Greetings Honored Guests,
Trees are budding, birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and that means summer isn’t far off. The Breitenbush Community and the SSHR Council are excited to host Summer Solstice Healing Retreat for the 43rd time. Registration begins on Sunday, April 24th, 2022 at 6pm.

It’s been too long since we’ve gathered to sing, dance, hug old friends, celebrate our children and soak in the healing waters and loving essence that permeates Summer Solstice Healing Retreat.

This year’s theme is “Metamorphosis: Celebrating Changes and Growth in Ourselves and Breitenbush (even the hard stuff).” How has your life transformed over these past two years? We’ve all been through a lot, especially Breitenbush, which has grappled with its very survival. Let’s gather our loving spirits and collectively heal ourselves and honor the resurrection of this sacred place where so many have gathered for millennia to soak and celebrate in peace. We need to proliferate peace more than ever right now! 


Registration

To ensure each guest’s needs are met to the best of our abilities, Breitenbush will send out a questionnaire on April 22nd at 6pm as part one of two parts for this year’s registration process. There are a limited number of inside accommodations available and the questionnaire will assist the Breitenbush Guest Experience Team in understanding each registrant’s needs. SSHR registration is on a first come, first serve basis. The questionnaire will enable the Guest Experience Team to assign accommodations before they accept payment. If you’re tent camping, chances are excellent that you’ll get a spot.

They will then send out a registration form to the first eligible 160 adults (all children are welcome and not counted towards the 160) that filled out the questionnaire and an apology to those Breitenbush cannot accommodate this year.

As is tradition, registration fees are on a sliding scale $180-$420. Our recommended amount to pay is $290 per adult.

Please note that the amount you pay Breitenbush enables Breitenbush to rebuild more guest accommodations, infrastructure, and bring back beloved offerings. As you may know, all of the guest cabins burned down in the 2020 fire! Breitenbush is on the precipice of survival, so everyone’s generosity will make a difference in the continuity of this place we love.


What To Expect This Year

  • Karma Yoga Everyone is asked to volunteer 8 hours throughout this event. You can help in the kitchen, do fire prevention, pitch in at Youth Village, assist guests with special needs, and much more. Sandy will be at the Karma Yoga table to help you find out what is needed.
  • Workshops Share the richness of your knowledge & skills and learn from others. There will be a link where you can sign up to offer a workshop sent with your registration confirmation. Workshops are vetted and coordinated by the fabulous Workshop Team on the SSHR Council.
  • Youth Village offers a safe and creative space for 4-18 year olds during afternoon workshops. Teens can hang out after hours. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all other times. 
  • No/Know Talent Show Poetry, music, perform a skit….The SSHR audience is incredibly supportive and fun!
  • Solstice Ritual Saturday night we will gather to sing, dance and celebrate the Solstice.
  • Lots of Music Bring your voice & instruments to serenade this forest and each other.
  • Laughter It’s good for your health.
  • Kindness When kindness reigns, everyone gains.
  • Giveaway Circle This is our closing event on Sunday morning. Everyone brings a treasure to pass on and gets to choose a memento to bring home. 

We will not be offering Massage or Alternative Healing this year in the spirit of encouraging safety and distancing within our structured activities. 


What About COVID?

The SSHR Council has spent the majority of our planning time on this topic. Here are the policies that we feel are needed to reduce the risk of exposure.

Registration & Parking Lot Protocols

  • Attendees are asked to minimize social contact the week before SSHR.
  • Everyone is required to show proof of one of the following: 
  • Proof of vaccination (Shots and boosters)
  • A PCR lab verified test showing a negative result having been taken within 3 days prior to the event
  • Or proof you’ve had COVID by showing a PCR lab verified test dated 14-90 days prior to SSHR showing a positive test result.
  • EVERYONE in the parking lot is required to wear masks. (Arriving Guests, Council, Volunteers, Breitenbush Staff)

These documents must be presented upon arrival in the parking lot (please be masked).

Anyone not bringing one of these documents will be sent home.

During The Event 

  • Everyone is required to wear masks indoors (Guests, Council, Volunteers, Breitenbush Staff) unless they are in their private accommodations or eating in the ventilated dining room
  • We strongly encourage everyone to eat outside
  • Please do not brush your teeth in the Lodge bathrooms! 
  • Tooth brushing can happen at your campsites or at the large stainless steel sinks outside of the Lodge in between meal times
  • The Sauna is one cohort at a time, meaning that if there is already a group or individual there please knock and ask when they will be done before you enter. Communication, consent, and patience are key in navigating risk exposures safely
  • We will discuss COVID Consent Culture in our registration packet and post signage reminding participants about COVID Consent Culture in key areas.
  • The Workshop Team will send out criteria regarding COVID safety procedures for workshop offerings. 

WE ARE COMMITTED TO KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE!

What has touched the Breitenbush Community since the fire, and since reopening to guests last Summer Solstice, has been the guests’ generosity, patience and empathy. Things aren’t what they used to be, but sometimes change puts things in perspective and allows us to appreciate the elemental graces of a special place. This is Metamorphosis in practice. 

May this be THE BEST SOLSTICE EVER!!!!

With Love,
The Summer Solstice Healing Retreat Council
And Breitenbush Events Team