Retreats for Families
In his book Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv brings forth research that shows that we are increasingly teaching young people to avoid direct experience in nature and the consequences of that for our children is significant: "As one scientist puts it, we can now assume that just as children need good nutrition and adequate sleep, they may very well need contact with nature...Healing the broken bond between our young and nature is in our self-interest...because our mental, physical and spiritual health depends on it."

As you make plans for the winter, we invite you to bring children or grandchildren to Turtle Rock Farm to give them the opportunity to be in nature: running freely in pastures, exploring life along the shoreline of ponds and creeks, observing insects and animals, learning about flowers and vegetables, watching clouds and the stars...

Call us to arrange for a day or weekend in nature at Turtle Rock Farm. 580.725.3411

January 10 - Top Ten Pain Releasers

Pain is a clear message that we need to pay attention to our bodies. The Top Ten Pain Releasers is a fun, hands-on workshop for reducing stress and pain that integrates massage, energy work, kinesiology, polarity, acupressure and various reflex techniques.  You will learn a wide variety of simple and highly effective self help skills to benefit yourself and your family.

$85 includes book. 10:00 to 4:00

January 16 - Cooking Fresh Workshop 

As we become aware of the importance of buying local, fresh produce and cutting back on fast food intake, it’s helpful to learn a new way of cooking. The great thing about cooking fresh is that it doesn't take much cooking, so it is naturally simple - doesn’t even require complex recipes!

Come for the afternoon and we'll cook a smorgasbord of fresh food for supper. Learn simple ways to cook healthy, fresh and delicious meals using whatever is freshest at the local market, food coop or in the garden.

$50, includes cost of supplies - 1 pm until after supper.

January 17 - Build Your Own Tumbler Composter

January 24 - Simpler Living

    It’s been a wonderful surprise to discover that every time we choose to take another step toward simpler living, we find great joy in it. It turns out that living more simply is a more joyful way to live. We know this from our own lifestyle changes and from those who’ve come to Turtle Rock Farm to learn how they want to simplify their lives. The reports we get back are stories of happy success at living in simpler ways that bring meaning back into their lives. The changes toward simpler living turn out to be not challenging at all and, indeed, are fun and fulfilling.

This retreat helps participants realize the causes of our consumptive lifestyles, be inspired to shift priorities, learn ways to simplify, take inventory about what changes we want to make next and experience the support of others simplifying their lives.

$65. 8:30 am to 4 pm.

With the great economic shifts in our world, with the realization of climate change and the increasing awareness of ecological stress, more and more people are finding more and more ways to “Go Green.” This retreat gives participants a day to get away and focus on the next two things they want to do to decrease carbon in our environment and live more sustainably.

There will be a wealth of information to help you take inventory of your carbon footprint, consider possible changes and their costs, choose what’s most important to you right now and “pick the next two that you can do.” It’s a day dedicated to confronting the go-green issues in your life head-on, get loads of valuable information and take the next important step for our good Earth (and ourselves.)

Bring a friend, a spouse; bring the neighbors. It takes a village!

$65. 9:00 to 4:00

February 7 - Build Your Own Tumbler Composter

          Do you have trouble quieting your mind? Are you constantly thinking -about what you have to do in the future – later today, or tomorrow, or next week? Are you missing the graces of this day by worrying about all the things you have to get done? On this retreat you will learn how to live in the moment. Spiritual director and retreat leader Pat Hoerth will lead you through several spiritual exercises that will allow you to experience the beauty and peace of what you are doing at the moment. You will learn things you can do to continue this practice in your daily lives. Participants who have made this retreat say they value coming on Friday evening to relax so that they have a full day Saturday to take full advantage of the Living in the Moment exercises.

$65. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What a joy (and how healthy) it is to eat fresh vegetables out of your own garden. Too, as we become aware of how much of our food costs come from the oil it takes to transport them across several states, we have one more reason to grow some of our own food. It’s fun and wondrous to watch those tiny seeds turn into large plants with an abundance of produce. Learn how to grow your own organic vegetables in a small space, with few weeds and a minimal amount of work. Bring the family and enjoy the country while discovering how to bring the country to your own home.

$65 adults $50 per children 12 and under. 10:00 to 5:00

What a joy (and how healthy) it is to eat fresh vegetables out of your own garden. Too, as we become aware of how much of our food costs come from the oil it takes to transport them across several states, we have one more reason to grow some of our own food. It’s fun and wondrous to watch those tiny seeds turn into large plants with an abundance of produce. Learn how to grow your own organic vegetables in a small space, with few weeds and a minimal amount of work. Bring the family and enjoy the country while discovering how to bring the country to your own home.

$65 adults $50 per children 12 and under. 10:00 to 5:00

March 27 & 28 - Earth Plunge 

Bring your family to the country for a night and a day in nature. Give the children you know a chance to take a plunge into nature - see wildlife, stroll in a pasture, discover plant life, canoe, explore along a creek, breathe fresh country air. This retreat offers your children a safe day exploring in nature, which experts say is essential for healthy development. We'll provide some activities for experiencing nature, but there will be family free time and alone time as well. 

This retreat is scheduled as an overnight retreat, so that families can watch Earth roll up and the sun go out of view, observe the night sky (it's dark enough here to see jillions of stars) and (depending on the conditions) sit around a bonfire.

$95 for adults and $65 for children 12 and under. Includes lodging and retreat. 

7 pm Friday to 4 pm Saturday

April 25 - Build Your Own Tumbler Composter

May 2 - Go Green - On the Cheap  
Picking "Two You Can Do"

With the great economic shifts in our world, with the realization of climate change and the increasing awareness of ecological stress, more and more people are finding more and more ways to “Go Green.” This retreat gives participants a day to get away and focus on the next two things they want to do to decrease carbon in our environment and live more sustainably.

There will be a wealth of information to help you take inventory of your carbon footprint, consider possible changes and their costs, choose what’s most important to you right now and “pick the next two that you can do.” It’s a day dedicated to confronting the go-green issues in your life head-on, get loads of valuable information and take the next important step for our good Earth (and ourselves.)

Bring a friend, a spouse; bring the neighbors. It takes a village!

$65. 9:00 to 4:00

May 16 - Creating Art in Nature 

The mystery and beauty of nature communicates. Whether you’re an artist who would appreciate working for a day in nature or someone who’s never tried to create art, but wants to, this is a day for you. Bring paints, camera, drawing pencils or writing journals. We'll provide the space, place and freedom for you to create works of art, inspired by nature: song, paintings, photographs, poems, drawings. (For novices or the apprehensive, we’ll offer some exercises to get you going.)

$55 retreat fee. 9 to 4.
Optional: stay overnight the 5th and/or 6th. $30 per night, including breakfast.

May 29 & 30 - Earth Plunge  

Bring your family to the country for a night and a day in nature. Give the children you know a chance to take a plunge into nature - see wildlife, stroll in a pasture, discover plant life, canoe, explore along a creek, breathe fresh country air. This retreat offers your children a safe day exploring in nature, which experts say is essential for healthy development. We'll provide some activities for experiencing nature, but there will be family free time and alone time as well. 

This retreat is scheduled as an overnight retreat, so that families can watch Earth roll up and the sun go out of view, observe the night sky (it's dark enough here to see jillions of stars) and (depending on the conditions) sit around a bonfire.

$95 for adults and $65 for children 12 and under. Includes lodging and retreat. 

7 pm Friday to 4 pm Saturday  

June 5 & 6 - Prairie Retreat for Women

Much of Oklahoma was native prairie. This retreat will take us back to the prairie, where we can learn about its history (from its ancient beginnings as an ocean, as hunting ground for Native Americans, as home for pioneer families and modern farming and ranching) and its ecosystem. We will spend time in the prairie noticing the grasses, birds and wildlife - the prairie community.

And we will come away, having experienced more intimately the prairie ecosystem of which we are a part, with the wisdom that only the prairie can offer and a deeper understanding of how to live in harmony with God’s good creation.

This is an overnight retreat, beginning Friday evening at 7 p.m. You are welcome (and encouraged) to bring a tent and camp out on the prairie.

$95 for retreat and indoor lodging; $75 for retreat and camping. 7:00 pm Friday to 4:00 pm Saturday.

With the great economic shifts in our world, with the realization of climate change and the increasing awareness of ecological stress, more and more people are finding more and more ways to “Go Green.” This retreat gives participants a day to get away and focus on the next two things they want to do to decrease carbon in our environment and live more sustainably.

There will be a wealth of information to help you take inventory of your carbon footprint, consider possible changes and their costs, choose what’s most important to you right now and “pick the next two that you can do.” It’s a day dedicated to confronting the go-green issues in your life head-on, get loads of valuable information and take the next important step for our good Earth (and ourselves.)

Bring a friend, a spouse; bring the neighbors. It takes a village!

$65. 9:00 to 4:00

June 20 - Cooking Fresh Workshop 

As we become aware of the importance of buying local, fresh produce and cutting back on fast food intake, it’s helpful to learn a new way of cooking. The great thing about cooking fresh is that it doesn't take much cooking, so it is naturally simple - doesn’t even require complex recipes!

Come for the afternoon and we'll cook a smorgasbord of fresh food for supper. Learn simple ways to cook healthy, fresh and delicious meals using whatever is freshest at the local market, food coop or in the garden.

$50, includes cost of supplies - 1 pm until after supper.

 June 27 - Experiencing God in Nature

Sallie McFague has written that "the world is our meeting place with God." Thomas Berry teaches that being aware of our connectedness with nature will not only save earth, but the human race, for in it we will once again find ourselves. Spend the day away from stressors observing God’s good creation. This retreat is designed to provide the opportunity to connect with God and our deepest selves by spending time in the deep quiet and beauty at Turtle Rock.

$65. 9:00 to 4:00