Retreats
Women LISTEN holds annual nurturing retreats where participants spend time sharing, laughing, playing, enjoying healthy food, learning and more. In the past, we have had summer fly-fishing retreats in the Mat-Su Valley and fall Soothe Your Soul, Nourish Your Body retreats in Girdwood. Retreats are available free of charge to women who have had a diagnosis of any cancer.
Upcoming Retreats
Fly-fishing Retreat
We regret to announce that our planned 2020 Kalmbach Lake fly-fishing retreat has been canceled due to concerns over COVID-19. We look forward to returning to an annual retreat schedule once we can do so safely. We sincerely thank and appreciate all of the volunteers who stood ready to help us this year, and we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as possible.
Please contact us for more information or to be added to our mailing list in future.
Participant Comments and Pictures
- There was such warmth and kindness in the room.
- I was overwhelmed with love and generosity from total strangers.
- Women LISTEN and the retreat gave me hope and to keep moving forward.
- Sharing our stories and being open about our personal lives helped to make connections with each other.
- I never could see myself fly-fishing and now I sure can.
- I found a new way to get outside.
- I found I can walk more and I was complimented a lot on my learning. I was afraid it would be too much.
- I learned the zen of fly-fishing.
- This is the first time in my life I’ve been called a “dollie”. (type of fish)
- Good thing about the retreat? Getting to hang out with girls.
- The only “have to” was to show up. That was so cool.
- It’s so nice to feel taken care of – the surroundings, the food and the people.
- I was overwhelmed (positively) by everything.
- It was a luxury to be taken care of.
- Good thing about the retreat? I learned a totally new skill and had everything taken care of!
- It was great to have so many instructors with such enthusiasm, patience and passion.
- I learned about these people and what a wonderful group they are.
- I gained hope, inspiration and the ability to forgive.
- It lifts you up.
- I got in the float tube and actually did it! I can’t swim a lick and I did it and it was the best day of my life.
- I hadn’t been in a canoe for a bazillion years and we did it. Paddling in the canoe was lots of fun and it was great to know I could do it again.
- I really enjoyed the people I met. There’s not one person here that I haven’t enjoyed visiting with, gotten something from and I would enjoy seeing again.
- The most memorable moment included sharing and storytelling that brought us closer together. I especially enjoyed the relaxation exercise on the dock.
- The experience of being on the water was restorative.
- I loved being able to share my condition with people who understood and didn’t back off.
- I’m starting to understand my new normal and it is OK to be me.
- It was a peaceful space and I was able to relax and connect. The experience was powerful because it allowed connections on many levels. We cried and laughed and learned a lot about fly fishing and even more about life.
- I loved all aspects of the retreat including casting, knot tying, and crazy game last night.
- I liked meeting new people and learning how to float tube.
- It was a time to relax and recharge the life batteries for my new normal.