Weekend Wellness Retreats
Positive Women’s Network’s Fall Retreat is taking place:
Friday, October 8th – Sunday, October 10th, 2010 at Loon Lake
This retreat is FREE and open to all HIV+ women living in BC. Priority is given to women who have never attended a retreat before.
Space is very limited, so apply early!
The application deadline is Friday, September 3rd, 2010.
Follow the links below to find an information package and application form. Please be sure to read through the complete package and form before applying.
October 2010 Information Package
October 2010 Registration & Medical Forms
WIth the isolation that an HIV diagnosis can bring, you might appreciate being able to talk to other women about living with HIV, whether it’s only been a few months since diagnosis or years. Positive Women’s Network has been offering weekend wellness retreats since 1993, and women from all over BC have benefitted, meeting new people and making friendships that see them through ups and downs.
Retreats take place from a Friday to a Sunday. PWN support staff are on site all weekend, as well as a nurse to deal with any medical issues that might arise.
Women meet at PWN and travel to the retreat with others, or meet us at the retreat location. All costs are covered, even the travel costs for those who come from outside Vancouver. We prioritize women who have never been on a retreat, women who are newly diagnosed, and women from outside the Lower Mainland area.
In order to apply for a retreat, you must be a registered member with PWN. We need an application form and confirmation of your HIV status from a doctor or nurse. If you’re not already a member and apply for a retreat and membership at the same time, be sure to include your membership form.
Once you arrive at the retreat centre, there will be a mix of structured circles, workshops and free time. The only things you are required to attend are the opening circle on Friday night and the closing circle on Sunday. Otherwise, you can figure out what will benefit you most.
Workshops topics can include HIV treatment information, sexual health, learning about HIV and the body, advocacy, complementary therapies, self-care strategies, communication skills and more (each retreat is a little different). There are always some fun things thrown in (belly dancing is a popular Saturday night event!). Attendees are encouraged to lead workshops if they have skills they’d like to share. There is also a lot of free time to explore the grounds, go on guided walks, and relax with others and talk about whatever comes to mind.
For those who want to know more about planning a retreat, you can order our Retreat Planning Toolkit. It’s a resource for groups across Canada who can benefit from our learning process over the years. If you’d like more information about a specific retreat, please email us.
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