Discovery Community 2018 Summer Retreat: "A Midsummer's Dream" at Wildwood

“A weekend in the country…how delightful!” - Stephen Sondheim

“I left my heart in San Francisco, but I found my soulmate in the hot tub at Wildwood!” – Anonymous

What’s a Discovery retreat? It's a get-away from the hustle of everyday life, an invitation to step into the sun, step into the light, a chance to meet new friends, explore new possibilities, and renew your heart, body, and spirit. We’ll spend the weekend in the breathtaking hills high above the Russian River at Wildwood Retreat Center, an enchanted place where faeries are known to magically appear.

There will be delicious home-cooked meals, fun activities, inspiring workshops, and – most of all – great company.

We’ll have something for everyone in three tracks of activities: outdoors, arts, and personal development. In the works include a pool party with mocktails, campfire, hiking, kayaking on the Russian River, exploring Guerneville, yoga, a drum circle, a talent/no talent show followed by dance party, and workshops on poetry, drag, storytelling, collage-making and vocalizing for embodied spirits.

We will also have facilitated large- and small-group discussions exploring who we are as gay and bi men, as individuals and in community, in an age of great accomplishments and great anxiety.

AND… plenty of time to swim, relax by the pool, explore the grounds, and schmooze.

The weekend includes:
• Two-nights shared room (two per room; let us know if you have roommate preference). Platform tent, yurt (shared with four) or tent site . Private rooms available for $100/night extra.
• Six buffet-style meals, prepared with food from local farmers’ markets and onsite organic garden, restricted diet options available.

Wildwood Retreat Center in the hills high above Guerneville is a great place to experience all of this and enjoy fabulous amenities:
• 12-man hot tub
• Large swimming pool
• Gourmet meals
• 200 acres of woods, meadows, and hiking trails
• Julie Andrews Point (see photo above)

Accommodations

Shared, double rooms with private bath with two twin beds, or Wildwood's comfortable, large two-man platform tents with beds and full bedding are available at the same price. First-come, first-served. (Note: For the past several years, all those in Wildwood-provided tents did not need to share since there were few participants requesting this option. This is likely to again be the case, but cannot be guaranteed). Private rooms may be available for an additional charge.

A limited number of special, lower-priced options are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These include shared space in the big yurt structure with about four other guys, with all bedding provided (padded cushion, linens, towels). You may also bring your own tent at this lower price. Tent sites and the yurt are near the communal showers and bathrooms a short walk away.

Scholarships

Scholarships for the retreat are available in the amounts of $50, $100, and $150. Please send a brief statement (no more than 2-3 sentences) explaining why you need a scholarship. Please do not send copies of any financial documents. Contact retreat@discoverycommunity.org for more information.

Visit the following Eventbrite link to review detailed transportation, accommodation and pricing information as well as to register for the weekend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/discovery-community-2018-summer-retreat-a-midsummers-dream-at-wildwood-tickets-45909296943.

===> Important note: After you RSVP to this event on Meetup, you must register for the retreat using the link above to Eventbrite. <===

Behavior and Conduct Policy

Discovery Men's Weekends require an atmosphere of safety and respect for all participants. Therefore, any behavior that violates the boundaries of another (i.e. physical violence, sexual activity without mutual consent, etc.), or any behavior that poses a danger to oneself or others will be considered unacceptable for participation in the weekend.