6-Day Conference at Vermont Farm Open to Community Garden Leaders and Emerging Community Organizers -Scholarships Available!
NYCCGC Summer 2011 Leadership Retreat
Tuesday, July 12 – Monday, July 18
Center for Whole Communities at Knoll Farm
Fayston, Vermont
Scholarship requests must be recieved by April 9th!
Note: This information available as a printer-ready flyer (PDF)
New York City Community Garden Coalition would like to share a very special opportunity with 18 lucky community gardening enthusiasts!
This July, the amazing Center for Whole Communities at Knoll Farm, in collaboration with NYCCGC, will be hosting andfacilitating a six-day conference aimed at developing and inspiring the next generation of the gardening community’s leadership – from those working in their own neighborhoods, to those ready to step up to city-wide challenges.
The retreat (including transportation) is free of charge and will feature fresh air, fantastic food, music, and a chance to re-connect with nature – and restore and invigorate your body and mind.
How To Apply:
Answer the following three questions in an email or letter*. Include your age and contact information.
Scholarship requests must be received by April 9th.
| 1. | Tell us about how community gardening has changed your personal life: your relationship to your neighborhood, your community, and the world. |
| 2. | Describe how your skills and talents can best serve your community, and New York City Community Garden Coalition. |
| 3. | Discuss the skills and talents you would most like to improve upon or attain while attending the retreat. |
Send applications to:
Email: United@NYCCGC.org - Please title your email “Attn: Retreat Committee”
Post: NYCCGC, Attn: Retreat Committee, 232 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003
* If you prefer a personal interview, call Aresh (917-518-9987) or Karen (917-861-2783).
About Knoll Farm and the Center for Whole Communities:
Knoll Farm is an independent, family-owned and operated farm overlooking the Green Mountains in the Mad River Valley of Vermont. The land and buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, and conserved by the Vermont Land Trust. Founded in 2001, Center for Whole Communities is a learning and retreat center created by the owners of the farm, Peter Forbes and Helen Whybrow. Read more about the Center for Whole Communitites here.
A few words from the folks at Knoll Farm:
What to expect at the Retreat:
We ask you to attend this retreat prepared for a different way of interacting and thinking about your work. In addition to daily facilitated conversations, we’ll use tools such as awareness practice, working with our hands, and story, to allow us to have a more thoughtful and engaged dialogue about our work and our future.
You can expect to find yourself both learning and teaching during the week, building new personal and professional relationships, having time to be quiet and listen, and restoring and renewing body and mind. You will have the opportunity to practice a variety of what we consider to be “whole thinking” skills to take with you when you leave. Our hope is that you will, perhaps, come away seeing the world, and even yourself, a little bit differently.
Food:
All meals will be prepared using organic produce grown at Knoll Farm and other local farms. Food is plentiful and snacks are always available. Our team prepares primarily vegetarian fare, though we do also have a meat option (the meat is also locally grown) at many of the meals during the week. The questionnaire provides space for you to indicate any dietary needs or allergies that you would like us to accommodate. It is crucial for us to have any dietary needs communicated in advance of the retreat so that our cooks can plan to safely meet your needs.
Accommodations:
All retreat participants will be staying in wooden/canvas platform tent cabins at the top of a high pasture overlooking the Mad River Valley. There is the option of having a private tent cabin, or sharing with another participant. The tents are fairly spacious with raised beds with futon mattresses. All you will need to bring for camping is a sleeping bag and pillow. A bath house with hot showers and flush toilets is close to where you will be sleeping.
We eagerly await your responses!
Please make sure we receive your request by April 9th!