WHAT IS VILLAGE?
VILLAGE is a family retreat based on cultivating community.
It is an opportunity to leave the duties and patterns of your normal daily life behind and come into connection with other women, men, children and families who also wish to discover, inquire, and contemplate on a body-mind-soul level what it means to come into relationship with the nutrient of community and belonging.
This year, VILLAGE is being born out of a deep longing within me to experience belonging on a level I never have before. This is vulnerable, raw, confronting, and seems to be in direct opposition to the collective cries of us vs them.
Brene Brown said, “The opposite of fitting in, is belonging.”
We are living in a time when tensions are high, where families are nuclear, and we don’t look each other in the eye.
It is not uncommon for your neighbors to be complete strangers. We are more concerned with fitting in with the material superficial priorities of the world than we are with our own well being.
To me, it feels like so many people are flickering and fading, their brilliant, potent, and unmatched light getting weaker and hazy as they try to contort themselves into something they are not to simply get by.
At times like these, we need humanity’s lights blazing like a thousands of fire-y suns. We need people who are connected to their one-of-a-kind fire to alight change and transformation in microscopic ways and huge ways if we are going to make it out of these wild times with our souls intact.
VILLAGE RETREAT INCLUDES
3 days and 2 nights stay at Homestake Lodge, on the Continental Divide. You get the choose the accommodations that fit your family best (see options below).
Women’s work, men’s work, couples’ work, and children’s outdoor-based activities.
Childcare by experienced, well-qualified caregivers during scheduled times so parent's can drop in together, attend practices and workshops.
2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and snacks all ancestral diet based, organic, pasture raised, locally sourced and cooked by our incredible chef, Erin Hilgendorf (see more about Erin below).
A beautiful family based opening and closing ceremony.
Facilitated discussion, sharing, and connection around what community is and how to cultivate more of this nutrient in our modern world
Evening community bonfires, family dancing and playing under the stars.
The venue is 300 acres of private land backed by national forests and full of trails to explore with bikes or on foot.
Free time to be together as a family exploring in the wild nature all around you
WHERE WILL WE BE?
We will be nestled into the Highland Mountains that the Continental Divine passes through. 78 miles from Bozeman, MT or 13 miles from Butte, MT.
The property is tucked away with nature trail out the doors to meadows, streams, and mountains. The main lodge is where we’ll share out meals and create community, connection and conversation. The lodge has plenty of room to spread out and find nooks for privacy when needed. Weather permitting, we will hold workshops in the covered outdoor pavilion. We will also hold practices outside on the grass and sometimes inside the main lodge as well.
If you are flying, you would fly into Bozeman (BZN) or Butte (BTM) and rent a car to drive to the venue. We cannot organize any transport so you are responsible for getting to the venue and leaving the venue on your own. We will have a zoom meeting two weeks before the retreat begins and you are welcome to connect with other families’ that are attending and organize transportation between yourselves.
TIME IN NATURE
A huge part of VILLAGE is the opportunity for you and your family to spend time disconnected from technology and in connection with the Earth together. So much of embodiment and brining our our unique essence forward, is coming into connection with the Earth of our bodies and the present moment.
There will be time to relax and just be together.
There are lots of trails to walk or hike on.
ANCESTRAL ORGANIC LOCALLY SOURCED MEALS, PREPARED IN DEVOTION TO NOURISHMENT, EATEN TOGETHER
If you know me, good, devotional food is one of my highest values. I would love to cook and feed every single one of you, but alas, it’s not possible to do it all. However, I found Erin Hilgendorf, who shares my intense reverence for food and nourishment. She, Sean and I are going to lovingly and devotionally procure and prepare everything we eat at VILLAGE.
Highlighting as much of Sean and I’s garden bounty as possible!
Erin alchemizes integrative and physical medicine, herbal, and spiritual studies, movement practices and life experience into mentorship and containers for healing, as well as works as a retreat and private chef. She has a doctorate degree in Naturopathic Medicine as well as many other certifications and personal practices that make her the absolute perfect person to chef VILLAGE. She will be holding and may lead us in a practice as well.
We hope to make our meals a centerpiece of our experience. To slow down, enjoy, take in the tastes, smells, sight of beautiful food. Meals will be simple, nutritious, and filling.
We know when kids are involved there can be a lot of preferences and we are going to do our best to make sure the food is kid friendly and also satisfying for the adults.
We cannot accommodate a lot of dietary restrictions, but if there is a very serious food allergy we should be aware of please do let us know.
You will not be allowed to have/use any drugs or alcohol at this retreat (this includes marijuana). These do not fit within the VILLAGE ethos and we don’t want to bring any of the energies that come with those substances into our sacred space. This retreat is about being fully present with yourself and your family. If you do drink or smoke pot regularly we advise stopping a month prior to coming to VILLAGE so that it’s more comfortable for you to be without and you can drop in at the level everyone else.
RETREAT PRICING
Includes all food, programming, childcare, and common space use (this price does not include lodging. See lodging options below). I am very much trying to keep costs as low as possible without sacrificing on quality of our food and quality of experience. The lodging prices reflect the cost of renting Homestake Lodge, nothing more.
$777 per adult + accommodation of choice, book lodging for your family below.
Kids (under age 12) - $444. (infants under 2 years are free)
Contact me, clara@clarawisner.com, if you need a different payment plan option.
Your Lodging Choices
Reserve the lodging of your choice by selecting which accommodation you will be staying in for 2 nights for you and your family.
Worley Cabin
Perched on a hillside, this cozy cabin has a queen bed and small fold out couch. It’s got a kitchenette, private bathroom with shower, and fireplace. It also has a fold out couch. This cabin is ideal for a family of 3. Just a short walk to the main lodge.
$733 for entire cabin for 2 nights. Check in 3pm on August 22nd. Check out 4pm August 24th.
Moore Cabin
This cabin has a large deck to hang outside and sleeps 4 people with a queen bed and twin bunk beds. It also has a kitchenette, private bathroom, and fireplace. Just a short walk to the main lodge.
$888 for entire cabin for 2 nights. Check in 3pm on August 22nd. Check out 4pm August 24th.
Smith Cabin
This cabin is the largest sleeping 4-6 people. The loft has a queen bed and a twin bed. The main floor has a twin and couch that pulls out into a full bed. Just a short walk to the main lodge.
$965 for entire cabin for 2 nights. Check in 3pm August 22nd. Check out 4pm August 24th.
The Yurt
This is great for families that are used to camping as it’s a little more rugged than the cabins, but totally delightful.
Secluded int the forested hills with a private porch and seating for unobstructed views of Montana’s big sky, the yurt sleeps up to 6 people. The yurt has a small camping style kitchen and propane is provided. It has a table, chairs, futon, fireplace as well as outdoor restroom.
It is also a 10 minute walk to the lodge, so it’s more secluded than the cabins. You can drive a car to it and park outside. The beds have fitted flannel sheets and pillows but you must bring your own sleeping bags and blankets.
$770 for yurt for 2 nights. Check in 3pm on August 22nd. Check out 11am August 24th.
Camping/Camper Spots
There are two spots for tents or camper parking on the property. These do not come with any power or facilities, but your family is welcome to use the common bathrooms and showers in the lower level of the main lodge.
$333 per site for 2 nights. Check in 3pm on August 22nd. Check out 11am August 24th.
*TENTATIVE* RETREAT SCHEDULE
Friday, August 22nd
1-3pm. Check in. Get settled. Unpack. Let us help you with your unpacking, bags and wrangling kids.
4pm. Opening Ceremony. Connection to Place, Tenants of Sustainability
6pm. Dinner
7:30pm. Bonfire and deep sharing + music
Saturday, August 23rd
Sunrise. Greeting the sun together (totally optional, all family members welcome)
8am. Breakfast
10am-12pm. Women/Men/Kids separate activities/practices
12pm. Lunch
1-3pm Family Embodiment Practice + Community Discussion
3-6pm Family time
6pm Dinner
7:30pm Bonfire and family ecstatic dance
Sunday, August 24th
Sunrise. Greeting the sun together (totally optional, all family members welcome!)
8am. Breakfast
10-12pm. Couples Practices, Kid’s Activities (held apart)
12-1pm. Lunch
1-2pm Women’s/Men’s/Kid’s Embodiment Practice/Activities (held apart)
2-3 Closing Ceremony
3-4 pm departure
Meet the VILLAGE Community
Clara Wisner - Retreat Leader / Bioenergetic Nutritionist, teacher of Nourishment on all levels, mother, wife, and humanity lover. www.clarawisner.com
Sean Wisner - Retreat Leader / Transpersonal Facilitator, Breath work guide, father, husband, and gardener.
Fernanda Alocer* - Retreat Coordinator / Embodiment Guide
Erin Hilgendorf - Retreat Chef / Integrative foods chef / naturopathic doctor / medicine woman www.integrativechef.com
Jessica Cartwright- Family Embodiment workshop / yoga teacher, retreat host, energy workerwww.jessicaenergy.com
Homestake Lodge Staff and Land - holders / land, play, cabins, space www.homestakelodge.com
Kiddo Care Crew:
Lesa Sevin - Kid’s Wool Workshop / artist, Waldorf Educator, Crone
Celia Schahczenski - Grandmother
Lena Lewis - Kid’s Activities Host / Willow Sister
*TBD
