2026 Dates: Wednesday, October 14 – Friday, October 16
Theme: Wellness
Description: Our 3rd annual fall retreat for those ages 55+ at Ewalu’s Stone Retreat Center! Join us for a featured speaker, carriage or wagon rides through the fall colors, time for reflection and renewal, optional hiking and chair yoga, and simple relaxation. Meals and lodging (2 nights) included.
Cost: Double occupancy (2 people sharing one room): $175 per person
Single occupancy (1 person in a room): $225
Arrival time: Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. (supper at 5:30 p.m.)
Departure: Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Click the button and sign in to your Ewalu Camp Brain account, or create a new account. Then select “2026 Ewalu Events” and then select “Autumn Odyssey 55+ Retreat”
Guest Speaker: Clara Buxton, MA, LMFT – on Mental and Emotional Wellness
Clara Buxton is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with David Hoy and Associates, a mental health services provider in the Twin Cities, MN. Clara earned a Master of Arts from Saint Mary’s University and a Master of Arts in Theology from Luther Seminary. She is also certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). She works with individuals, couples, and families to strengthen, rebuild, and create healthy relationships. Clara has experience working with those whose lives have been impacted by trauma, loss, peer difficulties, spiritual issues, family conflict, life transitions, parenting struggles, self-harm, anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Clara has a strength-based lens and focuses therapy around an individual’s strengths and resourcefulness, rather than one’s weaknesses and shortcomings.
Her presentation at Autumn Odyssey will be on the topic of mental and spiritual wellness.
Tentative schedule for Autumn Odyssey: Theme of Wellness
Wednesday, October 14
4:00 pm Appetizers (Elle and Harry Blobaum host)
4:30 pm Optional Stone Center hike with Paul Frantsen
5:15 pm Welcome and Introductions, Overview of Sessions
5:30 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Stewardship of Nature / Environmental Wellness with Mark Davidson
7:45 pm Campfire & Singalong – Charlie Rod
8:45 pm Devotion / Spiritual Wellness with Pr. Kate Johnson
9:00 pm Late night conversations and/or bedtime
Thursday, October 15
7:15 am Morning hike with Mark Davidson (bring your camera)
8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 am Morning Devotions with Pr. Kate Johnson
9:00 am Presentation on Mental Wellness / Emotional Wellness with Clara Buxton
10:30 am Physical Wellness with Jill Davidson
11:15 am Chair Yoga with instructor
12:00 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Nap
1:30 pm Side Trip Options
– Elkader Trip (scenic stops, antique store, Keystone Bridge, quilt store, Ice cream, coffee, bakery)
– Main Site of Ewalu
– Drive to Motor Mill Historic Site
5:00 pm Dinner
6:00 pm Self Help International – Elle Blobaum
7:30 pm Worship – Pr Kate Johnson and Elle Blobaum
Friday, October 16
8:00 am Breakfast hosted by Jill Davidson
9:00 am Devotions by Pr Kate Johnson
9:30 am Cognitive Wellness Activities by Clara Buxton
– Healthy Aging with Dr. Jill Davidson
– Physical Wellness Exercises with Mark Davidson
11:30 am Pack up and depart
Location:
This retreat will be held at the Ewalu Stone Center, 35124 Highway 13, Strawberry Point, IA 52076 (2.5 miles north of Strawberry Point). Click here to see photos of the Stone Center.
