Choose Your Own Adventure this September
If you know us, you know that we are all about choice. We encourage you to listen to your personal needs and practice our favorite self-care technique:
“Don’t should all over yourself.”
….or anyone else for that matter.
September 15-17, 2023 we return to Camp Olson in Longville, MN for…
Art Movement Nature
The premise? Engage/appreciate art in any form. Find the creative outlet that works best for you. The health benefits of not only creating, but consuming art in a wide variety of forms are enormous!
A special sneak peek at our weekend itinerary below! If you’re a planner/visualizer, this might help you picture yourself in the woods with the power to choose.
The focus is: “Your Brain on Art”
This retreat is about everyday accessibility to engage in or appreciate art! Art comes in many forms: painting, sketching, photography, embroidery, sunsets, fall leaves, water color, zentangle, yoga, and more! Art is everywhere. It’s developing our awareness to appreciate, as well as get curious and open to it, that’s key! Either as a creator or witness, taking advantage of getting “your brain art” has massive health benefits.
Options, Options, Options
While we always emphasize choice, this retreat will bring exciting options at Camp Olson that we’ve never offered in the past. You will have A LOT of options to choose from over the weekend. Here they are!!
Aesthetic Mindset Paddle + Hike in “The Shurds”
Bryana is jumping for joy at the opportunity to lead a small group paddle + hike at this retreat. The location is at “The Shurds” lakes, which translates to cone shape, and is a private cluster of three small, yet deep and beautiful lakes with a 2.5 mile trail surrounding them. The group will paddle with provided canoes across the three serene lakes, park the canoes and hike approximately 1.5 miles.
Bryana shares more about this adventure: “This hike is actually one of my favorites in Minnesota. It feels like you’re on a Boundary Waters or State Park hiking trail. But, the best part is - there is NO ONE ELSE AROUND! The lakes and hiking trails are part of Camp Olson YMCA and are an amazing hidden gem. I’m excited I get to share it with you!
While on this adventure, we will apply aesthetic mindset concepts from our book “Your Brain on Art”. Engage in curiosity, open-ended exploration, keen sensory awareness, and beholding nature’s art.
Last year our retreaters did not have the option of enjoying this pristine part of the Camp Olson campus. We are thrilled to offer this option to hiking, paddling, and nature enthusiasts while at the retreat.
Yoga + Meditation
Amanda, Bryana, and Stacy will be leading you through feel-good yoga and meditation at this retreat. Appreciate the changing of the season. Enjoy a mix of gentle and energetic classes. We will weave the themes from our book selection, “Your Brain on Art” throughout our sessions.
As always, we emphasize options and the power to choose within each class so that you are honoring your unique needs and having the best experience possible.
Sound Bowls
A lovely long sound bowl session in savasana Saturday afternoon following our yoga practice. The best way to fully sink into your final relaxation posture and drift away. Music = art! There are enormous health benefits that come from mindful consumption of music and sound.
Creative Writing, Breathwork, and movement
Put pen to paper and let the words flow as Daphne leads you through a series of writing prompts with guided imagery, breathwork, and movement to write the story of your inner goddess. Writing without judgment or restraint, we will tap into our creativity and improve our mental health through the written word. Bring your journal, pen, and yoga mat.
Mixed-Media Art Mindfulness Session
After an inspiring and fulfilling weekend getting your soul filled, meet for a final art practice to seal in your experiences. Suggested materials: fabric, paper or canvas base to work on (can be a journal or sketchbook), materials or items collected over the weekend (leaves, paper bits, words, inspiration, writing snippets, magazine or book with pics you want to cut out and use), markers, pencil, watercolors, glue/glue stick/decoupage.
Zentangle
Zentangle is a mindfulness-based art practice that uses simple pen strokes to create complex patterns. You can get lost in the flow of the pen strokes, add shading and ta-da - You have a lovely piece of art! This is all about the process and you cannot make mistakes. Promise!
Embroidery
Learn and/or refresh yourself about embroidery! This gorgeous practice of embellishing fabric has been with humans for centuries. All you need are some basic tools, some inspiration and a guide to help you on your journey. You will learn how: to create a pattern, to use fabric markers, several stitches and ideas for finishing your pieces.
Book Club: Your Brain on Art
Art can relax and inspire us, but did you know the act of creating art improves your health and well-being? Join Amanda, Cat, and Daphne to discuss our retreat book club pick, “Your Brain on Art” by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. Let’s share our thoughts on the science behind making/appreciating art, and how we can fit more art into our day-to-day lives. We will end the discussion by creating a little poetry. Bring a pen or pencil and our book club book. Option to bring a second book that inspires you to craft a poem.
Creation Free-time
The power to just be and create. Don’t think you’re good at it? Do it anyway! Read more about this concept in Amanda’s recent blog: Dig Until You Discover the Artist Within: she’s dying to express herself.
Feel free to use our acrylic paints and paintbrushes to make your own creation. Of course you may bring your own paints and supplies as well. Opt to bring another creative art form that you’d like the space to enjoy as well!
Art Walk
The great part about “your brain on art” is the permission to simply CONSUME art is powerful. Whether it’s nature or human-made, witnessing art is powerful and has many health benefits
Set out art you created over the weekend, or bring your work from home if you have something you’d love to show off. We can set them out and walk around and ooh and ahhh at one another’s work. This is totally optional, just a time to recognize and witness one another with admiration!
**Bonus: if you feel like it, wear an outfit that expresses your individual style and creativity. The way we dress can be an opportunity for artistic expression!
Sunrise Forest Bathing Hike
Greet the northwoods for some fall forest bathing. Silent morning meditation hike. Bring journal (or sketch pad, watercolors, etc if that suits you! )
Sunrise Jog
Join Amanda for a gentle 3 mile jog. Enjoy a quiet gravel road through peaceful pines and along scenic Little Boy Lake to view the sunrise. Nature is art. Soak it in!
Go at your own pace or stick with Amanda. Option to turn around and make it shorter than 3 miles.
Outdoor Playtime
Kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, campfires, sauna + lake dip, hiking trails galore, outdoor yoga. Take in all the beauty of northern Minnesota in the fall.
EVEN MORE WONDERFUL EXTRAS TO ADD TO YOUR WEEKEND!
Massage
Local massage therapist, Jill Jacobson is back to provide the ultimate relaxing fall weekend for you! We send an email about a month prior to the retreat which includes a sign-up to add massage to your weekend.
Jill says massage is where she finds peace and relaxation; a way to ground herself and connect with the energy of others. Jill has been doing massage for about 9 years. She loves to be able to provide a modality where people can begin to heal and restore their mind, body, and spirit.
Thai Yoga Bodywork
Thai Yoga Bodywork is a wonderful modality to help you fully sink into your weekend. Alison Olson Cox a yoga teacher, Thai yoga bodyworker, and attorney. She is a pure treat in session! She helps you to feel so comfortable and relaxed. We send an email about a month prior to the retreat which includes a sign-up to add thai yoga bodywork to your weekend.
What is Thai Bodywork? Thai yoga bodywork both energizes and calms the mind and body through assisted stretching to increase flexibility, and subtle acupressure to relieve muscle tension and promote deep relaxation.
What to expect? You will lay on a futon mat and breathe. I will move from toes to head releasing tension, and facilitating mobility within your body. Please wear comfortable/loose clothing to aid in the practice.
Fresh Juice
Enhance Your Weekend - Treat Yourself to The Freshest Juice!
Sip back and relax with Jami Nelson’s fresh juice! This add-on really up-levels your overall wellness experience while on retreat. Read more about Jami and her small-business Just Juice here from our blog feature on her! Interested in juice while at the retreat? We will include purchasing options with our pre-retreat information prior to the retreat!
I’m not even kidding when I tell you I feel like a magical unicorn after drinking her delightful juice all weekend.
Photographer
We love Shawna Vine’s art! She is a Duluth photographer and will be joining us once again to capture the essence of our weekend retreat with perfection. We love her laid back style and ability to make you feel at ease in front of her camera. Thank you Shawna - we are so excited to have you return to retreat with us!
