[menscouncil] Research into potential sites for an offsite Retreat
Tom Chettleburgh
tchettleburgh at gmail.com
Sat Jan 21 08:29:24 CST 2023
Maybe one solution is doing an every-other-year off-site camp. Even though
our numbers will be 10-20 less, it could be attractive to younger men. The
off-site camp could offer more activities (canoeing, kayaking, archery,
etc). I’m just thinking out loud, but I do miss the retreats at a camp
where men played softball, swam across the lake (I realize this is not
happening in the late fall), played cards and socialized.
On Fri, Jan 20, 2023 at 7:45 PM Jim Schaefer <jim at jvscontrols.com> wrote:
> Nice summary on retreat locations John, thanks !
>
> Thought I would give results of the 28 survey responses so far. (BTW.. in
> retrospect I think question 2 is not very useful)
>
> My interpretation is that people are slightly in favor of off-site, but
> only 16 people said yes. In my mind 16 people is not enough momentum to
> change to off-site. I think if it were off site there are more people that
> would not come just because it was off site. Whereas if we held it at the
> church our numbers would probably be higher. At the church we probably end
> up serving more people.
>
> Jim
>
>
> Question 1:
>
> Hypothetically, if you were asked to sign up for the men's retreat today
> and it cost $160 for two nights at a camp no more than 1 hour away from the
> church would you sign up ? (Assume sleeping accommodations were 4 to 7
> people in a room and there was no tent camping available. Trailer or RV OK)
>
> 10 no
> 16 yes
>
> Question 2
>
> Would you attend if the only difference to the previous hypothetical
> question was that tent camping was allowed ?
> 10 no
> 15 yes
>
> QUestion 3
>
> The men's council cannot organize an off-site retreat without more help.
> Would you be willing to meet monthly and spend at least 10 hours in total
> making the off-site retreat happen ?
>
> 14 no
> 12 yes
>
>
> Comments:
> Love it!
> Since it's been over 3 years since we did an off-site retreat, and some
> men have never attended an offsite retreat, I'd like to put some context
> into the intro, such as "Some have expressed a desire to hold a Friday
> evening to Sunday morning retreat offsite at a summer camp location like we
> did for many years." Also, in the retreat location question, I believe it
> will be helpful to also add context to the type of room men will sleep in
> such as "Assume sleeping accommodations were 4 to 7 people in a cabin-style
> room and there was no tent camping available. Trailer or RV OK"
> I greatly preferred the on-site at the UUAA building format. I do not
> think I would do a multi-day off-site event, at least not this next time
> around.
> I would be glad to contribute to developing an agenda, but would leave the
> logistics to someone else. Although I may not attend the Appleton Men's
> Retreat next weekend as we may become grandparents this week, I have been
> involved in that agenda which we entitled "When is enough, enough?" which
> is addressing finances, social and work relationships, and self esteem.
> John Burke
> The coronavirus is still with us.
> I am happy with the local retreats and would prefer that we continue to
> hold them at the church.
> I thought the one-day format at the church was excellent
> 10/1 is my anniversary = often i can’t make the normal retreat weekend.
> 2023 =special, so extended blackout-dates. I would still help, but i am not
> available after 09/18 - 10/12
> I would probably come one night or the other and stay in my van. I do like
> the overnight component. I also enjoyed when we took time to make art or
> crafts that I otherwise find it hard to get started on.
> I can do specific tasks and attend occasional meetings, but I'd rather not
> meet regularly
> I will be happy to help plan future offsite retreats when I'm off the
> board in a year and a half.
> Sorry for not helping, but my slate is full right now.
> I would pay extra to be in a room with less than 4 people. 7 people in a
> room seems like a lot.
> It's hard to answer the hypothetical. I plan to attend the retreat in
> whatever form it happens. IF it's at UUAA again, I would strongly suggest
> getting small group time started on Friday evening to allow more time for
> focus and connection. I do not have time to join the planning and prep.
> Thank you.
> To be honest, I am still hesitant about being in larger in-person
> gatherings. So while I'd love to spend this kind of extended time with
> other UUAA men, I would say I am more of a "Maybe" at this point.
>
> On 1/20/2023 7:00 PM, Tom Chettleburgh wrote:
>
> John, Thank you. This is a great breakdown of these 4 camps. I agree
> with you that the best two options are Copneconic and Storer. I also like
> the idea of paying extra for some of the activities like canoeing/kayaking.
>
> With Copneconic, I wonder if the men will have an issue with the weekend,
> being a Michigan home football game, and the cost--we would probably want
> to charge $170 like the women. And this would not include a t-shirt. I am
> fine with missing the game, but others may not be--maybe we can arrange the
> day so we have a lengthy free time during the game.
>
> If the game limits attendance, Storer that last weekend in September may
> be our better option.
>
> Tom
>
> On Fri, Jan 20, 2023 at 11:40 AM John Russell <jrtreetown at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Tom, Jim, Bob, (other members of Men's Council included as FYI, but input
>> is welcome):
>> As I committed in our Men's Council meeting on Saturday, I contacted
>> some camps about a possible Men's offsite retreat in the Fall. I contacted
>> four camps - Camp Copneconic (where the UU women held a retreat this past
>> fall), Camp Storer (a "Y" camp similar to Camp Copneconic), Camp Talahi (a
>> camp used for Men's retreats up until about 10 years ago, when they
>> temporarily closed but are now open again), and Earthwell Retreat & Nature
>> Sanctuary. All are within an hour's drive from A2. What I learned from my
>> calls and other research:
>>
>>
>> 1. Earthwell Retreat <https://www.earthwellretreat.com>
>> - Jim Schaefer suggested looking into this camp, located outside
>> Manchester
>> - This camp offers "personal and group retreat experiences that
>> promote harmony with nature, self, and others
>> - 18 beds total across several cabins (and some of the beds are
>> upper bunks), 30-person indoor space with an outdoor tent for larger
>> gatherings, etc.
>> - This could be a great space for a quiet retreat for a smaller
>> group. They offer yoga, meditation, wellness themes. Food is catered, all
>> vegetarian, and focused on farm-to-table.
>> - We could rent the entire camp, but unfortunately it's *not large
>> enough and doesn't have lodging nor meeting facilities that we need*
>> .
>> 2. Camp Talahi <http://camptalahi.org/location/>
>> - Sleeping Space: 2 dorms, 22 bunk beds in each, plus three 500-600
>> sq ft cabins with 4 beds each. As far as space, I believe we need to make
>> an assumption that most men won't want to climb up to a top bunk. That
>> said, the 2 dorms would accommodate 44 of us, with the cabins holding the
>> rest. The cabins have no bathrooms.
>> - Breakout space: The main lodge has a meeting area indoors, plus
>> a front porch and a side porch, so breakout meeting space is available.
>> - Food: The camp has a commercial kitchen but it's not staffed.
>> They have an outside cook who can come in and cook for us. The current
>> owners closed on the property in June, construction/repairs are ongoing.
>> - Friday night potluck: not a problem.
>> - Tents, RVs not a problem because we have the whole camp.
>> - We could rent the entire camp at a cost of about $3,000-$3500.
>> ($60- about $70/person ) This does not include food.
>> - Dates Availability: The last two weekends in September are
>> booked. Sept 15-17 is available.
>> - Positives: We've held retreats there before. We can rent the
>> entire space so we have privacy as with past camps used for retreats.
>> - Negatives: The big dorm sleeping arrangements, repairs and
>> updates in progress.
>> 3. YMCA Storer Camp <https://www.ymcastorercamps.org>
>> - Used for Men's retreats about 20 years ago.
>> - Sleeping Space: Four "Modern Lodges" with each lodge having four
>> units that sleep 7 people each (not using top bunks), for a total of
>> 28/lodge. We could use 2 lodges and cutoff registration at 56, or I could
>> look into an additional lodge and/or a couple cabins. There are also
>> "Rustic Cabins" but those have no bathrooms so guys would have to walk to a
>> modern lodge to use the bathrooms.
>> - Breakout space: Each modern lodge has a common room with
>> couches, coffee tables and a fireplace. We could also use areas in the
>> dining hall or another large space (Doc Miller Learning Center)
>> - Food: Camp provides 4 meals (3 Saturday plus Sunday breakfast).
>> Dietary restrictions can be accommodated (Vegetarian, Vegan, etc.).
>> - Friday potluck: We could set up on Friday evening and do our
>> Friday potluck in the Doc Miller Learning Center.
>> - Tents, RVs: Per my contact he doesn't see a problem, but he said
>> he had to look into it and get back to me. Based on what Camp Copneconic
>> told me, I will say it's probably a No.
>> - This camp provides activities at an extra cost if we're
>> interested.
>> - Dates Availibility: Right now, the last 2 weekends in Sept are
>> available.
>> - Positives: I believe this camp has the space, food, availability
>> and features we need. My contact was very willing to work with us.
>> - Negatives: Other groups could also be at the camp at the same
>> time. The Dining Hall has 2 sides, so we could be somewhat separated, and
>> we'd have separate space for sleeping, breakouts, etc. No tents, RVs.
>> - Cost TBD. I would expect it will be similar to Camp Copneconic,
>> but if we're sincerely interested in this camp, I can nail it down more.
>> 4. YMCA Camp Copneconic <https://www.campcopneconic.org>
>> - The location scoped out by Jim Schaefer and Rick Witten prior to
>> the pandemic, and actually used for about 50 UU Women for a retreat in Fall
>> of 2022.
>> - I spoke with Judi Lintott, organizer for the women's 2022
>> retreat, who was very helpful with providing information.
>> - Sleeping space: The UU women used the Conference Center, which
>> has 20 separate rooms, each with a couple beds, plus a couple smaller
>> lodges. This is a large camp, and there are multiple lodges, so it will not
>> be a problem to arrange sleeping space.
>> - Breakout space: Dining Hall, Conference Center, a couple other
>> lodges. No problem.
>> - Food: The camp has it's own catering service. Dietary
>> restrictions will be accommodated. 4 meals provided (Sat breakfast, lunch,
>> dinner and Sunday breakfast)
>> - Friday Potluck: The women did this on Friday evening. The camp
>> provided silverware and utensils. We have to commit to no peanuts and no
>> tree nuts.
>> - This camp provides activities at an extra cost if we're
>> interested (Archery, ziplines, climbing wall, kayaks/canoes). Small
>> additional costs.
>> - No tent camping nor RVs. The camp contact (Zack) said they don't
>> have a license for tents and RVs, so they can't do it.
>> - The UU women did a fair amount of COVID precautions and actions
>> - e.g. everyone had to provide a negative self-test just before the
>> retreat, masks during breakouts indoors. We could also do this, or some
>> subset based on the COVID climate next fall.
>> - Availability: Weekend of Sept 22-24 is available. The following
>> weekend is not.
>> - Cost: $150/person to the camp. The UU women added $20/person for
>> incidentals.
>> - Positives: Tried and tested recently by the UU women. Visited
>> and actually booked for the men in the past (but cancelled due to COVID).
>> This camp has the space, food, availability and features we need. We can
>> separate our group into small groups for sleeping. The contact was very
>> willing to work with us.
>> - Negatives: Although the women had the camp to themselves, we may
>> not be alone, per the contact. The Dining Hall has 2 sides, so we could be
>> somewhat separated, and we'd have separate space for sleeping, breakouts,
>> etc. No tents, RVs.
>>
>> *My thoughts:*
>>
>> - My first choice/recommendation is Camp Copneconic. 2nd choice would
>> be Camp Storer.
>> - Talahi is too limited on sleeping accommodations. Also in a state
>> of remodeling/construction.
>> - Note: All of these places don't allow alcohol, so we absolutely
>> can't be openly drinking.
>> - We're "penciled in" for both Copneconic and Storer. I'll cancel one
>> when we have a decision.
>>
>> Let me know what you think.
>> - John
>>
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>>
>
> --
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