Essential Information for Women Attending the Retreat
Dear beautiful mamas,
We are so glad that you will be joining us for the Return to Zero California Women’s Healing Retreat at Whisper Tree Retreat Center. We are honored to spend this special time with you.
Our hope is that the openness and sacredness of the land supports us as we open up, dig deep, move our grief, and find ways to grow and heal.
We have put together some important information regarding the retreat. After reading it, if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us.
We very much look forward to meeting and spending time with all of you!
With love,
Kiley and Betsy
*We suggest printing out this page and reading it thoroughly.
Important Information
Phone/text number:
310-403-3856 (Kiley Hanish)
360-259-3469 (Betsy Winter)
Dates: May 9-12, 2024
Arrival: 10am - 12pm on Thursday, May 9
Departure: 11:00 am on Sunday, May 12
Important Documents
Retreat Registration + Dietary Needs Survey
Please complete the retreat registration and dietary needs survey as soon as possible.
It provides important information to help us prepare and plan for your arrival.
This agenda is meant to guide our experience, however activities, times, and locations may change depending on the group needs.
Please complete the ride share information form as soon as possible.
This is where you can arrange car pools, ride shares, and other travel arrangements with the other women attending this retreat.
Please review before your arrival
Venue Contact Information
Whisper Tree Retreat Center
12378 Boonville Rd.
Boonville, CA 95415
707.895.2572
Driving Directions - PRINT OUT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE
Bell Valley Retreat is located at 12378 Boonville Road, Boonville, CA 95415. Google Maps and other navigation apps often get confused in the country and cell reception can get lost en route, so we recommend having these directions accessible for the drive. *Note: Apple Maps/I-Phone navigation app will lead you to the wrong place!
Quickest Route: From the Bay Area, take Hwy 101 North to Ukiah, then Route 253 West to Boonville. The Toll House Inn is approximately 11 miles from Ukiah on Route 253 and will be on your right. The drive takes a little over 2 hours from San Francisco but can increase based on traffic density.
Alternative Route: For a differently scenic drive, take Hwy 101 North to Cloverdale. Take 128 West from Cloverdale and travel into Anderson Valley, turning right onto Route 253 just before entering Boonville. The Toll House is located approximately 5 miles up Route 253 from the turnoff at Route 128 and will be on your left. Although this is truly a beautiful drive, the road is quite curvy and takes 10-15 minutes longer. Also, please be aware that cell phone reception is limited on this route once you depart Hwy 101.
Sharing Your Story
To prepare for our first night, we ask you to write a one-page overview of your loss experience which you will read aloud in our circle (3-5 minutes). You will have plenty of other opportunities to share more of your story throughout our time together.
Why we have you write an overview of your story:
Honors your broken heart, your baby/s, and your loss journey
Helps you feel heard and your experience validated
Connects you with a community that truly understands your experience
Reminds you that you are not alone on this journey
Honoring Our Losses
*On the first day, we will create a sacred memorial table in which to honor our losses. Please bring any memorabilia that has meaning to you and your story of loss, including pictures, ultrasound images, artwork, candles, blankets, and stuffed animals. Only bring what you are comfortable sharing—you will get to take your mementos home.
Items Recommended to Bring
Reusable water bottle
Small flashlight or headlamp to get around at night
Toiletries (toothpaste, sunscreen, medications, etc.); shampoo/conditioner and body wash is provided
Rain jacket/umbrella
* You will be taking some extra items home with you, so leave a little extra space
Clothing Attire
Athleisure wear—we want you to feel comfortable while you are there
Weather varies—bring items that you can layer
Swimsuit for hot tub
Warm socks or indoor shoes (no shoes in indoor areas)
Shoes that slip easily on and off and sneakers (if you want to do any hiking)
Gifts for Others
This is completely optional, but in the past some women have brought small gifts to give to the other women. It doesn't have to be something you purchase - it can be a poem, card, something hand-made. Sometimes it represents the local culture or environment where you live. We anticipate having 23 women + 2 facilitators. (We will update this as we get closer to the retreat start date.)
Food
All meals are provided by our personal chef. The menu will be guided by the seasonal vegetables and fruits that are available. Our goal is to create nourishing and comforting meals. We will eat 3 full meals a day and snacks are available, but if you feel the need to bring extra snacks, please do so (there is a refrigerator available).
Alcohol and Drugs
There will be no alcohol or drugs allowed at the retreat. This is a time dedicated to deep emotional work, and use of these substances would be unhelpful in this process. In addition, smoking is not allowed at the retreat center. If you do need to smoke, they request that you do so in the parking lot, away from the main retreat center structures.
Possibility of pregnant women
Though the RTZ HOPE Healing Retreat is a retreat for women who have experienced the death of their babies, please understand there is a possibility that some women may be pregnant while at the retreat. We ask that you mentally prepare yourself for this if you feel like it may have an effect on you, and we also ask that these women be treated with non-judgment and compassion.
Other Questions about Bell Valley
1. What is the distance between bathhouse and tents? About a 2-5 minute walk, depending on the location of your tent.
2. Please confirm what the heat, cool, electrical, and wireless sources are for tents. Wifi is provided throughout the property. For cold weather: There are mattress warmers, little bedside heaters, and outlets for charging phones & laptops. For warm weather: All of the tents have fans and screened windows. During the day, if it’s hot outside, the tents will also be hot. Alternatives for nap or chilling space is the yurt, barn, or bunkhouse (which all have AC), and the Toll House stays pretty cool.
3. Are towels provided in all accommodations? Yes.
4. Are toiletries provided for all accommodations? Yes, both in the rooms and the Bath House (tents) there is shampoo, body wash & conditioner.
Payment Reminders:
Thank you for your deposit.
Please be sure to submit balance by April 15, 2024
Remaining balances can be paid HERE Be sure to select the balance that matches your original registration (private platform tent, shared platform tent, private room tollhouse, shared room tollhouse, etc.)
If you would like to set up a payment plan, please reach out to betsy@rtzhope.org
If you received a scholarship or requested a payment plan this will be reflected in the drop down menu of registration page.
Cancellation policy: If you have paid in full and cancel before April 8, 2024, you will receive a full refund minus your $500 deposit. If you cancel after April 8, unfortunately, you will not receive a refund.