Calling all nonprofit practitioners… Are you wondering how you can find the energy needed to continue to move forward productively after the events of August 11 and 12? Do you need new tools to recharge so you can continue your community-focused work? During a time of deep challenge in our community, we all need to ground ourselves, to seek mutual support, to connect with other nonprofit colleagues and to gain clarity on ways to maintain our strength and resolve going forward.
CNE is partnering with Wildrock, a nonprofit nature playscape committed to promoting nature connection for community health, to offer a free, self-care retreat. This retreat will empower nonprofit practitioners to connect with inner strengths and to colleagues with an understanding of trauma-informed leadership. The day will highlight the restorative benefits of nature connection as a vital support in fueling future work, and will be facilitated by both trauma and eco-therapists. There will be time to reflect and assess where we’ve been, and set intentions of where we need to be to support recovery and resilience in ourselves, our colleagues and our clients. Activities during the day and take-away tools will help participants to think clearly about what they need individually and for their agencies to continue to do their best work in the community.
The retreat will take place on Friday, September 22, 2017 and be open to 30 participants. If you’re unable to attend the full day, please feel free to attend either the morning (10 am – 12:15 pm) or afternoon (12:45 pm – 3 pm) sessions. This event is free of charge. Register here.
Retreat schedule:
10:00 am – Circle of Support: Guided group movement meditation for regulating nervous system
10:30 am – Connecting to nature’s strengths: Telling our story through a group mandala making exercise, talking about what’s next, and assessing what support we’ll need going forward
11:15 am – Deepening Roots: Working in small groups to discuss the research on stress hardiness, how we can apply it to our current situation, and how we can connect it to our personal and agency intentions
12:15 pm – Lunch
12:45 pm – Walking meditation to Sky Meadow: Brief overview of the benefits of intentionally connecting to nature for self-care, and how to access feelings of calm awareness during the workday
1:00 pm – Mindfulness in the Woodland and Stream Side
2:00 pm – Offering a tool for trauma-informed support to your staff: Mapping systems for support, resilience, and recovery in your agency
2:45 pm – Labyrinth Walk
3:00 pm – Departure