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Open Circle

Weekend Retreat

Journey Towards Hope: Navigating Uncertainty

Open Circle & CVC Weekend Retreat

Friday, January 12, 6:00pm – Sunday, January 14, 3:30pm

Renew, Reconnect, Reflect

Ground yourself in a journey of healing and inner peace on this weekend retreat as we navigate the turbulence of our times. Together we’ll connect with our yearnings for acceptance and tranquility while also acknowledging the things in our world and in ourselves that drain our spirits. Build your toolkit for daily living in 2024 through a variety of experiences to regulate your nervous system, elevate your mood, and practice calm.

Join us as we step away from the distractions of modern-day living to connect with ourselves and each other in a safe, respectful environment, with the opportunity to share our voices and listen deeply to others. Engage in contemplation and community through hiking, reflective exercises, creative arts, and meditation.

This retreat serves as a quiet space to re-center, recharge, and reflect on your growth through group activities, guided reflection, collaborative activities, creative expression, outdoor activities, silent time, mindfulness practice, as well as social time. We’ll create a community of engagement and intentionality while putting away our phones and connecting in person.

This retreat is thoughtfully crafted to restore you, not exhaust you. (See below for more information.) 

Cost & Deadline:

  • Registration Fee:  $30 + Friday dinner potluck item
  • Fees are non-refundable.
  • Included in your fee: activities, materials, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, hot beverages, and snacks
  • Saturday dinner not included - option to bring your own meal or purchase food in Westdale.
  • Financial assistance available if needed - contact leismb@mcmaster.ca

Guidelines for Participation:

We ask that you participate in the full retreat experience from Friday 6pm until Sunday 3:30pm. We invite you to better immerse yourself in this experience by limiting all other distractions such as phones, social media, emails, social plans, etc. 

To Register

Spots are limited. Your Spot is reserved when you do both of the following:

  • Step 1: Fill out the Registration Form (New Window)
  • Step 2: E-transfer your non-refundable fee to info@studentopencircles.com Spot is reserved when fee has been paid.

This retreat is available to McMaster undergraduate and graduate students. After December 15th, recent Open Circle/CVC alumni can register for spots that are open.

More Information

  • Gather for reflection, meditation, creative expression, silence, hiking, meals, and community connection.
  • We ask that you fully commit to the following retreat activity times: Friday 6:00-9:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-8:30pm, Sunday 10:30am-3:30pm
  • The retreat will take place in booked rooms in the student center which we will setup to have a cozy vibe and a sense of being "away."
  • DUE NEW INFORMATION WE'VE RECEIVED re: MCMASTER POLICIES: we will NO LONGER have a sleepover on Friday night of the retreat. Participants will stay in their own homes each night.
  • Optional retreat activity: Sunday morning: 9:30-10:00am (subject to change)
  • To benefit most from the experience, we strongly encourage you to take retreat time for the entire weekend from start to finish and remain in a reflective mode during the free/optional times, instead of planning other activities to fill this time. Reflective exercises will be provided for the optional/free times.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

Journey Circles

  • A guided process in a small group where each person will be given time to share from your journey related to our theme. Questions will be sent in advance to help you prepare. Others will listen and offer you a question or theme they noticed for you to take away and reflect on further.

Mindfulness & Creative Reflection

  • A variety of mindfulness practices and creative expression will be woven throughout the weekend to reflect on the theme. 

Community-building Activities

  • Connect with others in a safe space with respect for diversity. Through collaborative activities, free time options, discussions, and just chilling, get to know others with similar questions.

Silent Hike Activity

  • We will enter a time of silence during the middle of Saturday with guided activities for the silence.

 

From an Open Circle retreat participant:

“The retreats with Open Circle have offered me a safe space to reconnect with my peers and navigate challenges. Along with fun icebreakers and games for community building, the retreats have focused on the theme of dealing with change and uncertainty, offering me a guide to set intentions. As well, the retreats have been an opportunity to escape from daily distractions and stresses to practice mindfulness through reflective exercises, creative arts, and meditation. I would highly recommend attending for anyone available for the weekend.”