PLA Alumni Raise Money for L.O.V.E. (Leave Out Violence Everywhere) While On Retreat

The Fall retreats at Windhorse began three years ago when two Alums, over breakfast, came up with the idea of making a trip to Windhorse Farm, the home of Jim Drescher. 

PLA Alumni presenting L.O.V.E. with a contribution.

Jim is a faculty member of the PLA and also the protector of Windhorse Farm in Nova Scotia.  Windhorse is the oldest eco-forestry experiment in North America (1840), 270 acres of old Acadian forest, probably 12,000 years old.  Leadership, meditation and nature are completely interrelated and so we can learn from each about the other.  The retreats are designed to facilitate this learning (we call it nature practice). 

Twelve Alums went in the first year and 15 went each of the last two years.  We leave on a Friday in September and return on the following Monday.  During the retreat, there is ample time for meditation in nature.  There are group and individual activities and solo time.  The weekend is designed to be restorative.  We all stay together in a lodge so there is time for informal conversation and fun.  There are plenty of campfires.

This year there was another organization, staying in a different venue, that I happen to know the Director of, L.O.V.E (leave out violence everywhere).  L.O.V.E. works with very high need kids who get into trouble and each staff person must commit to being available for their kids 24/7. When I knew she was there I stopped in to see her and from that, we invited their group to join our group for a forest night walk and campfire.  From there the relationship grew and the PLA Alumni were so taken by the work, that on the spot they took up a collection and presented L.O.V.E. with a check for $1,330 during their final day of the retreat. It was very moving.

It seems like the trip to Windhorse has now become a standard part of the PLA and so we already have dates for next year.