Educator Renewal Retreat
Held June 28-30, 2022
Old Fort, NC
Come rest, reconnect, and renew
About the retreat
Educators need opportunities for renewal. They need intentional time set aside to restore their spirits, refill their own buckets, and recommit to self-care. Our educator renewal retreat offers a special kind of experience for teachers that focuses on improving their inner lives in an environment of autonomy, relevance, and compassion. The secular, science-based, and safe retreat is designed BY educators FOR educators.
This year's retreat was held at beautiful Indigo Nature Retreat in Old Fort, NC. During the retreat, participants explored mindfulness practices, gentle, restorative yoga, self-care practices, and trauma-informed practices. Together, we built community and cultivated an atmosphere that facilitated personal renewal and reconnection. Our retreats are intended for public school educators, administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, education majors, and college professors who prepare teachers.
What is included
Accommodations
Located in the heart of Pisgah National Forest with the Blue Ridge Mountains as its canvas, Indigo Nature Retreat is set on five acres near Old Fort, NC, with over 1,000 acres of undisturbed natural forest in its backyard. Indigo Nature retreat provides the perfect setting to get away and unwind. Dense foliage, rolling currents, and diverse trails make it a peaceful home away from home.
We will be the only people on the premises during our retreat. Each retreat participant will stay in one of the five cabins. Click here for details and photos. Each cabin features two twin beds, one of which is a loft twin, the other being a wrap around sofa that converts into a twin. Each cabin has two sitting areas, a mini fridge, coffee maker, heat and A/C, and fire pit. The cabins are tucked into the beautiful Pisgah Forest with Newberry Creek flowing on the property. If you are looking for a space to truly disconnect, and re-connect with all that matters, this is your place. We will place retreat participants with a cabin mate of the same sex unless you request otherwise. Please note there is no running water or bathroom facilities in the units, however, the community barn is less then 100 ft. away and has two full bathrooms.
You may extend your stay before or after the retreat, if cabins are available. Guests should contact INDIGO Nature Retreat directly for availability and reservations at mommabear@indigoretreat.com. Asheville is only 30 miles away and has wonderful restaurants, breweries, and entertainment options. If you have the time, we encourage you to explore the area before and/or after the retreat.
Retreat Expectations
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Limited use of personal cell phones/technology in order to foster mindful awareness
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Secular teaching and practices to honor people of all faith backgrounds
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Content geared towards public school educators and professionals working with youth
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CHOICE - You may opt out of any activity
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A collegial, casual atmosphere - Wear comfortable clothes, no prior experience necessary, relax
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This is a retreat, not professional development or a workshop
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As much as we love animals, no pets are allowed at the retreat center
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There will be a maximum of ten retreat participants
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If you are currently struggling with physical and/or mental health issues, this retreat would not be appropriate for you.
Retreat Facilitators
Todd Scholl is the Lead Learner at The SCEA's Center for Educator Wellness & Learning. He is the former Coordinator of Communications & Program Development at South Carolina's Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention & Advancement (CERRA). He also spent over fifteen years in the classroom in Horry County. Todd is the founder of Teachers Aligned, a non-profit organization designed to empower educators with tools and information related to mindfulness, trauma-informed practices, restorative practices, social-emotional learning, yoga, self-care, neuroscience, psychology, and teacher wellness. Todd stumbled upon mindfulness practice while searching for solutions to manage his stress as an educator. Over the past ten years, Todd has facilitated hundreds of sessions on mindfulness and other SEL practices for educators.
Kara Lee received her Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Converse College and is currently enrolled in graduate school at Clemson University. A former public-school educator with over a decade of experience in the classroom, Kara has served as Program Coordinator for USC Upstate’s Child Protection Training Center providing extensive training in trauma-informed practices, as well as supervised Upstate education majors in clinical placements and mentored first-year teachers in her home county of Greenville, SC. She is a graduate of the year-long certification program offered through Mindful Schools and is a certified ACE Master trainer. She has had the privilege of speaking to professionals from across the country and looks forward to the day that heart smarts are as treasured as brain smarts.
Hello from the mountains of WNC! My name is Danielle Becker, and my journey with yoga began 15 years ago as I sought to find relief from chronic back pain. I never expected to discover that practicing yoga would not only help heal my body, but also help calm my racing mind and teach me how to be more present in daily life. My enjoyment as a student of yoga grew into a desire to teach, so I became a certified yoga instructor in the spring of 2015. I currently teach weekly classes and love sharing the benefits of yoga with students of all ages and ability levels.
Class descriptions:
During our 2 sessions together at retreat, we will explore mindfulness practices through guided meditation and breath work. One practice will be a gentle flow and the other a restorative practice. Mats and props needed for class are all provided at camp. Bring clothes you can move (and rest) in! I am looking forward to our time together at Indigo Nature Retreat. Good luck as you enter the home stretch of your school year. Thank you for all you do!
Retreat Norms
Candles and Incense
Use of open flames, candles, incense, and other flammables is not permitted inside any of the facilities. Participants will be held liable for any costs and damages caused by fire.
No smoking
Smoking is prohibited in the facility and outdoors within twenty (20) feet of the facility, as well as at any other designated No Smoking areas. This includes all vapor cigarettes and products.
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours are to be observed from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am daily.
Vehicles
Cars may be brought to the facility for loading and unloading then are to be parked at the designated parking lot. Mountain bikes are welcome.
Food and Garbage
The retreat center is located next to Pisgah National Forest. To keep both our guests and the wildlife safe it is important that all food be stored inside the facility.
No smoking
Smoking is prohibited in the facility and outdoors within twenty (20) feet of the facility, as well as at any other designated No Smoking areas. This includes all vapor cigarettes and products.
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours are to be observed from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am daily.
Vehicles
Cars may be brought to the facility for loading and unloading then are to be parked at the designated parking lot. Mountain bikes are welcome.
Food and Garbage
The retreat center is located next to Pisgah National Forest. To keep both our guests and the wildlife safe it is important that all food be stored inside the facility.