Mary Oliver is a beloved poet who has a knack for helping us see nature more closely, while coming to understand ourselves better. Her poems inspire each day's theme. (No previous knowledge of Mary Oliver, or poetry, is required.) The retreat will take place in the Loess Hills, home to some of Iowa’s last remaining wild places. You can link to the event on Facebook here.
Session offerings will include a variety of dynamic personal discovery techniques, meditation, yoga, and ample quiet reflection. One example of this year’s programming is “The Law of Three” with Nancy Markow. Healing practitioners will be onsite to provide individual sessions, including massage, for an added fee. The themes emerging include anger and appetite—both areas of historical stigma and confusion for women. Our discussion will be aimed at exploring and transforming our relationship to both, so we can recognize and utilize their gifts.
All meals will be provided, beginning with dinner on Thursday evening and concluding with lunch on Sunday. Snacks are included and abundant. We will have gluten-free and vegetarian options, featuring locally produced and foraged ingredients. (The kitchen will not be fully gluten-free, so if cross-contamination is a concern, please let us know and we will discuss options.) Coffee and herbal tea is also included.
—————
—————
Tuesdays beginning January 17, 2023
The Loess Hills: A Place-Based Writing Workshop (Virtual/Zoom) — The Loess Hills comprise a unique landform running primarily along the western edge of Iowa but also reaching into South Dakota, Missouri, and Nebraska. The wind-deposited steep slopes of loess are globally unique, with only one other matching site in the world. Its unique topography provides protection for hidden pockets of wildness, including some of the last remaining remnant prairie in the state. An important corridor for migration, and a repository of endangered and threatened species, its ecological significance cannot be overstated. Like most places, it also has a human story, a history of habitation, cities and towns, railroads that came and went, and visionaries of all kinds. From the Black Angel statue in a cemetery in Council Bluffs, to the ancient remains uncovered near Turin, to the story of a ranging mountain lion sporting a radio collar from Nebraska, or the history of agriculture in the valleys between the ridge lines, the older story of bison and elk, or the even older story of the Ice Age, the hills are alive with stories.
Using a variety of examples, prompts and exercises, we will explore the hills creatively, crafting poems, stories and short memoir that reflect the unusual terrain and the experiences held there. We will use the hills as a metaphor to pursue our own internal stories, as well. Whether you already have a connection to the Loess Hills, or your interest is sparked and you’d like to learn more, you will leave this workshop with a renewed appreciation for their fragility and majesty, and multiple new drafts of creative work.
Participants will be invited (but not required) to share a sample of their completed work at a Loess Hills Writers event.
This workshop is brought to you by The LoHi Trail, a network of people coming together to explore a sustainable, long distance walking route through the Loess Hills, combined with ideas and enthusiasm for preservation of the steep slopes and fragile ecosystem. We recognize that there is also a trail of stories.
—————
December 10, 2022
Larksong Writers Place's Third Annual Reading & Writing Holiday Party (Virtual/Zoom) — Let’s kick off the Holiday Season with some fast-paced writing and short but powerful reading sessions!
Our readers and workshop leaders this year include well-known poets and prose writers, including Kelly Madigan, Ryan Boyland, Michelle Pierce Lyles, Kevin Clouther, Amelia Montez, Marge Saiser, Twyla Hansen, Karen Shoemaker, and Lucy Adkins.
The format is simple. We alternate five-minute readings with 15-minute mini writing workshops that start with a craft talk and end with a writing prompt. Five readings, four workshops, so you’ll not only leave the event inspired but you’ll have some new writing too!
After the presentations there’s time for a Q&A with writers and other participants.
Fill up your fountain pens, sharpen your pencils or charge those computers! This event is flat out fast-paced fun!
——————
2022 LOHI TREK MAY 28-30 (Register here!) — Explore Iowa's Fragile Giants on foot! This year, the second LoHi Trek will primarily be through the Loess Hills State Forest, with a combination of County Conservation property and the Little Sioux Scout Ranch. The entire 3 day trip will be approximately 25 miles. Actual route will be provided to registered attendees prior to hike.
This is a semi-rugged hiking and camping experience. Attendees should be prepared for being outdoors for extended periods of time in Iowa in late May (sun, heat, bugs, wind, rain, etc.). Bring your own tent and sleeping gear. This year camp will remain in one spot - at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch - and we will shuttle hikers to the start and back from the end points each day. We have rented the Administration Building, where morning and evening meals will be held, and showers, bathrooms, electric outlets and A/C are available. We are working to provide Loess Hills educational/entertainment pop-ups each day. Registration fee also includes a commemorative bandana. Please let us know about any dietary restrictions or other accommodations as soon as possible.
This event can be as social or as solitary as you prefer - while we will make sure you don't get left behind, we will respect your wishes to hike alone if you would like to do so. While it can be a time for deep introspection, it is also a great time to meet fellow adventurers and create friendships!
This Lo Hi Trek is made possible by Golden Hills RC&D, the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, Friends of the Loess Hills State Forest, Monona County Conservation, Kelly Madigan, and additional supporters.
There are a limited number of registration slots available and may sell out. Financial assistance may be available dependent upon need. Please send us a message to inquire. Please note that Eventbrite fees on top of registration fees will total about $12.
——————
One Wild and Precious Life — A women’s retreat honoring the nature poems of Mary Oliver
June 6-9, 2019 in Castana, Iowa
Mary Oliver is a beloved poet who has a knack for helping us see nature more closely, while coming to understand ourselves better. Her poems inspired each day's theme. The retreat took place in the Loess Hills, home to some of Iowa‘s last remaining wild places. Session offerings included a variety of personal discovery techniques, meditation, yoga, and ample quiet reflection. Outdoor sleepers brought their own tent or vehicle for camping, indoor sleepers had a choice of beds and indoor bathroom facilities. Healing practitioners provided individual sessions, including massage. All meals were provided, and snacks are included and abundant. Gluten-free and vegetarian options, featuring locally produced and foraged ingredients were offered. The outdoor nature shower remarked on by multiple guests.
Our presenters have many years of practice facilitating wonderful experiences for groups, and are deeply immersed in their respective spiritual traditions. There will be a combination of activities and unstructured time. This retreat is open to women, but we will have men present in support roles. There is a friendly outside dog and cat that live on site.
Your registration will be accepted after you have paid. Please provide an email address which will be used to confirm receipt of your payment, and to provide check-in information and logistics. Indoor sleeping spots will be chosen in the order that registration is received. They will sell out.
FAQs
Is there a minimum age requirement?
18 and over.
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
You are responsible for getting yourself here, but if you are looking for carpool options, especially from Lincoln or Omaha, there may be an opportunity to connect with others coming from those areas.
What should I bring?
If you register for outdoor sleeping arrangements, please bring a tent, or make arrangements to share a tent with another participant. Bring whatever you may need to camp comfortably. You will have daytime access to an indoor flush toilet, night access to a composting toilet in a private location, and an outdoor shower. Bring your own towel.
Drug use is not permitted on site so please don’t bring them. Alcohol will not be provided as part of the registration. We expect to be intoxicated by our surroundings! You may bring your own alcohol, but please use it in moderation.
You will want sunscreen and bug repellent. Please bring a refillable water bottle.
Depending on the weather, you may have the opportunity to swim in the farm pond, float on an air mattress, or try out a canoe or kayak. For this you may want a swimming suit or other water-appropriate attire.
Bring your yoga mat, hiking shoes, sunglasses, a pen and notebook, and your favorite camp chair. If you own a pair of binoculars, you'll want to bring them along. Cash for any add-on services you chose, or to tip your servers.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
E-mail Kelly at NebraskaKelly@gmail.com
Is my registration fee transferrable?
If your plans change, you can get a refund of half of your fee, up to 10 days prior to the event. After that, you may transfer your registration to another person.