Highground invites female veterans to join free retreats this summer
The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in central Wisconsin is offering two female veterans retreats this coming June and registration is now open for both retreats. Female veterans can take part in these retreats free of charge. Transportation and any transportation costs to and from the retreat weekend are not covered and are the responsibility of the veteran.
Due to welcoming veteran post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/military sexual trauma (MST) presenter Sarah Blum at both retreats, the female veterans retreats will be held on back-to-back weekends in June. Blum is a Vietnam veteran nurse, author and PTSD/MST advocate. More information on her can be found at womenunderfire.net.
The first retreat will be June 16-18. Lodging will be in cabins at The Christine Center (christinecenter. org), a beautiful and serene retreat facility located 13 miles from The Highground at W8303 Mann Road, Willard. The retreat will have several workshops and activities for female veterans that have been proven to help manage PTSD and MST, while veterans will also get to enjoy nature and the camaraderie of other female veterans.
The activities at the Christine Center, Highground and other local sites will combine naturebased physical activities, creative arts, mindfulness and PTSD/MST management workshops led by Blum. Details on confirmed presentations will be available soon and publicized on The Highground website (thehighground.us), via The Highground’s email newsletter and on social media.
The second retreat will happen June 22–25 when female veterans hit the trail on The Highground’s first-ever hiking and camping retreat. Spending time in nature is one of the most effective and achievable ways to help heal and manage PTSD, and to reach goals of better mental health. Veterans will meet on Thursday evening, June 22, near the Wisconsin Ice Age Trail section in Taylor County. They will learn outdoor skills and take part in meaningful PTSD/MST activities while hiking and camping on the Ice Age Trail Friday through Sunday afternoon. The goals of this retreat are for veterans to learn and become confident in trauma management skills so they can continue with these activities and make strides in healing after the retreat is over.
The group will hike five to eight miles daily on the rolling terrain of the Ice Age Trail. Veterans will be supplied with the basic equipment necessary for this adventurous weekend. Leading up to the retreat, preparations for the physical aspect of the hike and how to pack will be made available to attendees.
The Highground is able to plan and conduct this Ice Age Trail retreat because of the guidance and assistance of the Ice Age Trail Alliance and Peter Kitzhaber. Major funding for both of the 2023 female veterans retreats has been received through generous grants from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and the Million Dollar Round Table. Additional sponsors of The Highground veterans retreat program are the National Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor and Maureen Hornung.
To register for one or both of these retreats, or for more information, veterans can email Theresa at museum@thehighground.us or call 715-743-4224.
