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.
Jane and Rick Juchems, Waverly
The Juchemses will talk about their trip to Ghana with Self Help International in 2026. Their message will include observations of promoting good nutrition and improving agriculture to alleviate hunger by helping people help themselves.
Tentative schedule for Autumn Odyssey: Theme of Wellness
Wednesday, October 14
4:00 PM – Arrival & Appetizers – Harry & Elle Blobaum
4:30 PM – Optional Stone Center Hike – Paul Frantsen
5:15 PM – Welcome & Introductions – Mark Davidson
5:15 PM – Overview of Sessions – Jill Davidson
5:30 PM – Dinner at the Stone Center
6:30 PM – Environmental Wellness – Mark Davidson
7:30 PM – Spiritual Wellness – Kate Longtin Johnson
8:45 PM – Worship – Kate Longtin Johnson
Thursday, October 15
7:15 AM – Morning Hike (optional) – Mark Davidson
8:00 AM – Breakfast at Stone Center
8:30 AM – Devotions – Kate Longtin Johnson
9:00 AM – Mental Wellness / Emotional Wellness – Clara Buxton
10:30 AM – Physical Wellness – Jill Davidson
11:15 AM – Chair Yoga
12:00 PM – Lunch – Mark Davidson
1:30 PM – Side Trip Options:
Main Site Hike – Mark Davidson
Elkader
Solitude/Reflection – On your own
5:30 PM – Dinner at Stone Center
6:30 PM – Highlights from Ghana Self-Help Trip – Jane and Rick Juchems
7:30 PM – Campfire Songs – Charlie Rod
Friday, October 16
8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Devotions – Kate Longtin Johnnson
9:30 AM – Healthy Aging – Jill Davidson
Cognitive Wellness Activities – Clara Buxton
Physical Wellness Exercises – Mark Davidson
11:30 AM – Pack 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. Please note, this is a different site than Ewalu’s main camp site.
