From the Ridge: Fall 2020 at Heart Ridge Retreat Center

First Family Retreat Weekend a Great Success

Over the 3rd weekend of October, we hosted our first retreat.  Twelve families attended with a total of 50 participants.  Our purpose was to answer these questions:

• Could we still meet and be Covid19 cautious?
• Would our facilities be suitable for meeting and entertaining?
• How is the lodging?   How many can we sleep?
• What about serving food?  Can we cook, serve, and clean-up?  Can we do it with a Covid19 awareness?
• Could we convince families and individuals to serve on our volunteer/advisory Cor Cordium team? (for more information about Cor Cordium.)

The answer to all of these questions was, "yes!" 
Of course there was the oven that didn't get hot enough, and garbage cans missing in one of the houses, but overall, the 24hour family retreat was a success.  We tried to keep individual families close to each other, but spaced far enough away from the other families, exception being for pictures or when cold huddled around a fire.  Most of the activities were outside.
Many hands chipped in to help with food preparation, games, leading groups in prayer and discussions, and cleaning up.  One of the highlights of the weekend was being accompanied by Br. John Michael Paul from the Community of St. John.  Br. JMP served beautiful masses and was available for confession and spiritual direction.  

Huge Plans Made to Renovate Lakeside Lodge and Stone House

A couple proposals to update the outside.

Construction will begin at the beginning of November to completely remodel the inside and outside of the Lakeside Lodge, and work on some interior problems with the Stone House.
When the project is finished, we will have a library/conference room, kitchen, family/playroom, covered porch, gathering space, and 16 sleeping quarters.  These flexible sleeping spaces, many with adjoining rooms, will sleep up to 36 singles, or 15 couples, or a dozen families.  
Because so much of the sleeping spaces currently at Heart Ridge are dormitory style (many beds in one room) we've decided to go ahead and try to get this project completed in case Covid19 is still around come spring.  This way, we can safely sleep more individuals and families. 
We hope to have this building completed by early spring.
 

Self-guided Family Retreats Now Available

With Covid this year, we've all gotten to experience a little more family-time than we probably have had at any other time. For many of us, though, that quality time that we had at the beginning of Covid has been quickly replaced with busy schedules, zoom meetings, and more Netflix.  
Heart Ridge would like to offer a chance for families to get away together once again for bonding and spiritual growth.  It's like a mini-vacation.
The Heart Ridge Self-guided family retreats offer maximum flexibility.  You can pretty much set your own schedule.  We offer suggestions of nearby activities like hiking and boating, plus the activities at the retreat center, like fishing and a gym.  We also offer some simple family bonding activities for families with children of all ages as well as opportunities to pray together.  There are multiple houses available for families of different sizes each with a fully equipped kitchen. (Families are encouraged to not only eat together, but to prepare the meals together.)  
Go to the Heart Ridge Self-Guided Family Retreat page for more info and package prices. 

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And Speaking of Families. . . 

Although summer is a winter and spring away, Heart Ridge is gearing up for its first season of Family Camp.  If you are looking for a family vacation that satisfies parents and kids alike, then you'll want to consider coming to Heart Ridge Family Camp.  
From input of many families attending different kinds of summer family camps, we have put together what we believe to be the perfect blend of planned activities, time with peers, time with the family, spiritual and faith components, and most importantly, free time, all in beautiful natural surroundings and in fairly comfortable beds.  The food isn't too bad either!
Below is an example of a typical week.
We are keeping each camp week this year to 15 families so spots will fill up quickly.  Reservations will begin January 10th.    More details about pricing and dates will be available in our next newsletter.  

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Heart Ridge Recognized as a  Saint Kateri Habitat

Heart Ridge is pleased to be recognized by the Saint Kateri Conservation Center whose goals are to  "love of God and neighbor, fresh air, clean water, healthy land, and the diversity of life, in the footsteps of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and Saint Francis of Assisi."
This organization upholds many of the same ideals that we state in our vision statement for Heart Ridge.  
It is exciting to team up with this organization, and we hope to collaborate with them on future projects and events.  

www.kateri.org/

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Heart Ridge Wish List

 If you happen to be downsizing, remodeling or otherwise getting rid of good stuff, here is a list of items that we could use at the retreat center.

• twin beds or bunk beds
• dressers
• patio furniture
• a tabernacle, mass kit, vestments

• lamps
• playground equipment
• kayaks, paddleboards, canoes
• trees, plants for landscaping

If you think you have something that we can use, just email a picture to [email protected] and we'll let you know if it is something we want.  We will arrange a pick-up.   Thank you !