Care for Self, Care for Others: A Backcountry Retreat for Service Work Professionals

As a social or environmental service professional, you carry both joys and burdens of caring for others. This seminar is designed to increase awareness of secondary trauma that affects many in your professions. To help you recharge your spirit today and into your daily routine, we offer self-care tools to help you move forward through the challenges of life.

On this 5-day backpack we will come together for discussions on self-care, create an intentional community space, and simply enjoy our natural surroundings. You will walk away from this experience with a renewed ability to focus, connect with self, and be present for your professional and personal life. While professional guides lead you through the backcountry, you will learn the basics of backpacking and wilderness camping, giving you the skills to craft your own future adventures. Our backcountry trek also sets aside time for a "solo" - an opportunity for structured time alone to connect with the natural world and explore the wilderness within and outside of us.

Join us in Yosemite this summer for an unforgettable time of restoration.

Highlights:

• Introduction to self-care practices in response to secondary trauma
• Facilitated group discussions, sharing stories and experience
• Extended solo experience
• Daily yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises
• Backpacking, hiking, and camp-craft skills
• Immersion in granite peaks and forests of the Yosemite wilderness

Itinerary:

Wednesday
We will gather at our designated campground in Yosemite National Park at 3:00 pm for introductions, intention setting and an orientation to the course. In the late afternoon we will dive into our yoga practice and get acquainted with each other and the wilderness of Yosemite. We will organize and review gear and food, learn about the basics of packing for backcountry travel, and conclude the evening by sharing a delicious camp meal which includes local and organic foods. After dinner, there will be time for group activities, sharing stories, and stargazing as we settle in for our first night in the mountains.

Thursday
We will greet the day with gentle yoga and breathing exercises. After a nourishing breakfast we will pack our backpacks and depart for the trailhead where we will begin our Yosemite wilderness adventure. We will hike to first our backcountry camp at a moderate pace, allowing for time to enjoy wildflowers, stones, and streams on our route. The afternoon includes conversation, guided group and partner activities, as well as instruction in camp-craft and Leave No Trace wilderness ethics. Our evening program includes facilitated group discussion and activities exploring our theme of self-care through integration in the natural world.

Friday and Saturday
The next two days include daily hikes, discussions and activities related to secondary trauma, as well as an integration of yoga, movement, and breathing exercises. In addition to the adventure of backpacking, each day provides opportunities for swimming in alpine lakes, day hikes to sweeping views of the High Sierra, or relaxing in our backcountry "hammock lounge". Evenings are set aside for dharma talks, wilderness education, creative journaling, music-making or quiet contemplation around the campfire.

Sunday
Sunday morning we will continue with our morning sessions, and enjoy our last breakfast in the field before we pack our backpacks and begin our hike back to the trailhead.

Our adventure concludes by 2 p.m. with closing activities and good-byes.

Note on Itinerary:

This schedule is an outline. It is subject to change depending on the needs of the group and of course moods of the elements. It allows for spontaneous inspiration. This program operates rain or shine.

Price Includes:

Professional instruction and guiding, campground and permit fees, first-aid supplies, and group gear for backpacking and camping. Balanced Rock provides delicious and high-quality meals, cooking gear, and water purification supplies.

Not Included:

Transportation to and from your hometown to Yosemite, park entrance fees, and personal items.

Travel:

The driving time to Yosemite from the Bay Area is 3.5-4 hours and varies depending on traffic and road conditions. For California highway conditions visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/ or call 1-800-427-7623. For the latest road conditions and advisories in the park, call 1-209-372-0200 then press 1. You are required to carry and be prepared to use tire chains.

Important Information about Air Travel:

Prior to purchasing your airline tickets contact Balanced Rock to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required. info@balancedrock.org or 209-379-9453.

Closest Airports:

Fresno, CA: 103 miles; Oakland, CA: 159 miles; Sacramento, CA: 170 miles

Public Transportation and Carpooling:

There is excellent train and bus transportation to Yosemite Valley. For information on public transportation options please visit: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/publictransportation.htm. Once you are enrolled we will send you detailed pre-trip information including options for carpooling.

Accommodations:

Our first night will be at a campground near the trailhead. The following three nights will be in the backcountry. All four nights, we will be sleeping in tents or under the stars.

Qualifications:

This trip requires the ability to hike and carry a pack at altitudes ranging from 6,000 to 9,000 feet, over varying mountain terrain. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise routine prior to the course. We also recommend that you stay well-hydrated prior to departure to assist in adjusting to altitude. Please see notes in the welcome letter for further information on preparing for our adventure. Appropriate and open to all levels of backpackers and yoga practitioners.

Weather:

Daytime temperatures can range between 50°-90° F. Mountain weather can change quickly. It is common to have clear sunny mornings with building clouds and afternoon showers followed by clear starry skies at night. Please check the forecast frequently before your course and plan accordingly. Visit the Yosemite National Park "Plan Your Visit" site for detailed information and weather-related links. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hours.htm

General Information:

Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. Detailed pre-trip information, including directions to the meeting place, will be sent when you enroll.

We look forward to creating a special experience that you'll never forget! Why wait?