The retreat is composed of excellent speakers, oldtimers panel, small break out meetings, circle of love, short workshops, and "free time". There is an Al-Anon meeting on Saturday as one of the break out sessions. We are very mindful of the 12 steps and 12 Traditions of AA and Al-Anon. We incorporate AA/Al-Anon literature as much as possible. We highly recommend that you bring your Big Book and 12 & 12 as well as your Al-Anon literature. We have a short workshop on the traditions conducted by one of our oldtimers. Our break out discussion meetings focus on steps 2,3,6,7,10,11 and 12. The retreat centers on "God as you understand Him" and our goal is to provide an environment that will allow you to enhance your conscience contact with "God as you understand Him".
Each day starts with a lead meditation on the front lawn at sunrise and ends with a camp fire, weather permitting. We provide song books and have a sing-a-long around the camp fire. This is where we keep an eye out for candidates for the choir recital on Sunday morning, which is strictly voluntary.
We take a road trip to "Dry Falls" on Friday afternoon which is optional. For those that do not attend the Dry Falls excursion it is a good time to enjoy the ambiance of the Hinton Center. My favorite is the walk up the mountain (10 minute walk) through the woods to the outdoor chapel for a sunset lead meditation (pictures are in the photo gallery). What an awesome way to put the sun to bed.
This format was developed in the 1940s and handed down from Sponsor to Sponsee from one generation to the next. A schedule will be provided in your packet when you register with a detailed list of events.
My sponsor, a man sober for over 42 years, who has attended untold number of retreats made this comment on our way home from the retreat. "This has been the best retreat I have ever attended". We hope you will feel the same way.
