To Dance with our grandmothers

Registration now open for the 2025 Women’s Wellness Retreat

Join us this summer on beautiful Woody Island August 7-10 for a powerful retreat designed to celebrate, uplift, and connect women across our region. The Women’s Wellness Retreat creates a welcoming and supportive space where women can share stories of healing, reflect on shared experiences, and embrace the nurturing strength within themselves and each other.

Registration will be open through June 27, 2025. Space is limited, and priority will be given to Elders, Alaska Native/American Indian women, and those living in remote communities.

Over the course of the retreat, participants will take part in a variety of group activities, discussions, and wellness practices centered on personal growth, cultural connection, and community support.

How to Register:
You can register online or pick up a registration form at any KANA location. Completed paper registration packets can be emailed to Danielle Butts at danielle.butts@kodiakhealthcare.org.

For questions or more information, please call Danielle at (907) 486-7340.

This event is proudly supported by KANA in partnership with Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Native Village of Afognak, and the Kodiak Women’s Resource and Crisis Center.

Register Online Printable Registration Packing List

Retreat Information

The Women’s Wellness Retreat is located on Woody Island, about a 10-minute boat ride from the City of Kodiak. Confirmed participants will be transported over to the facility in a small licensed boat/skiff. Most cell phones work at the site. 

The Kodiak Christian Retreat Center manages the site and has done a fabulous job in maintaining and upgrading the retreat facilities. The terrain includes gravel trails and stairs. The facility offers dorm sleeping arrangements with bunk beds, as well as more rustic cabins that are heated by woodstoves. There is running potable water, indoor showers, and restrooms.  The structures include a large main building that houses the kitchen and dining room on the first floor, with dorms located on the second floor. The activities all take place near the main structure and include a large chapel and several outbuildings.

Much thought and planning go into planning the retreat, and we ask that you, as a participant, behave in an appropriate and respectful manner at all times. NO ALCOHOL OR ILLEGAL DRUGS are permitted at any time. If found on-site or in use during the retreat, the participant may be asked to depart the retreat and return home at their own expense. We view being drug and alcohol-free as an important part of one’s path to wellness. Additionally, smoking is not permitted in any of the cabins or sleeping areas and is only permitted in designated areas.

Each participant, if able, will be assigned a daily chore. We have limited staff and rely on the assistance of our participants in making this event a success. A daily chore list will be posted in the dining hall. 

At the conclusion of the retreat during the closing ceremony an “Honor Quilt” is presented to a participant or participants that have overcome obstacles in her life or someone that just might be in need of a big hug!

We ask that in order to commemorate each year of the retreat participants decorate a quilt square that will be incorporated into the honor quilt/s for the next year’s retreat. 

For village participants we provide round-trip airfare from your community. To plan for weather, we will typically fly you a day before the retreat begins. Kodiak lodging provided at the Shelikof lodge. If you would like to stay somewhere else that is a personal expense. Lodging will ONLY be covered after the retreat if weather prevents return flights. Any additional nights you want to stay in Kodiak will be covered at your own expense. We can coordinate pick up from Shelikof to skiff departure location. 

FAQ

Workshops led by presenters include:

  • Embroidery
  • Beaded headdresses
  • Crocheting
  • Mind/Body track (sign ups required)
  • KWRCC Healthy Relationships
  • Etching Mugs
  • Macramé
  • Facials
  • Watercolor/Nature Journaling
  • Talking Circles
  • Alutiiq Dance
  • Woody Island History Walk

Self led activities include:

  • Manicures/pedicures
  • Canvas painting
  • Painted salmon cutouts
  • Journals
  • Affirmation boxes
  • Quilt squares
  • Kayaking
  • Hiking
  • Banya

Meals will be provided by head chef Gayla Pedersen. We strive to meet all the dietary restrictions and wishes of the participants. Our menu is nutritious and offers a variety of options served buffet style. Meals include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, which will be available at all times.

We highly suggest getting dropped off or carpooling for drop off. If parking is required, please park in the 72-hour parking spaces. You can drop your items off first and then park. Just be mindful of parking signs and limits.

 It is very important that you have the following items! We will have a limited supply available to lend/use, and we will have a check‐out sheet if you need a certain item/s. All clothing, equipment, and luggage MUST  BE  LABELED with the participant’s name for easy identification. KANA is not responsible for any lost or stolen property. However, we will maintain a lost and found box until September 30th. Items must be claimed by this date.  

  • Warm Jacket, sweater
  • Clothing for 4 days of retreat (T‐shirts, jeans, socks, underwear, sweatshirts, pajamas, etc…)
  • One pair of boots or hiking shoes 
  • One pair of tennis shoes or walking shoes 
  • Bath towel, hand towel, washcloth
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss
  • Swimsuit for banya
  • Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, lotion 
  • Deodorant; comb; brush 
  • Sleeping bag, bottom fitted sheet, pillow / pillow case 
  • Rain Coat / VERY IMPORTANT or an inexpensive rain poncho
  • Phone charger

Optional items:

  • The cabins and dorms can be chilly, please consider bringing a warm blanket
  • Sun screen
  • Insect repellant
  • Lip balm
  • Book

The skiffs will depart from Oscar’s Water dock down the ramp by the bathrooms. We will have helpers to load bags into the skiffs and there will be staff present to check you in.