Operation Restoration Retreats

Operation Restoration along with Welcome Home Warrior and Homefront Heroes, co-hosted, retreats in June and October of 2008 for the spouses and children of currently deployed American troops. Templed Hills Retreat Center, strategically located in between Colorado Springs and Denver in scenic Woodland Park Colorado, was the setting for both of these events. The June retreat had 15 moms/wives and 33 kids, and the October event had 18 moms/wives and 41 kids! These retreats are free to the families who attend and give the attendees the opportunity to network, learn about resources, take a break from the everyday stress and reality that their loved ones are far away, and to just have some fun.  Because there is a full compliment of activities for the kids, the adults have room to relax and enjoy their time together, having fun without needing to focus on activities for their youngsters.  They play, they hike and do crafts, and in October even experienced some face to mane time with a horse provided by Operation Silver Spurs. Everyone sings silly songs around the campfire at night, and attends an outdoor church service on Sunday morning, provided by Lost and Found Inc.  Every one of our attendees have said they want to come to another retreat.  Plans are in the making for retreats in January and March in 2009.
Our retreats in June and October were made possible by the generous support of the many donors to the Operation Restoration efforts of Lost and Found Inc., over 400 individual donors to Welcome Home Warrior, a grant from Gazette Charities in Colorado Springs as well as the corporate giving to Operation Restoration from Foresters, Venoco and the Children’s Relief Mission. Because of the generosity of these supporters the costs of the retreat site were entirely covered and  also ensured that families were fed and had plenty of activities to enjoy. With plans already in place for the January and March retreats we are currently gathering the support necessary to make quarterly retreats happen in 2009. We need your help. Please contact Linda “Ole” Ferguson at 303.420.8080 ext. 1203 to find out how to support our military families by sponsoring a retreat for Operation Restoration.

 

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