Chatting and laughter filled Pine Grove Shelter at Chickagami Park Aug. 16 as women soaked in sunshine and fellowship during a four-hour Geauga Park District program designed to connect and rejuvenate participants through nature.
Chatting and laughter filled Pine Grove Shelter at Chickagami Park Aug. 16 as women soaked in sunshine and fellowship during a four-hour Geauga Park District program designed to connect and rejuvenate participants through nature.
“Geauga Park District’s Nature Break -Women’s Retreat is a special morning of relaxation, rediscovery and camaraderie with other women who love nature and nature-filled activities at one of our many picturesque parks,” said Bari Oyler Stith, of Claridon Township, who looks forward to each women’s retreat GPD offers.
Participants began the morning with a continental breakfast before rotating through three activities: yoga, archery and a nature walk, and concluding with a shared lunch.
Located within the headwaters of the Grand River watershed, the 130-acre park in Parkman Township was formerly known as Camp Chickagami, a year-round camping facility operated by the Western Reserve Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
What makes these retreats so special, according to Stith, is the creativity park district naturalists and volunteers bring, encouraging engagement with nature and present-moment awareness.
“It’s a glorious experience for all,” said Sr. Julie Boehnlein, a longtime GPD volunteer, as she welcomed participants and led a butterfly pen craft.
Naturalist Nora Sindelar guided an educational hike featuring a scavenger hunt with 42 items to discover—among them a hickory nut, bird feather, puddle, caterpillar and four-leaf clover. Participants cheered at the sight of a tiny mushroom hidden in the grass near the park’s first lean-to cabin.
At the archery range, about a quarter-mile walk from the shelter, Naturalist Kari Wheaton coached attendees on basic archery skills. Cheers erupted again as Amy Logan, of Auburn Township, scored multiple bullseyes on her first attempts.
“I pretty much have a great time at all GPD events,” Logan said, adding this was her sixth women’s retreat.
“We are so lucky to live in this county,” she said.
Melissa Rigotti, who grew up in Geauga County, enjoyed all the activities, but especially loved archery. She even returned the following day for a follow-up program focused on improving aim through archery games.
Back at the Overlook Shelter, soft music welcomed participants to an outdoor yoga session led by instructor Holly Anne.
“It is a beautiful setting to unplug and immerse yourself into nature,” said yoga instructor Holly Anne, who has taught yoga and Tai Chi at the retreats for several years.
Her sessions teach participants how to turn their attention inward to notice how they feel in each moment, and focus on improving physical and mental wellbeing through gentle movement and positive affirmations.
Rigotti, who was initially waitlisted for the retreat — which costs $8 for Geauga residents and $10 for out-of-county participants — was thrilled to be offered a spot.
“This event is ‘incredibly’ popular,” Rigotti said. “I loved the event. This women’s retreat reminded me of Girl Scout summer camp. Everything was perfectly planned. I just showed up and had fun.
“We were able to do so many events all in one morning without feeling rushed,” she added. “I truly hope they offer this well-attended event more than twice a year. It is clearly what people are wanting.”
Stith added she appreciates how the naturalists treat participants like friends and share their passion for the outdoors.
“Every time I explore one of our parks or attend one of the many fascinating programs, I thank my lucky stars that I live in a county with such bountiful, beautiful natural resources and that the generation before me had the foresight and perseverance to start building a park district that would actively continue to preserve and provide public access to such amazing and varied natural landscapes,” Stith said. “It would be too easy to take these places for granted and believe they were always meant to be parks, when in reality, it took and continues to take hard work, determination and perhaps a few miracles to create these parks for us. Saturday morning, it was easy to believe that the sun was shining and the cicadas were singing just for us.”
