Registration Deadline: January 24, 2025 @11:59pm

Join Us for our first Trailblazers Transformative Radiance Weekend Retreat (for BIPOC women 50+) sponsored by AARP Colorado!

Are you a mother taking care of little ones or adult children and you’d also like some dedicated downtime to honor yourself? Or perhaps you’re caring for aging parents with too little time to give yourself the much needed rest and relaxation you deserve? Even if you’re caring for clients, nieces and nephews, neighbors or anyone you may be pouring your heart into, it’s likely that you could use some pampering, too. Because all of it is caregiving, and we believe you deserve a break!

Women of color are often the sole providers of care for their families and communities and are far too often the last to receive nurturing care, rest, and recreation for themselves. That’s why Trailblazers is excited for the support of AARP Colorado on this transformative three-night, four-day experience taking place from Thursday, January 30 to Sunday, February 2, 2025.

This retreat is specifically designed for BIPOC women and femme-identifying individuals aged 50+ who also identify as caregivers. This extended weekend retreat offers a unique opportunity to relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect—with themselves, with others, and with the natural world.

The experience will focus on mindfulness, self-reflection, and self-compassion, fostering a deep sense of community and belonging in nature. Participants will enjoy:

• Comfortable lodging
• Nourishing meals
• Engaging with nature
• Shared art and culinary activities
• Communal dining experiences
• Yoga and guided meditation
• And more!

Take a step back from the demands of daily life and join us for a weekend designed to nourish your mind, body, and spirit in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Retreat Details:

• Who: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) women and non-binary people 50 years and older
• Date: Thursday, January 30 – Sunday, February 2, 2025
• Time: 1pm (Thursday) – 12pm (Sunday)
• Price: $100/$150/$200 (Our heartfelt gratitude to AARP Colorado for their generous sponsorship of this retreat, which enables us to offer accessible pricing to participants)
• Meeting location: Women’s Wilderness headquarters, 1206 Euclid Avenue, Boulder CO. Retreat location: Sunshine Mountain Lodge, Allenspark, Colorado
• Included in fee: lodging and sleeping accommodations (including linens, bedding, towels, free wifi), all meals (coffee/tea, and snacks), transportation to and from the venue (from Women’s Wilderness), gear rental, professional facilitation and guides, arts and crafts, and AARP-branded giveaways

About Sunshine Mountain Lodge:

Sunshine Mountain Lodge offers five cozy guest cabins, each featuring at least three beds. During the retreat, you’ll share a cabin with up to two other guests. Every cabin is equipped with its own bathroom, a small kitchenette, a propane heater, a comfortable sitting area, a dining table, and a wood-burning fireplace.

In addition to the private cabins, guests have access to a shared lodge space, which includes a spacious gathering room, a fully equipped kitchen, a coffee bar, and a welcoming dining area perfect for group meals and connections.

What to Wear & Bring:

• Indoor clothing – comfortable clothing, pajamas, socks, underwear, slippers/indoor shoes
• Outdoor clothing:

  • Warm layers on the top and bottom (wool or synthetic base layers, 1-2 midlayers)
  • Winter jacket and snow pants
  • Warm wool socks
  • Winter/snow boots
  • Winter hat, gloves or mittens
  • Sun protection – Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat

• Snowshoes; trekking poles with snow baskets (we will provide both if needed)
• Personal daypack, water bottle
• Yoga mat (we will provide, as well)
• Journal, pen, pencil
• Your own snacks and special food (not required)

About Trailblazers:

Our instructors are women of color with in-depth wilderness training and teaching experience, a shared passion for the outdoors, and for this growing program! Through intentional planning and leadership, the Trailblazers experience invites the collective intelligence and histories of our constituents to create outings that bridge our divides and elevate our sense of wonder, agency, and belonging in nature.

This is a BIPOC only space. Learn more about Trailblazers and our Affinity Groups.

Questions? Email support@womenswilderness.org.

Your Instructors:

Kriste (she/her) is the Executive Director at Women’s Wilderness, as well as a passionate outdoor enthusiast who loves being in community while in nature. She’s all about bringing mindfulness and storytelling into the mix in ways that heighten the inner and outer adventure by teaching us more about ourselves and our surroundings. She’s also a trail runner, writer, and Wilderness First Responder.

Christine Harrell’s (she/her) journey into Yoga and Ayurveda began in 2015, when she graduated from the National Yoga Academy and the Prison Yoga Project, focusing on trauma-informed yoga for underserved communities, particularly incarcerated individuals. Her passion led her to found a non-profit organization in her hometown of Virginia, where she continued her work in healing and empowerment. Christine has certifications in Ahimsa Japa Meditation from Wise Earth Ayurveda School and becoming an Ayurveda Wellness Counselor and Ayurveda Yoga Teacher through OM Yoga Journey. She gained a deep understanding and experience in Ayurveda during an internship at Ayurvedagram in Bangalore, India, and completed specialized training in Ayurvedic facials from Kerala University. Christine is also a licensed massage therapist, specializing in Ayurvedic facials, Ayurvedic Therapies, Deep Tissue, Swedish, Prenatal, and Thai Yoga massage.

Amber is a blind Black woman who has found her greatest strength in self-acceptance. In a world built for able-bodied white people, this realization has freed her from the constraints of racism, ableism, and capitalism. Driven by her mission to share this transformative power, Amber uses blindfolded experiences to guide others towards profound self-acceptance, helping them achieve a life of freedom, flow, and love.

Lisa (she/her) is the Coordinator of Logistics & Facilities at Women’s Wilderness, as well as a retired firefighter paramedic who finds physical and mental respite in nature, and loves to share these benefits with nature newcomers! Wildlife, plants, and outdoor skills are her jam and she hopes to pass on some useful knowledge. She holds degrees in healthcare science, zoology, and outdoor education.