Charleston Women’s Week of Renewal-New to Grief

After the death of a loved one, one may feel overwhelmed, disoriented, and alone. We are forced to find a new path, and doing so can feel frightening and exhausting. If you can relate, it may be the right time for you to join us in Charleston, South Carolina for a Women’s Week of Renewal.

Overview

This Week of Renewal has been specially crafted for women whose loss occurred within the past three years. We’ll explore coping skills, share resources, and learn how grief affects body and mind. There will also be plenty of time for laughter, reflection, and sharing peaceful moments on the beach. 

This will truly be a time to allow yourself the freedom to grieve and to heal - and also to share the experience with other women. Lodging will be in shared houses/condos where you can surround yourself with new friends or enjoy time on your own. 

In order to create this sacred space together and be fully present, however, we do ask that use of smart phones and devices be limited to emergencies. 

During this week of renewal, we'll explore ways to move forward within our new normal. Using a combination of outdoor activities, movement, art and writing, we'll take inspiration from our surroundings and our peers to create a plan for healing and growth. This event will focus on the needs of our minds, bodies and spirits as we clarify our direction in life and create our own path to transformation.

Schedule

Wednesday, October 16:  Wednesday is a travel day. No activities will be scheduled on this day except arriving and checking in with the resort and TAPS staff. Once you arrive at Wild Dunes Resort, the Wild Dunes staff will be there to greet you and get you checked in. They will also shuttle you to the TAPS meeting room on the property. The houses will not be ready before 3 p.m. You may ask the front desk staff to hold your luggage while you explore the property until official check in with TAPS Staff. Once you check in with TAPS staff, the day is yours to get settled in, meet fellow survivors, explore the property and relax.

Thursday, October 17 to Saturday, October 19: Each day will include opportunities for movement and mindfulness, including yoga and meditation. Group sessions will center upon themes such as gratitude, mindfulness, reflection and goal setting. Along with structured programming, the schedule will have built-in opportunities for solo work, rest and deeper personal reflection. Every evening, we'll close together as a group.

Sunday, October 20: We'll say our final goodbyes and depart from each other.

Adventure Level

This Retreat is rated as a light intensity adventure. We will be active throughout the Retreat and will challenge you, however activities will involve light physical exertion. We will be doing some form of low-impact exercise every day including yoga.  

Please note that this is a technology-free event. In order to fully immerse ourselves in the activities and connect with fellow attendees, we ask that cellphones and other devices are only used for emergencies.

Event Fees

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, TAPS will provide lodging, most meals and all activities for this healing retreat. The only contribution required from participants is a $50 program fee which will be collected at the time of registration. If for any reason you need to cancel your registration, you can request a refund of the program fee or you may choose to donate the fee to TAPS to support future programs.

Lodging and Transportation

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, lodging at the Wild Dunes Resort (Wednesday through Saturday nights) and most meals will be provided by TAPS. Travel to and from Charleston is your responsibility, but we will provide a shuttle from the airport. Programming starts on Thursday morning, however, the official check in will take place on Wednesday evening. 

You'll share a house and a bedroom with another event attendee(s). TAPS covers the cost of lodging at no cost to you, and we'll take care of booking your lodging for the event. Please note that the houses are smoke-free and we ask that you refrain from drinking alcohol on this event.  

You'll need to cover the cost of your transportation to and from Charleston. Please do not make travel arrangements until you receive a welcome email after registering.

This retreat will be contained to the resort property and our outdoor activities. If you would like to explore the Charleston area, please plan to extend your visit before or after the retreat.

Application Details

Application is open July 29, 2019 to August 5, 2019 (look for the blue button at the top of this page at that time). Applicants will be notified of selection or waitlist status in mid-August.  Applicants not initially selected to attend will be placed on a waitlist and notified as space becomes available.

If you have any questions, please email empowerment@taps.org or call 800-959-TAPS (8277).