With Debbie Miller,  Lynne Mayo, and Pat Claeys, Karen Godfrey
May 2, 3, 4, 2008

$165 for private room, $125 shared room,  meals extra, price includes lodging at Beechcliff or Ravenwood

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A MASSAGE WITH KAREN GODFREY (recommended), CLICK HERE

If you have questions about the event, please call volunteer facilitator, Debbie Miller at 513-683-6514 or write her at drmiller@fuse.net . To register, please click here  

This retreat, in its 5th year, is a true Sanctuary tradition. Why is it so popular? One of its secrets is that it is not highly structured. Although shared hiking, dialoguing, and yoga practice are offered, there is no obligation to partake of all of the planned activities. You can enjoy the company of other like-minded women to the extent you seek company, while giving yourself permission to pursue guiltless solo time as you need -- whether it be for hiking, meditating, getting a massage from a skilled therapist, journaling, or napping under a tree. This retreat offers something rarely allowed in our busy lives -- expansive time and lots of choices on how to spend it. Beechcliff provides an ideal community-styled setting -- a handsome circa 1912 lodge situated among giant beech trees along a tranquil stretch of the Rocky Fork Creek. Ravenwood is a light-filled three story home overlooking the Rocky Fork Gorge, next to the renowned Ravenwood Listening Trail.

Quiet walks through nearby preserves, culminating with a guided tour through Cave Canyon Preserve. Time to unwind and let the magic of sanctuary renew your soul. Join the optional walks, simple yoga stretches, curl up on the porch swing with a good book or enjoy the rockers and quiet conversation with like-minded friends. We are intentionally creating a sanctuary within the Sanctuary where you can unwind and restore your energy in a pristine setting so that your inner voice can be heard. Women are used to taking care of themselves, and there is great humility and joy in sharing our  tasks together. Saturday evening will feature a healthy gourmet vegetarian meal prepared in a community manner by all participants. This dinner is often one of the highlights of the weekend, the perfect activity to bond deeply with others and literally "break some bread."

The Arc is delighted to help promote these excellent in-depth nature literacy programs:
EDGEe Advanced Naturalist Workshops
  Offered by the Cincinnati Museum Center  at the
  Edge of Appalachia Preserve
Series 4: Plant Galls & Their Makers, Bees,
Millipede &/Centipedes, Crawfish, Mushrooms

Cincinnati Museum Center introduces the fourth in a series of natural history workshops in the EDGEe Project that teach the identification and ecological relationships of Ohio flora and fauna.

Workshops OverviewSeries 4 focuses on five groups of organisms and unique ecology at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve. This series is a continuation of EOA’s systematic study and cataloging of preserve resources and field training for those interested in nature study.  All sessions are taught by professionals in their fields and in many cases have written books or conducted research on their topics.

The workshops are open to all skill levels, although naturalists, science educators, natural area managers and others in the natural sciences will find these workshops especially beneficial. Workshops are held at the 13,000 acre Richard and Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve (EOA) in Adams County, Ohio. Click here for registration information. Photo by Larry Henry

Recommended for people anyone wanting a better understanding of the Arc, including trail enthusiasts, prospective volunteers, future land stewards, landowners interested in conservation options, and anyone who loves nature and feels a kinship to the trees.

We will spend the morning learning why the Eastern temperate forest and its rivers that make our region unique on earth and sharing the goals of the Preserve System, as well as its accomplishments. In the afternoon we will take a tour of Highlands Nature Sanctuary, including Beechcliff, Cave Canyon, and Hermitage.

Saturday, Dec 6, 2008  1pm - 4pm

       Here is an event for the whole family! Held at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary, it is a great way to tour some of the Sanctuary's trails and facilities. Begin your tour by visiting the Appalachian Forest Museum at Cave Canyon (previously 7 Caves) .  Here you can view the wintry cliffs of the Rocky Fork Canyon from the new Observation Deck, watch a short nature slide show and listen to live music by local artist . Children can taste wild sassafras tea, make their own buckeye candies, and create nature crafts for the holidays.  There is free refreshments for all. The Museum's new Gift & Book Shop features  locally crafted gifts, hand-carved wooden figures and flutes, paintings, greeting cards, nature-orientated books for children and adults, and Native American inspired books, gifts, and music. Hike the Etawah Woods Trail, a 1/2 mile trail that takes you down into the breathtakingly beautiful Rocky Fork Gorge. After enjoying all of these activities at Cave Canyon, pick up a map from the Museum and take a driving tour of Beechcliff and Hermitage Overnight lodges.  Beechcliff offers more craft activities for the children, and additional refreshments--plus a crackling fire in the old stone fireplace, bringing cheer to this handsome 1912 renovated hunting lodge.  Click here for Directions.  No fee nor registration required for this event.