The Nourished Life Retreat
September 8-10 | Stanwood, Washington
This year our retreat theme is “The Gifts of Narration.” Many educators wrestle with how to begin narration with their younger children, how (and whether!) to trust that the process of narration is “enough” for their students, what it looks like to add written narrations and how we transition into more technically advanced writing in the upper years. Charlotte Mason tells us that children have a special gift for “telling back,” and that, as educators, we can and should access this gift as a masterful tool in our box! As Karen Glass says in her book Know and Tell, “Narration is like digestion…when we give children high-quality books to be read and narrated, they have the opportunity to develop their thinking skills to the highest possible level.”
Together we will explore these ideas in several different ways. In our plenary sessions, you will hear teaching from experienced educators who have used narration through the different ages and forms of education, which will draw us deeper into thought about narration and the gifts it brings us. In addition you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops and other immersive learning experiences, such a handicrafts, the fun of Shakespeare and Plutarch, nature study, folk songs, poetry, and more. You will go home at the end of the weekend having had ample practice narrating for yourself and will have a new understanding of the challenges and benefits your students face firsthand!
We hope you can join us for this excellent weekend of learning, growth, relationship-building, and more. Click the link below to get registered and save your spot today!
Location
The lovely Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center in Stanwood, Washington, just an hour north of Seattle! Warm Beach overlooks Port Susan Bay and is situated right on the beautiful Stillaguamish River estuary, a location well-known for its diversity of bird life and nature. Trails down to the water provide a beautiful location for refreshment between sessions.
Warm Beach offers a variety of room options that allow for you to come on your own and enjoy meeting new friends, or bring together a group of friends to share one of the larger rooms! The fostering of community is a significant goal for CMNW and you will have opportunities for this to occur in a setting of like-minded educators.
Registration and Pricing Details
Spring Pricing
Extended through July 5th, then prices go up by $10
Cabin Shared: $305
These rooms house 5 people (2 will be on top bunks).
Get a group of your friends together for extra connection and a lower price.
Individuals can also sign up for a group room and make a bunch of new friends!
Private Bathroom.
Price is per person.
Cascade Lodge - Shared: $315
Two or three per room. Default is two in your room unless three friends specifically request to house together. Third person would be on a top bunk.
Private sink in each room. Showers and toilets are located in shared bathrooms in each wing of the lodge.
Price is per person.
Bring your spouse or teen! (They even get a discount!)
Believe us, those who are already registered would love to connect and have a bigger cohort.
Special Accommodations
*If you’re coming with an infant and need a room alone, or if you have extreme medical needs that require a room alone, please email us at admin@charlottemasonnw.org. Single rooms are not available on the registration page at this time, but we can discuss options for your accommodation needs. We want you there!
Scholarship Fund
Are you able to give?
Some parents in our CM community can't attend this retreat because they are struggling financially due to layoffs, medical and other hardships. If the Lord has blessed you with an abundance, consider helping another home educator to attend as well. Because we are not a non-profit, your gift won't be tax-deductible; but it will still make an impact. CMNW offers partial scholarships based on the amount donated by other attendees. You can give to this fund when you register to attend the retreat. Thank you for supporting our community in this way.
Do you need a partial scholarship?
If you have experienced financial hardship and need a partial scholarship in order to attend this retreat, please email us at admin@charlottemasonnw.org to let us know about your specific situation and request a scholarship discount. Amount and number of scholarships will be dependent on funds available.
Answers to common questions:
When does the Retreat start and end?
On Friday, September 8th, there are three pre-retreat sessions (for those newer to Charlotte Mason; and for those leading CM groups, and one "Charlotte Mason Social") starting at 4:30 pm; Dinner will be at 5:30 pm on Friday evening; and the opening session will be at 6:30 pm following dinner. On Sunday, September 10th, the final session ends at noon, with lunch following. (All times are subject to adjustment.)
Are meals included in the registration costs?
Yes! Your registration includes six delicious meals provided by Warm Beach; snacks and coffee provided by your lovely planning team. Included meals are: Friday dinner; Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Sunday breakfast and lunch.
Will my dietary needs be accommodated?
The Warm Beach catering staff is prepared to accommodate gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan diets. They are also willing to answer questions about which food items are dairy, soy, and egg free in each meal. If your diet requires that you bring your own food, please email us to discuss pricing and arrangements for your food at admin@charlottemasonnw.org.
Do I have to choose a roommate before I register?
No you don't! Sign up even if you don’t yet have a roommate selected! You can always email us later with a roommate preference; and we are able to switch your room selection if necessary to match you with your chosen roommate. And if you never find a roommate, we’ll match you up with a new friend!
Are there Commuter Options or Single Rooms Available?
Once we have met the minimum attendee requirements for the conference center, then we’ll be able to open up commuter options and additional single rooms. This likely won’t happen until mid-August. At that time, we will open those options up first to currently registered attendees and then to the broader community as we are able. To guarantee a spot at the retreat, register for a shared room, and then either email us at admin@charlottemasonnw.org or put a note in your registration (roommate request section) that you’d like to switch to commuter or single room if the option becomes available.
