retreat report
I I'm having trouble figuring out how to arrange this post, so I'm sorry if it appears disorganized. its just going to reflect the current state of my mind LOL.
first I'm goning to put in here a post I wrote to my guide dog days group about Flora at retreat. I will cut it since so many of you are on that list
My biggest concerns in taking Flora were as you probably remember the other dogs and kids, and the slightly crazy atmosphere of the camp in general. I'm pleased to report that she did very very well. It was stressed in training by me and others that working dogs are to be ignored. The volunteers did a great job of keeping the kids distracted and away from Flora and Flora pretty much ignored them. The other dogs kept a distance from us as well. There was a therapy dog there for the campers to pet. I guess he went in to various programs to give the kids time to pet. It sounds like he did very well and like it was a positive thing for the kids. Anyway, Flora did well at meals after I could get hear to settle under the table and after the first couple of times was not bothered at all by the worship times.
She spent a lot of time just lying around while I talked with people. She was half by other people while I spent time with the horses and while I square danced. They reported that she was very intent on where I was and some times even seemed worried if she couldn't see me. So, I think our bond is pretty good.
As far as her guiding she guided mostly to and from my cabin a walk of about 7 to 10 minutes on a paved curving sidewalk. We had a lot of pooping route. I'm hoping this is from the different schedule and possible stress and that it will go back to normal now that we areh ome. Much of the rest of the camp is not paved. Some of it is slippery gravel so I would take my volunteers arm for the stability they could provide and heel Flora. I often but not always heeled her on grass as well. For the most part her guiding was very good. She would get distracted by was easily refocused. Mostly the distraction were other people but the flock of ducks was a big temptation. We reworked that 1 a couple times.
Wednesday was a rough day. It began with her guiding well for about 5 mins, pooping, and then pretty much refusing to guide, stopping every few feet, I made her finish the route to the dining room and had a hard time getting her up after the meal. It was then that my brain clicked in that she must just be super tired. So I was easy on her for the rest of the day, letting her spend a large amount of the afternoon out of harness.
Speaking of out of harness, on 3 different days all but Wednesday different people while got to run with her. The first time some one was petting and getting her wound up and I joked and said if you wind her up you have to tired her out so she said well we'll run and they did with my permission around a large open field. Two other people did it on other days they asked because they'd seen her running the first day. Flora loved it and I think it was great for her to get that chance to just chill.
Many people commented on how young and puppy like she is LOL yes she is both those things. My volunteer used the best descriptive words "full of life." That's my dog!
So I'm pretty pleased with the week. I'm already wishing it was next year so I could go back.
Flora will be posting a report of her experience on her blog probably tomorrow http://floraguidedog.livejournal.com
Days at retreat began with breakfast of course LOL. The food at camp was as good as I remembered. After that the camp gathered for a time of worship. Then we were split in to age groups, children, teens, young adults, and the rest of us old people LOL. We had more worship and then a time of teaching. the presenter this year was a woman named Judy who was born with no legs. During her talks she told the story of her life thus far. Each sermon had a theme. Tuesday was focused on her teen years and how God is with us in our isolation and times of waiting. Wednesday focused on the healing God has brought to her family and how He will heal and guide other families as well. Thursday focused and the idea that we are all cracked pots LOL but can be used by God even in our brokenness. She is a very gifted speaker and her talks were very moving.
Then we split up so the women went to 1 group and the men to another. We stayed in a large grouthrough the week. Spending most of the time on each of us telling our family story and wandering off on to different topics as they came up. We also participated in an art project that told our stories and how God has worked and continues to work in our various situations.
In the afternoon we had free time. There were a variety of activities, arts and crafts, horses, water activities at the lake and more. I spent time up at the horses. I was very impressed with the group that provided riding this year.here is a post written to my riding list
The organizers of the retreat contacted a therapeutic riding program from Newburg Or and asked them if they would be interested in coming. They came had a great time so came back this year.
They brought 2 horses Norwegian Fjord's named Magnus and Lilia. I signed up for a time to ride even though I didn't think I'd be able to get on and I was right. She had talked with me before about my riding experience and said that if I wanted to I could led. So that is what I did for about 45 minutes. At first it was just me and the horse with another person on the other side of his head. Then that volunteer left and it was she and I. Then she asked if I'd like to led with a rider on the horse. I was surprised she'd let me do that, but I said sure. The little girl a nonverbal 5 year old had1 side walker who was the main instructor. After her I led another girl who didn't need any assisting. S the lady in charge showed me a different way to lead which had me stepping out more in front of the horse. I'm usually at the horse's shoulder/head. Doing it the way she showed me I had a lot more rope to use. She had me turning my body and not touching the rope which was really fun. I'd done a bit of that in the past with J but it'd been a long time and wasn't quite the same as this. I led the other horse too for a bit and then needed a a drink and a rest. It was in the upper 70's and i'd gotten quite hot.
I was very impressed with this group. S took time to talk with each person or their family member about what they had done in the past with horses and their abilities as far as communication and stuff. The horses didn't have saddles just 1 of those pads with the big handles like you use for vaulting. I can't remember what you call those things. So, if a student was nonverbal she'd have them tap the handles if they wanted the horse to go. If a person couldn't ride or didn't want to ride they groomed, or led, or just petted and talked about the horse.
She was a wonderful Christian woman with such an awareness of her horses and of people. I did a brief interview with her and it'll be going up as part of a podcast of interviews I did. I'm really glad they could come and minister with their horses.
but mostly I just spent time reading and talking with my volunteer and others. I did several recordings about different people's experiences and it will be going up as a podcast.
In the evening there was always a family activity. One night it was a couple that did clown/circus type acts. I was quite bored LOL, but I stayed because my volunteer was enjoying it. Wednesday night was the talent show which I always love. I do think they need to put a time limit and a limit on the number of acts as it got quite long. Thursday night was my favorite night. Square dance night. I have such trouble with movement that me and dancing is a big joke, but I always have fun. I'm gonna be a professional square dancer in heaven LOL. I'm gonna be a professional rider too LOL and who knows what else LOL.
Anyway, I keep mentioning volunteers. Most campers get assigned 1 for the entire weekI had 3 LOL. I kept joking I was wearing them out, really though I don't think I've mentioned that I came down early. My friend served as a volunteer this week and so had to go through the training. They assigned someone to me so that I didn't have to just sit there and so that my friend could be free to do whatever else she might need to do. They assigned someone on the leadership team who didn't need to be in training. Then on Monday I met my assigned volunteer Nancy. She was only able to be there for part of the week, so on Wednesday I met my second volunteer Kacy. I was not happy about having to get to know yet another person, but it worked out well. I had 3 very wonderful volunteers that I enjoyed getting to know.
I really enjoyed the worship, teaching and sharing times, as well as just the conversations about God had throughout the day with various. Retreat is just a wonderful place where you feel like you are surrounded by God's love.
I hope that I can return next year.
Shelly
first I'm goning to put in here a post I wrote to my guide dog days group about Flora at retreat. I will cut it since so many of you are on that list
My biggest concerns in taking Flora were as you probably remember the other dogs and kids, and the slightly crazy atmosphere of the camp in general. I'm pleased to report that she did very very well. It was stressed in training by me and others that working dogs are to be ignored. The volunteers did a great job of keeping the kids distracted and away from Flora and Flora pretty much ignored them. The other dogs kept a distance from us as well. There was a therapy dog there for the campers to pet. I guess he went in to various programs to give the kids time to pet. It sounds like he did very well and like it was a positive thing for the kids. Anyway, Flora did well at meals after I could get hear to settle under the table and after the first couple of times was not bothered at all by the worship times.
She spent a lot of time just lying around while I talked with people. She was half by other people while I spent time with the horses and while I square danced. They reported that she was very intent on where I was and some times even seemed worried if she couldn't see me. So, I think our bond is pretty good.
As far as her guiding she guided mostly to and from my cabin a walk of about 7 to 10 minutes on a paved curving sidewalk. We had a lot of pooping route. I'm hoping this is from the different schedule and possible stress and that it will go back to normal now that we areh ome. Much of the rest of the camp is not paved. Some of it is slippery gravel so I would take my volunteers arm for the stability they could provide and heel Flora. I often but not always heeled her on grass as well. For the most part her guiding was very good. She would get distracted by was easily refocused. Mostly the distraction were other people but the flock of ducks was a big temptation. We reworked that 1 a couple times.
Wednesday was a rough day. It began with her guiding well for about 5 mins, pooping, and then pretty much refusing to guide, stopping every few feet, I made her finish the route to the dining room and had a hard time getting her up after the meal. It was then that my brain clicked in that she must just be super tired. So I was easy on her for the rest of the day, letting her spend a large amount of the afternoon out of harness.
Speaking of out of harness, on 3 different days all but Wednesday different people while got to run with her. The first time some one was petting and getting her wound up and I joked and said if you wind her up you have to tired her out so she said well we'll run and they did with my permission around a large open field. Two other people did it on other days they asked because they'd seen her running the first day. Flora loved it and I think it was great for her to get that chance to just chill.
Many people commented on how young and puppy like she is LOL yes she is both those things. My volunteer used the best descriptive words "full of life." That's my dog!
So I'm pretty pleased with the week. I'm already wishing it was next year so I could go back.
Flora will be posting a report of her experience on her blog probably tomorrow http://floraguidedog.livejournal.com
Days at retreat began with breakfast of course LOL. The food at camp was as good as I remembered. After that the camp gathered for a time of worship. Then we were split in to age groups, children, teens, young adults, and the rest of us old people LOL. We had more worship and then a time of teaching. the presenter this year was a woman named Judy who was born with no legs. During her talks she told the story of her life thus far. Each sermon had a theme. Tuesday was focused on her teen years and how God is with us in our isolation and times of waiting. Wednesday focused on the healing God has brought to her family and how He will heal and guide other families as well. Thursday focused and the idea that we are all cracked pots LOL but can be used by God even in our brokenness. She is a very gifted speaker and her talks were very moving.
Then we split up so the women went to 1 group and the men to another. We stayed in a large grouthrough the week. Spending most of the time on each of us telling our family story and wandering off on to different topics as they came up. We also participated in an art project that told our stories and how God has worked and continues to work in our various situations.
In the afternoon we had free time. There were a variety of activities, arts and crafts, horses, water activities at the lake and more. I spent time up at the horses. I was very impressed with the group that provided riding this year.here is a post written to my riding list
The organizers of the retreat contacted a therapeutic riding program from Newburg Or and asked them if they would be interested in coming. They came had a great time so came back this year.
They brought 2 horses Norwegian Fjord's named Magnus and Lilia. I signed up for a time to ride even though I didn't think I'd be able to get on and I was right. She had talked with me before about my riding experience and said that if I wanted to I could led. So that is what I did for about 45 minutes. At first it was just me and the horse with another person on the other side of his head. Then that volunteer left and it was she and I. Then she asked if I'd like to led with a rider on the horse. I was surprised she'd let me do that, but I said sure. The little girl a nonverbal 5 year old had1 side walker who was the main instructor. After her I led another girl who didn't need any assisting. S the lady in charge showed me a different way to lead which had me stepping out more in front of the horse. I'm usually at the horse's shoulder/head. Doing it the way she showed me I had a lot more rope to use. She had me turning my body and not touching the rope which was really fun. I'd done a bit of that in the past with J but it'd been a long time and wasn't quite the same as this. I led the other horse too for a bit and then needed a a drink and a rest. It was in the upper 70's and i'd gotten quite hot.
I was very impressed with this group. S took time to talk with each person or their family member about what they had done in the past with horses and their abilities as far as communication and stuff. The horses didn't have saddles just 1 of those pads with the big handles like you use for vaulting. I can't remember what you call those things. So, if a student was nonverbal she'd have them tap the handles if they wanted the horse to go. If a person couldn't ride or didn't want to ride they groomed, or led, or just petted and talked about the horse.
She was a wonderful Christian woman with such an awareness of her horses and of people. I did a brief interview with her and it'll be going up as part of a podcast of interviews I did. I'm really glad they could come and minister with their horses.
but mostly I just spent time reading and talking with my volunteer and others. I did several recordings about different people's experiences and it will be going up as a podcast.
In the evening there was always a family activity. One night it was a couple that did clown/circus type acts. I was quite bored LOL, but I stayed because my volunteer was enjoying it. Wednesday night was the talent show which I always love. I do think they need to put a time limit and a limit on the number of acts as it got quite long. Thursday night was my favorite night. Square dance night. I have such trouble with movement that me and dancing is a big joke, but I always have fun. I'm gonna be a professional square dancer in heaven LOL. I'm gonna be a professional rider too LOL and who knows what else LOL.
Anyway, I keep mentioning volunteers. Most campers get assigned 1 for the entire weekI had 3 LOL. I kept joking I was wearing them out, really though I don't think I've mentioned that I came down early. My friend served as a volunteer this week and so had to go through the training. They assigned someone to me so that I didn't have to just sit there and so that my friend could be free to do whatever else she might need to do. They assigned someone on the leadership team who didn't need to be in training. Then on Monday I met my assigned volunteer Nancy. She was only able to be there for part of the week, so on Wednesday I met my second volunteer Kacy. I was not happy about having to get to know yet another person, but it worked out well. I had 3 very wonderful volunteers that I enjoyed getting to know.
I really enjoyed the worship, teaching and sharing times, as well as just the conversations about God had throughout the day with various. Retreat is just a wonderful place where you feel like you are surrounded by God's love.
I hope that I can return next year.
Shelly