On the right hand side you can click on the Locate an Event button and then search by state for events in your area.
You can search by branch, then by type (family retreats, pre-deployment retreats, marriage retreats, etc).
Then you can search through dozens of retreats to find one that applies to you.
Best of all? It's all free. You pay for the gas to get there, and they provide lodging, all meals, and even childcare.
Why do they do this? It's money appropriated by the government (well until Obama takes it away), to help families deal with repeated deployments.
Our trip this weekend was to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. We drove through the mountains, past Breckenridge, Vail, and a half dozen other resorts. We got free tickets to the hot springs, where Abs and I lounged in the hot water.
On the other side of the therapy pool was a pool that was a little bit cooler--if you consider 94 degrees cool. We rotated back and forth between the two, and I think we could have spent all night there. Unfortunately Junior had no interest in going, but the time with just Abs was nice.
It was so nice to have a REAL meal, with choices, that I didn't have to prepare. Abs at one point told the leaders of the retreat "This is the best food we've seen since my dad deployed." Thanks a lot kiddo.
It was really a relaxing weekend, minus the screaming in the car from Junior on the way there and back. (mental note--never go on another road trip again without the dvd player. If I had seen a walmart at one point I would have pulled over and bought another one.)
There are tons of things to do in Glenwood Springs, and I think we are going to go back as a family when Gunner gets home. There are Limestone caves to explore, Doc Holiday's grave (actually the memorial site since they aren't sure where he is buried in Potter's field), and a lot more.
Let me know if you have been on one of their retreats, what you though, and if you haven't been if you were able to locate one to attend. You won't be sorry, and I'm glad that they have this money to do things like this for the families!
10 comments:
My husband, who is an Army Reserve Chaplain is going to a Strong Bonds Leader Training in February and he is so excited! We were hoping to both go so we could lead retreats together, but they didn't have enough room for me--we were very sad. But I'm still thrilled that he gets to go. Everything that I've heard about it really good! I'm so glad you got to go and relax.
This is such a wonderful program! I wish that more people would take advantage of it, if nothing else, the weekend away with your spouse/family is worth it!
Glad you had some time to get away. Thanks for sharing.
I was looking at the site and was wondering if you know....
do you have to be associated with the unit that is putting on the retreat. It looks like a lot of them are specific to certain groups of people.
I'd love to go but don't see anything that would include us.
I had just heard about this from another lady too. Sounds great. They don't have any that close to us, but if they ever do, it could be fun to go. :)
Sounds like a ton of fun--I'd love to go on one of these!
Thanks for stopping by the Military Family Blogger Linky!
Wow, this is great, thank you sooo much for the info, this new army wife/blogger appreciates it! Stopping by from armywiveslives.com
I went to one last time my husband was deployed and it was great! I was pretty leery at first and was really nervous on the drive down but by the end of the weekend I was so glad I took advantage of the invite and opportunity. I hope they keep this program around.
I have been on 2 retreats with strong bonds we went to orlando for 5 days and to myrtle beach for a weekend they are great and i loved every minute of it my kids had a great time and me and my husband did also.
I would love to go to another one how do u pick one cause these are all for units.did u just pick one and show up
family bonding is really important
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