Past Retreats

by Sage Hagy

Every year as spring begins I look forward to going to Pilgrim Park in Princeton, Illinois for the Women’s Connection Spring Conference. I love seeing old friends and meeting new ones. In 2025, this started on the drive to Princeton, where I met Sydney VandenBusch for the first time and an old friend, Karen Kortsch, drove the car. Sydney had played a game of Buses, Trains, Planes, and Automobiles, substituting walking for the airplane component to be with us.

Thursday evening was a relaxing time of saying hello to old and new friends. I set up the sale of items for the benefit of our scholarship fund. Deb Czarnopys-White was working on downsizing, and she donated some lovely things to Women’s Connection for us to sell. I myself turned in early getting a good night’s sleep.

MAY 29 - JUNE 1, 2025

Once again we returned to the lovely Pilgrim Park near Princeton, IL.

Wisconsin author and speaker Peighton Carter led a discussion on coping with disabilities for their keynote! Pey's afternoon workshop was a Quaker-style silent service with opportunity to release anger by writing a statement on paper and burning it in a cauldron outside the hall.

Pey is an advocate with speaking experience on disabilities, inclusion and accessibility, Post-Traumatic Stress, veterans issues, and military sexual assault. Pey and their daughter have also written a book about coping with EDS, "Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin."

Connection Council member Gretchen O was our Lead for this retreat, Nyx and Sydney took care of Registrar duties, Pat H wrote us some lovely rituals, and Janet scheduled Workshops.

Sage H organized the big sale of gently used items that past council member Deb Czarnopys-White donated, such as CDs, colorful scarves, and goddess figurines, plus the elegant gong that went home with Tori! You helped us raise over $300!

MAY 28 - 31, 2026
We will be back at the lovely Pilgrim Park near Princeton, IL. You'll have an option to arrive on Thursday for an extra day/night!

Come join us for a relaxing weekend at the UU Women’s Connection Spring Retreat. This year’s theme, Weaving Resistance, will be led by keynote speaker Emily R. Mace. We'll gather in community to rest, connect, and uplift each other. Stay for 2 nights or 3 and enjoy a mix of activities, workshops, and sisterhood. Whether you’re seeking quiet reflection or shared experiences, there’s space for both. This is your chance to reset, be supported, and leave with a full heart and a renewed spirit.

Our Keynote speaker will be the amazing Emily Mace! Emily is a UU Seminarian and a historian.

- Studying for her MDiv at Meadville Lombard Theological School, anticipated graduation spring 2027
- Web Administrator for the UU Studies Network
- Former Executive Director of the Harvard Square Library
- Former Adjunct Instructor in UU History and Polity at Starr King School for the Ministry (2010-2012)
- Contributor at WorshipWeb and elsewhere
- Pulpit supply speaker in the Chicago/Milwaukee areas

Cost per person:

2 nights – Double $230
2 nights – Triple $200

3 nights – Double $315
3 nights – Triple $265

Commuter No lodging, no meals $60
Commuter No lodging, lunch Saturday $75
Commuter No lodging, lunch and dinner Saturday $95
Commuter No lodging, Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner $115
Commuter No lodging, Friday dinner, 3 meals Saturday, Sunday breakfast $130

Download and share pdf the flyer(156 KB) !

tentative schedule: 2026 Spring Retreat Schedule

Workshops:

Anytime Activity: Tie Dye

Gretchen and Nyx will set up supplies for tie dye on Friday and give some instruction on how to do this. Feel free to bring any cotton, silk, rayon or other natural fabric item to dye. There will be some t-shirts for purchase (proceeds going to UU Women's Connection).

Friday Evening Activity: Maypole Dance

Diana will be bringing a portable may pole for a dance, and will teach us how to do the dance so the ribbons wind nicely around the pole.

Love at the Center Shirt Printing

Peggy will bring supplies (stencils, fabric paint with sponges and brushes, as well as spray on fabric paint) to decorate white t shirts with the Love at the Center logo. People can have their option of the neater, more controlled painting or the spray painting.

She is also bringing some white cotton jersey knit shirts, 8 each L, XL, and XXL. People can choose to use one of those by reimbursing Peggy $8 per shirt.

Songs for the Resistance - part 2

Last year we sang a variety of songs from the Raging Grannies repertoire. This year Gretchen and Janet will bring more songs, from the UU hymnals and beyond!

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Spring 2025 Retreat Wrap-Up

Spring 2025 Retreat

Spring 2026 Retreat

Unitarian Universalist Women's Connection

UU Women and Religion