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Questions? Please email [email protected]
Thursday, February 1 & Friday, February 2, 2024
St. John’s University and College of St. Benedict - Collegeville, MN
Are you a Sustainability staff or faculty member on a higher ed campus? Please plan to join us for this professional development retreat to encourage each other and rejuvenate your spirits. We share challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned and help each other solve problems facing our institutions. Our goal is to take this time to refresh ourselves and refocus so that we can continue the important work we do on our home campuses for our institutions, our students, and our future. 

The retreat will be an opportunity to: 
  • Reflect on why and how you do the work that you do
  • Learn from colleagues and about the impressive sustainability efforts at the University of St. Johns and the College of St. Benedict.
All while embracing the beauty of winter and some refreshing time outside, and staying overnight at the beautiful St. John’s Abbey Guesthouse. Cost is $130/person and includes lodging in a single room, dinner and breakfast. Friday lunch on campus will not covered by the retreat fee.  (Scholarships are available, please email [email protected]). 

Cancellation Policy: Any cancellations after January 11 will need to pay a $50 fee. 
2024 SUSTAINING OURSELVES RETREAT SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1st​ 
1:00-2:00 -  Arrival and Informal Conversation

2:00-3:00 - Welcome and Introductions

3:00-5:00 - Connecting and Learning Outside (note that if there is snow, free snowshoes will be available, and you are welcome to bring cross-country skis. )

5:00-5:30 -  Check in at the Abbey

5:30-6:30 - Dinner at the Abbey

Optional Evening Activities will include: 
  • Board Games and Conversation at the Abbey
  • Take the campus shuttle to the Bad Habit Brewery and/or Jupiter Moon. ​
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd​
6:30-9::00
  • Breakfast at the Abbey and Check out
  • Individual Reflection

9:00-11:00 - Campus Sustainability Tour led by Kyle Rauch

11:00-12:00 - Small Discussion Groups: 
  • Educators
  • Staff
  • One Year Service Members

12:00-2:00 - Lunch on campus and Small Group Discussions (topics will be proposed throughout the retreat by participants)

2:00-3:00 - Closing
One of the videos shared for our Outdoor Discovery Walks