FOR THE WAUSAU TIMES

Neillsville–The Highground Veterans 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 the responsibility of the veteran.

Due to welcoming special veteran post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) / military sexual trauma (MST) presenter, Sarah Blum (Vietnam Veteran nurse, author, PTSD/MST advocate) at both retreats, the Female Veterans Retreats will held on back-to-back weekends in June. More information about Sarah can be found at womenunderfire.net.

The first retreat will be held June 16-18, 2023 at the Christine Center. Lodging will be in cabins at The Christine Center (christinecenter.org), a beautiful and serene retreat facility located 13 miles from The Highground near Willard. The retreat will have several workshops and activities for female veterans that have been proven to help manage PTSD and MST while enjoying nature and the camaraderie of other female veterans. The activities at The Christine Center, The Highground and other local sites will combine nature-based physical activities, creative arts, mindfulness and PTSD / MST management workshops led by Sarah 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 The Highground Female Veterans Retreat hits Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail on its 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 Ice Age Trail section in Taylor County, Wisconsin. Female veterans 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 those skills so they can continue with these activities and to make strides in healing and managing PTSD / MST through the group workshops led by Sarah Blum.

The group will be hiking 5–8 miles daily on the rolling terrain of this stretch 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 (iceagetrail.org) and Peter Kitzhaber. We look forward to working together on this exciting venture.

Major funding for both of the 2023 Female Veterans Retreats has been received through generous grants from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). 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 and for more information, please email Theresa at [email protected] or call 715-743-4224.

The Highground is located at W7031 Ridge Rd, Neillsville WI 54456. thehighground.us.