajan
A Bit More about CAMP...
So, what will we do at Winter CAMP ~ for Women*? We’re going to Shake It Up to shake off what’s old and try on what’s new. Come to relax, unwind, and accept our invitation to join in some or all of the following CAMP activities:
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Herbal alchemy from creating tantalizing mocktails to a sacred cacao ceremony
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Enlightening games including Divination Circles and Step-out to Step-in Improv
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The Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku aka Forest Bathing, exploring the winter landscape – and our own inner landscape - with playful, sensory invitations that yield wisdom and guidance
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Campfire Sisterhood - sharing, listening and honoring our intentions, intuitive nudgings, letting go’s and welcoming in’s
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Delectable plant-based meals that leave us feeling light and energized
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Goddess Costume design, weaving in symbols of intentions for our most creative, fulfilling, radiant Goddess selves in the year ahead
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Evening Ceremony of naming, blessings, drumming, dancing, chanting our Goddesses into Being!
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Soul-inspired handcraft to take home and remind us of our Goddess dreams for the year :)
The urge to transform one’s appearance, to dance outdoors, and embrace perfect strangers is not easy to suppress. – Barbara Ehrenreich
Can’t wait to see you there!!
Past Events...
Wild Ireland
Summer Solstice
June 18 – 26, 2019
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
May the clarity of light be yours,
May the fluency of the ocean be yours,
May the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
Wind work these words
Of love around you,
An invisible cloak
To mind your life.
~ John O’Donohue
Join us for this women's retreat, exploring the stunningly beautiful, wild places - not only of Ireland, but within ourselves. Remembering more of our ancient, whole, feral connection with Earth and all her beings…and how that informs and inspires our lives and our calling in the world today. We will immerse in Forest Bathing and other Nature Therapy practices as a medium for strengthening our remembering and relationship with the rest of life, all her creatures, plants, stones, trees, earth, stars, our fellow humans and more. We will also weave in Creative and Therapeutic writing as we discover more of our wild nature, and how that is calling to become manifest in our lives in these changing times!
John Moriarty the Irish philosopher-poet said, to be Wild is
"to not be dominated and overwhelmed by who you sociologically are".
Base Location Dancing Moonlight, is a 30 minute drive North-West of Galway City, and a half hour from both the sea and mountains. Dancing Moonlight is located in a hundreds of years old stone built village, Oakfield, Oldchapel, County Galway. Oakfield is part of a gentle mosiac landscape of native Hazel woodlands and cow pastures, near the shores of Lough Corrib in the Southern wooded fringes of Connemara. The facilities at Dancing Moonlight include the DreamLodge, a Yurt, bell tents, a tipi, greenhouse and the surrounding wildlands and fields.
Lodging We will be blessed with glamping under the summer solstice sun and moon in the Tipi and Bell Tents, mattresses and linens provided. The Greenhouse has a fire bowl and seating area for morning or late evening meals and chats. The DreamLodge is a round straw-bale building with a grass roof, with all natural plaster and paint finishes, inspired by the sanctuaries at Findhorn in Northern Scotland. It is for all activities that enter the dreamtime, that place that exists beyond time and the physical, be it meditation, story-telling, dancing, ceremony or other practices of deep listening.
Learn more about Dancing Moonlight HERE!
Possible Activities/Excursions
~ Ferry day-trip to Aran Islands – The westernmost outpost of Europe, with rugged, breathtaking scenery and locals who still live a traditional Irish lifestyle (perhaps the most primitive in Europe) with Irish Gaelic as their primary language. Ancient sites from the Neolithic through the Medieval Period. “ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP ISLAND DESTINATIONS. That this feeling, this authenticity, has survived the modern world is nothing short of miraculous” – National Geographic
~ Day trip to Uisneach, the ancient sacred heart of Ireland where in the time of High Kings the four provinces would come together to light the Beltaine fire. Uisneach stands at a breathtaking high point where one can look out into the four directions of Ireland, and see the distant hills from where the fire was seen and fires were lit in response. The site contains the ancient "cat stone' that is said to be the belly button of the goddess/land of Eriu and is a portal into the different levels of reality.
~ Forest bathing and swimming nearby in Lough Corrib
~ Summer solstice ritual at Great Grange Stone Circle on Lough Gur. People have been gathering for millennia to celebrate the solstices at this largest stone circle in the British Isles. Savor the longest day forest bathing, picnicking, and swimming on Lough Gur.
~ Day trip to Connemara, the Irish landscape at its most dramatic. With soaring mountains, scattered loughs and an intricate coastline, this remote part of Galway is a world away from the trappings of urban life. We can visit the only fjord in Ireland and savor seaweed mineral baths. :)
~ Day at Dancing Moonlight, listening to the Earth and our Spirits (activity options below):
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A day of deep nature connection with Sky-Maria Buttenhuis, our host at Dancing Moonlight, the owner of EarthDreaming (https://www.theearthisdreaming.com) and Co-Founder of the Global Institute of Forest Therapy.
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A 90 min yoga class (either restorative with Aisling Richmond or Hatha/Iyengar with Deirdre O'Toole)
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Lomi lomi massage and/or Plant Spirit Medicine sessions with Anna Drews, a clinical herbalist at the Dublin Wellness Centre
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A creative writing session (especially designed in consultation with the group) with Dave Rock
Walking levels will be easy/moderate. We will be staying at Dancing Moonlight and taking day trips from there.
Trip Guide is Deborah Denome, Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Horticultural Therapist, Herbalist and lover of the Earth. Deb’s greatest passion is providing opportunities for people to deepen their connection with the Earth, each other and their own True Nature. Host is Sky Buttenhuis (see above).
Cost for the trip is $1,250. Trip cost includes all transportation once in Ireland, 7 nights lodging and all on-site meals at Dancing Moonlight, day excursions, forest therapy and therapeutic writing activities.
Trip cost does not include airfare, trip insurance (recommended), meals enroute to/from Ireland, personal/medical expenses. optional massage or plant spirit sessions, off-site meals & snacks, alcohol.
Airfare is not included. We encourage you to book your flights soon to save on travel costs. We plan to take overnight flights on Tuesday night, June 18th, arriving in Shannon Airport, County Clare, between 7am and 10am Wednesday morning, June 19th. Please plan accordingly so we can meet at the airport and drive to Dancing Moonlight together.
Trip Insurance and health insurance that covers you in Ireland is highly recommended to cover costs associated with last minute cancellations or any unforeseen circumstances. We encourage you to research on your own and choose the best option for you, however, below are two travel insurance options to get your started.
Allianz, www.allianztravelinsurance.com World Nomads, www.worldnomads.com
Refund Policy
We understand that you may have registered well in advance of your trip. We appreciate that work schedules and plans may change and unforeseen emergencies do occur. Therefore, we have established the refund policy below to try to fairly accommodate such eventualities and yet maintain quality retreats. Please realize that once you have registered for a retreat, we immediately incur expenses on your behalf. Because many people start planning longer trips well in advance, it can be difficult to fill an empty spot late in the game.
In order to receive a refund for a retreat, you will need to submit a written notice of cancellation. Your refund comes from your travel insurance. If you elected not to take travel insurance there is no refund. We highly recommend trip insurance...the cost is very reasonable and gives you invaluable peace of mind!!
UNLEASH - Find Your Wild Side
Women's Retreat
October 8 -11, 2019
Mountain Horse Farm, Naples, NY
Does it sometimes feel like you are living one foot in front of the other? Though life can be hectic, do you feel tied to routines or patterns that limit your fulfillment and joy?
Are you craving a little adventure ~ a little adrenaline ~ a little safe-risk to mix it up a bit, be at your edge and discover new creativity and strengths?
As a woman who takes control of her own life, is it time to step out of the everyday and unleash your Wild Side?
Come stretch your boundaries. Join with other wild women as we identify our scary edges, access our courage and discover new strengths to transform vulnerabilities into powerful allies for our lives. You know, find our own inner Nordic Goddess Freyja!
In a small group (maximum 10 women) in the glorious Fall colors of the hills of New York’s Finger Lakes, we will be at the all-inclusive, gorgeous Mountain Horse Farm.
Find all the glorious Details HERE!