Iroquois Springs Camp and Retreat Center
66 Bowers Rd, Rock Hill, NY 12775
(631) 462-2550
To view more photos of the grounds, go here.
This year our group will be cozied up from September 30 – October 3, 2022 in in Rock Hill, NY at Iroquois Springs.
There will be multiple cabins available that will each have 8-10 women. There are 2-3 toilets and showers per cabin as well as a bathroom in each room we will be in. Rest assured – we’ve got you covered!
Iroquois Springs Camp and Retreat Center
66 Bowers Rd, Rock Hill, NY 12775
(631) 462-2550
To view more photos of the grounds, go here.
Closest Airports:
New York Stewart International Airport is about 30 minutes away.
Newark, JFK and LaGuardia are each about 1.5 hours away.
The NYC area is about 1.5 hours away and the Philadelphia area is about 2 hours and 45 minutes away.
Crystal Run Urgent Care (1.3 miles away)
61 Emerald Pl, Rock Hill, NY 12775
(845) 794-6999
Of course! In fact, we encourage it! You can enter your information and find potential traveling buddies in this document.
Yep! Contact us directly and we will make sure to get you access.
We are currently working on the menu. Once it is finalized, it will be announced so you can plan accordingly. The menu is being designed to be IBD friendly, but keep in mind we cannot please everyone.
In your registration we have collected information about your dietary needs, which we will try to accommodate as best as we can. If there are things you would like to bring to eat, we can provide a refrigerator for that. If you have any additional questions please contact us.
Sorry, this event is only for those with a confirmed IBD diagnosis and/or ostomy.
For this event, your $350 registration fee covers – meals, lodging, and activities. *You will also be responsible for travel to and from the event.
If you are officially registered to attend the 2022 Annual Retreat, you will be sent liability forms to fill out prior to the event.
*These forms must be completed before attending!
Clothing
Personal Items
Bedding
Click here to view a map of the grounds (the #corresponds to where we will be during each session!)
Sarah Biggart with Ostomysecrets will host a workshop to discuss body confidence with an ostomy and/or chronic illness!
Sarah lives in San Diego’s North County with her husband Jason and son Hendrix. A diagnosis of ulcerative colitis in 2000 about a year into her marriage started her on the journey that continues today. In 2004 she had surgery to create her ileostomy and a second surgery in 2011 to remove her rectal stump. Sarah’s journey with ulcerative colitis and ileostomy has inspired her to share her story and connect with others.
Having an ostomy has always been a positive for Sarah because she feels that it has allowed her to live the life she has always wanted. Being involved in the ostomy community through her role at Ostomysecrets and as a Me+ Ambassador, is her way of reaching out to others who may be struggling with acceptance of their ostomies. In her spare time you can find Sarah enjoying the laid back Southern California lifestyle with family and friends.
It goes without saying that IBD and/or having an ostomy has a profound impact on our bodies and it’s not always easy to go through that impact. This interactive educational session is aimed at normalizing all the emotions we experience, review the healthy side of allowing ourselves to feel uncomfortable feelings, and discuss how we can shift negative thoughts about our bodies and ourselves without diving into toxic positivity. This session will also allow participants to practice mindfulness skills led by Dr.Fuss that can allow us to be more in touch with our bodies in a non-judgmental way and increase our awareness of what we are feeling.
Dr. Alexandra Fuss is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and serves as the Gastropsychologist in the Digestive Health Service at Yale New Haven Hospital. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship in adult clinical and health psychology at the Marshfield Clinic in her home state of Wisconsin and her pre-doctoral health psychology residency at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Fuss earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Memphis in Tennessee and her masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University in her hometown of Milwaukee Wisconsin.
Dr. Fuss’s professional passion for working with GI and colorectal surgery patients is driven by her personal experience as an IBD thriver with Ulcerative Colitis and a J-Pouch. In her clinical work Dr. Fuss utilizes GI psychology interventions to work alongside patients as they adjust to their diagnoses, and face the psychosocial challenges that come with these diagnoses. Dr.Fuss is also involved in various advocacy groups for GI patients, and utilizes her social media platform to spread information about GI psychology. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time at the gym, running long distance races, or curling up at home with her partner and pets reading, listening to podcasts, cross stitching, or watching way too many documentaries.
Do you have IBD or an ostomy and are tired of hearing certain phrases that belittle who you are as a person just because you have a chronic illness? Have you ever heard, “you’re too young/pretty to be sick?” Have you ever been bullied or made to feel guilty/ugly because of IBD, your scars or having an ostomy? We want to flip the stereotype of disability and chronic illness and show the world that there is a whole lot more to us women than a disease.
We will be doing a voluntary alternative photoshoot project at our Retreat this year – Kintsugi style.
*Photo credit: The Kintsugi Project by Amy Woodward
Cyanotype
is a type of photographic printing that produces a distinct cyan blue and white print. Prints are created by placing objects on prepared paper activated by sunlight. During the retreat, participants will have the opportunity to create a print using their bodies, ostomies, or other items.
The result will be powerful images of beauty captured from our bodies and environment!
Yes! Your lodging, meals and all activities are covered. All accepted attendees will also receive an event t-shirt and swag bag full of lots of other Girls With Guts goodies.
*Item color and design will slightly differ.*
At every retreat we have small sessions where you get to talk to a group about a specific topic. The topics will vary, but may include:
Elizabeth Kestel – events@girlswithguts.org
Alicia Aiello – president@girlswithguts.org
Each year, Girls With Guts collects donations to offer scholarships. This year, we are able to offer 3 scholarships from a fund started by the Lewin Family in memory of Jessica Lewin, a daughter, sister and friend of many.
Jessica battled Crohn’s from a young age and had an ostomy for many years. Her family and friends like to support other women in her situation by sending them on GWG retreats.
You can read about the Jessica Lewin Memorial Scholarship here.
The timeline for scholarship applications is:
June 27th, 2022 — Scholarship application opens.
August 1st, 2022 — Scholarship application closes.
August 5th, 2022 — Scholarship winners will be announced.
If you apply for a scholarship, but do not receive one, a spot at the event will be held for you if you wish to register after winners are announced. You will not miss your chance to join us!
The scholarship covers:
Registration to the 2022 Annual Retreat in Rock Hill, NY which includes all meals, lodging, and activities for the weekend. *This does NOT include transport.
Registration is valued at $350.
To apply for a scholarship you will complete an application providing your demographic information and an essay to be reviewed by the Girls With Guts Board of Directors.
Before starting to fill out the application, please be prepared to submit an essay that is no more than 500 words in length on the topic of:
How would you benefit from the emotional support provided by attending the 2022 Annual Retreat?
You may include information about your financial need and how this scholarship may provide an opportunity to attend the 2022 Annual Retreat that you would not otherwise have had. Do your best to help us see why your need is unique or different.
Have you read the entire scholarship FAQ? Are you Ready to apply? If so follow the link below:
Applications are now closed! Recipients will be announced on August 5th.
For additional information about scholarships, or if you are interested in sponsoring someone or donating a retreat spot – please contact development@girlswithguts.org.
We ask that all attendees have had COVID-19 vaccines. As part of registration, you will be required to provide the date of your last vaccine. Additionally, we will be asking all attendees to provide a copy of their vaccination card as part of the post-registration forms that will be emailed.
We ask that all attendees provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken at least 72 hours before the retreat.
Don’t worry. We have a policy for this! Unfortunately, due to the deposit we have to put down, we can only offer refunds up to a certain period.
30 days prior to retreat – No refunds will be given (September 1st, 2022)
If you need to cancel after the 30-day mark, please contact us at info@girlswithguts.org and we will provide you with a donation receipt for the full amount of your registration fee. Sorry, no exceptions.
