July 16-19, 2010 — Wilderness Camping Retreat for Couples
Great Duck Island, ME
Cost: $1500.00 per couple (includes campsite, food & boat transportation from Northeast Harbor, ME).
Limited to 6 couples.

Great Duck Island is a remote, wilderness island in the Gulf of Maine, 10 miles offshore and due south of Acadia National Park. The island contains 265 acres, and has a lighthouse, built in 1890. It is a blend of pointed fir forests, seaside meadows, wildflower and moss gardens, surrounded by round popplestone beaches, pink granite cliffs and extensive hedges of wild roses (which will be in full bloom). It is the nesting habitat for a large number of birds, including bald eagles, guillemots, eider ducks, petrels and seagulls. There are also a large number of hares often seen scurrying about. Except for occasional bird researchers, the island is completely uninhabited. It provides a most extraordinary environment for reconnecting with yourselves, with each other, and with nature. It is a sanctuary of great beauty and deep peacefulness.

During this retreat we will teach our foundation practices of being present together, balancing self and other, dealing with differences, and giving and receiving attention. We will also work with specific issues that you raise and want to deal with. We will use the island environment to full advantage, meeting outside when possible. There will be eight sessions, starting Friday night and ending Monday at noon. There will also be ample time between sessions for couples to be alone and to explore the island.

The workshop will meet in a Victorian Gothic retreat house which is owned and maintained by The Center for the Study of Relationship. The house is right at the ocean’s edge and has spectacular views of neighboring islands and the mountains of Acadia National Park--the only mountains on the eastern coast of North America. The house has ample, comfortable spaces for meeting, food preparation and eating, but there are not sleeping accommodations inside for couples. Couples will camp in tents at campsites where there is plenty of privacy.

We will provide all the food and drinking water. Meals will be prepared by our chef with help from us all, and chores will be shared. Because there is no water yet on the island, we will together carry out all the water we will need for drinking and washing. Showers can be taken using a solar heated shower bag, and there is a clean, odorless outhouse with a great view of the ocean and mountains.

Participants must arrive at Northeast Harbor, ME on Friday afternoon in order to take a chartered boat to the island. The boat will return in the mid-afternoon to Northeast Harbor on Monday.

Couples have to bring their own tents and camping equipment.

Because of the logistical complexities and limited space, this workshop will be limited to six couples.

For photos of Great Duck Island and location maps, click here: Maine Couples Retreat.

For more information or to register call 617-661-7890 or email us at: borofskys@borofsky.net.

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