IslandWood invites women to a weekend in the woods

Published 9:53 am Wednesday, September 23, 2015

After a soothing day of trail walking, meditation and conversations with an esteemed memoirist, you’re savoring wild halibut and foraged mushrooms prepared by a private chef.

In an hour you’ll be humming along to two Irish singer-songwriters and lolling around a campfire, sipping drinks, before retreating to your room, a cozy lodge set in the forest. Tomorrow, you might do yoga or attend a writing workshop; around noon you’ll share a hearty meal with like-minded women.

No, you’re not dreaming, or reminiscing about hippie days of yore, life before kids and iPhones and Facebook. Next week, Oct. 2-4, this tranquil scene could be your ultimate staycation.

Circle of Friends is IslandWood’s quasi-annual “weekend in the woods for women,” held every 18 months to offer participants different weather and season combinations. While the inaugural event was conceived by Debbi Brainerd as a thank-you to Jeannie Nordstrom and other early IslandWood supporters, over the last 10 gatherings it has morphed into a restorative celebration of nature, human connection and self-reflection.

Last spring, Cheryl Strayed spoke about motherhood and how watching the film adaptation of her book, “Wild,” led her to revisit the experiences she had in the book.

“We found it was just so nice to have a woman storyteller at the center,” said Allyson Brown, IslandWood’s senior vice president for philanthropy, of Strayed’s presence.

Inviting Terry Tempest Williams, the conservationist-author, to share this year was a no-brainer.

Not only does Williams have a personal connection to IslandWood – her husband stayed on the campus numerous times as a Bainbridge Graduate Institute student several years ago – but she’s also an intoxicating force for feminine expression.

“She is probably most known for her nature writing,” Brown said. “Usually, it’s coming from the first person, her talking about her experiences, so that’s kind of the theme – women finding voice.”

Williams’ 2012 memoir, “When Women Were Birds,” opens with a painful discovery: her late mother has left her 35 journals, each of them completely empty. In 54 lyrical, vivid vignettes she probes the mystery; what does it mean to have a voice?

Women will spend the weekend exploring this theme through a variety of activities. The Seattle cast of “Listen to Your Mother” – including IslandWood’s own Allyson Brown – will set the tone Friday, sharing stories of motherhood in all of its humor and complexity.

And on Sunday, Brenda Peterson will lead a writing workshop, helping women to process Williams and think about how they might inspire their own writing.

But there will also be purposeful down time, when attendees can enjoy the stillness and simple setting, participate in wholesome exercise and socialize.

“[We’re giving women] a lot of chances for self-reflection,” Brown said.

“[In the past,] we used to do a lot of activities – jewelry making, basket weaving – but we realized that women just want to be together and relax.” she added. “It’s not like you have to run in 50 directions when you’re here for the weekend. It’s really a much quieter pace. [We’re offering] women more space to connect with themselves, to nature, to each other.”

While its goal may be to provide women with space to rejuvenate and reflect, at its core, Circle of Friends retains its philanthropical roots, serving as a fundraiser for IslandWood’s youth programs.

“Just by being there, you’re enabling other people to be out in nature, too,” explained Thatcher Heldring of IslandWood.

IslandWood is currently at two-thirds capacity for the event, and Brown anticipates that the 50 remaining spots will go fast, likely by the end of September. She urges interested parties to register online at www.islandwood.org/support-islandwood/fundraising-events/circleoffriends.

While there are a variety of rooms available, local women interested in the full experience without the overnight stay can opt for the residential rate of $425, which includes all meals and activities. IslandWood has also arranged for a special $50 discount for Review readers; just enter the promotion code “REVIEW50” at checkout. If the price is still a stretch, send an email to Courtney Cole-Faso at specialevents@islandwood.org; she’ll work with women who can’t pay the full price on a case-by-case basis.