Survivors Outdoor Experience (SOE) will be holding its first local program in three years. This year’s event will be held on May 21st and will mark the 10th Healing Adventure.
“We were preparing to host our 10th Healing Adventure in Pittsburgh in 2020 when COVID came along,” Jack Ganster, SOE Founder and Director said, “And we all know what happened after that. Of course, we didn’t realize it (COVID) would take so long to run its course.”
SOE is an educational and recreational organization that has created programs to provide cancer survivors an opportunity to learn more about the benefits of living a healthy and active lifestyle. The program provides informative presentations balanced with recreational activities to assist participants in gaining strength, confidence, and a sense of the future.
Fortunately, COVID numbers have dropped in the past few months, as well as the severity of the disease, and Ganster and SOE Board Members feel the time is right to bring back their Healing Adventure, this time in the region where SOE was founded. The retreat will be held at Nature Bridge Campus on the shore of beautiful Lake Crescent.
“Folks are ready to move forward. We’ve seen interest and have inquires,” Ganster said.
New for 2022 is a one-day format instead of an entire weekend. “We decided that people would feel more comfortable for now if they weren’t sharing living space overnight,” Ganster said.
The 10th SOE Healing Adventure includes:
- Who is a Survivor?
- Sharing our Story
- Nature’s Prescription
- The Companion’s Story
- Self-Advocacy
- What now? Navigating Forward
- Healthy/Practical Cooking
Dr. Heath Foxlee, MD, Radiation Oncologist will be presenting for the sixth time. “I love helping with this program. It’s just a wonderful idea to bring folks together to share their stories and to learn more about moving forward,” Foxlee said.
The Healthy Cooking program will finish with a meal. “Food brings us together, sharing a meal is a great way to feel connected,” said Julie Jacobson, chef and presenter, “And so does nature. It’s just perfect to combine all of these elements.”
The program is provided at no cost to participants and their guests. For more information about SOE visit: www.survivorsoutdoorexperience.org/ For more information about the retreat contact Ganster at jhgisjack@yahoo.com or call 360-477-1619.
