2015 Schedule and Session Descriptions for the RAD Retreat

We will print this information and post some copies at camp, but if you want your own copy, please print or screen shot them now.

Then check the WHITE BOARD in the Dining Hall for any changes that might come up during the weekend.

Mobile phone service can be spotty at camp for certain carriers, so screen shots or printing is the best way to make sure you have a copy with you.

There is WIFI at the Dinning Hall but it can be spotty too so we will be trying to add an extender.  However we won’t know if it actually works until Thursday afternoon, so just an FYI to plan accordingly! (And enjoy your almost unplugged weekend!)

2015 RAD Retreat Schedule

Session Descriptions

Can’t wait to see everybody at camp.  Think DRY thoughts!!!

How to Register for the Retreat!

HEY! We’re so glad you’ll be joining us for this year’s retreat!!

Here you’ll find all the details about how to register for the Radiant Retreat.

Just follow the numbered steps 1-5, and you’ll be all set!

Here’s the short list – more details below

1 – Register for the Retreat, AND, if you wish,
Apply for Staff credits. to reduce Registration fees.

2 – Fill out the Kid Village form if you have kids 6 and under.

3 – Fill out the community meals form 

4 – Order your Radiant Bucks for additional activities.

5 – Get your Radiant T-Shirts optional but so much FUN!

 

Here’s more details about each step…

1. Fill out the Registration form here. Payment instructions follow, but you can register now and pay after you have negotiated your Staff Credits (more on that below.)

Got questions about the Retreat? Here’s the FAQ!

Got more? Learn more about the Retreat, the Activities, and the Sessions.

Not really a camper? We’ve got you covered there, too.

–> Feeling financially stretched? We don’t want anyone to miss out on this grand opportunity for connection and learning because of financial challenges.

Please check out our current Staffing needs and fill out the Staff application form here.  You’ll receive credits for a portion of your registration fee in exchange for your much-needed help at the Retreat!

2. Got kids between the ages of 1 and 6?  Learn about Kid Village, our fun + safe + supervised place for them to thrive and play while you get to participate in sessions and activities!  Please fill out the Kid Village form if you have a registered child between the ages of 1 and 6.

3. Food!  Are you planning to participate in community meals at the Retreat?  We serve three catered community meals:  Friday dinner, Saturday dinner, and Sunday lunch.

Here’s the form to sign up for our delicious community meals.  Payment instructions will follow.

(There’s a chili cookoff + potluck for Thursday’s dinner, which is open to all!)

4. To take part in certain offerings at the Radiant Retreat, such as chair massages, canoe rides, the coffee and smoothie bar, and face painting – you’ll need Radiant Bucks (and here’s why)!  (There’s plenty to do at the Retreat without “Bucks,” so if you don’t have the cash right now, don’t worry. These are just a few extras.)

Here’s the link to purchase your Radiant Bucks.

5. Last step – T-shirts!

The talented Ryan Bayron (grown Unschooler and amazing graphic artist) collaborated with Christina over the summer to design the beautiful new Radiant Living Logo!  We are so excited to put it on our first ever RAD t-shirts!

There will be a tie dye station at the Retreat, so make sure to order the sizes your family needs here!  We printed a limited number of shirts, so pre-orders will get first choice on sizes and exchanges if you need to trade in for different size.

 

Whew!  You’ve done it! Thanks for making the Radiant Living & Learning Retreat even more radiant!!

SuzanneFisherFamily

 

TIE DYE station + RADIANT tees = AWESOME and UNIQUE way to shine your LIGHT!

Show your RADIANCE to the world – with our 100% cotton printed tees!

We’re printing a limited number of shirts,
so ordering now will ensure you have the size(s) you want for
TIE-DYING at the 2015 Radiant Retreat
(Tie dye optional, of course!)

If you’re not coming to the retreat this year you can still order a shirt at the special “pre-order” prices – only $11
just include your shipping address in the notes and we will figure out that cost separately.

Woo Hooo, Year 3 of the Radiant Living & Learning Retreat!!!

We are so excited to see everyone in less than a month!
We cherish the time spent learning and having fun with friends old & new.

My children enjoy the time they are able to just explore nature with their friends.
My Husband and I like the informal learning opportunities and appreciate the long weekend filled with Love & Peaceful tranquility!!

Thank you Christina Wester for your vision to gather families to explore Living and Learning “Radiantly!”
~ Nina Jones and the Jones Explorers

JonesFamily

 If YOU would like to join the Jonses  and the “Radiant Tribe” this November,
click on a link below to get started!

We are looking forward to welcoming your family
and offering support you as you explore educational and parenting alternatives!

register

Click to Join the Fun!

RadiantRetreat

ALL the Details

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Money’s Tight?

FAQs

Questions?

Respect, Diverse Community and the Freedom to be a Kid make the Radiant Retreat impossible to miss!

Melissa Ashmore is working through big scheduling conflicts to attend part of the Retreat, so I asked her to share her favorite things about Radiant Living last year and what was pulling her back again this year.


USE THE SHARE BUTTONS TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS YOU JOIN US THIS NOVEMBER!


AshmoreFamilyWe decided to join the retreat this year even though we have commitments pulling us to other states during the weekend because we can’t wait a whole year until the next one!

Last year we took it pretty easy. My son and I enjoyed working in the Kid’s area around all the amazing kids. What we liked the most was that everyone is respected from the tiniest little one to the oldest.

It was nice to see a few familiar faces though we were entirely new to the community.  While we were made to feel welcome, we also felt welcome to spend time on our own as a family.

My favorite part was seeing my son all covered in mud and no one taking a second look. While I’m not looking forward to cleaning his clothes again, I am looking forward to the freedom of being around a diverse community.

Thanks for sharing Melissa!


 If YOU would like to join the “Radiant Tribe” this November,
click on a link below to get started!

We are looking forward to welcoming your family
and offering support you as you explore educational and parenting alternatives!

register

Click to Join the Fun!

RadiantRetreat

ALL the Details

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Money’s Tight?

FAQs

Questions?

Unschooling Conference Veteran: The Radiant Living & Learning Retreat is RAD!!!

Nadja Profit has attended Unschooling conferences for many years, so I asked her to share her family’s experience with the RAD Retreat last year.
(She also was the one who started calling it the RAD Retreat!)

USE THE SHARE BUTTONS TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS YOU JOIN US THIS NOVEMBER!


 What were the highlights of your family’s Radiant Retreat experiences?

My boys and I love it! Creating tribe with new friends and old. Like a reunion for the soul.

FacePaintRory copy

 

My youngest (3 at last year’s conference) loved rollin’ with the big kids & was pretty much able to keep up!

Selby

 

My oldest (8 last year) had a fantastic time with the hunger games and spending every waking moment with friends.

Nadja

 

I loved making coffee for peeps in the a.m. and working with all the other RAD workers in the kitchen then chilling out with fantastic conversations in the p.m…

 


Why did you decide to join us again this year?

I wouldn’t miss it!!! It’s like a family reunion with all of your favorite relatives – okay, I’ve never been to a family reunion and don’t have many close relatives… But it’s what I’d want from one… it’s all that and a bag of chips!


What are you looking forward to the most this year?

My absolute favorite thing at every conference/unschooler gathering is hearing from the teens and grown unschoolers!!! It is amazing and moving to hear their stories.


What would you tell a new-comer who is considering the Retreat for the first time?

This is an amazingly warm and welcoming group of people. The location is fantastic with the calm of nature all around and access to modern day conveniences. So much fun!!

Thanks for sharing Nadja!


If YOU would like to join the “Radiant Tribe” this November,
click on a link below to get started!

We are looking forward to welcoming your family
and offering support you as you explore educational and parenting alternatives!

register

Click to Join the Fun!

RadiantRetreat

ALL the Details

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Money’s Tight?

FAQs

Questions?

MORE Introverts Who Dig the Radiant Living Retreat!

Krystal Trammell’s family is totally RAD!
So I asked them to share their experience with the RAD Retreat in 2013 and 2014.

Use the SHARE buttons to invite your friends you join us this November!


Trammell FamilyCrp

Since the beginning the Radiant Retreat’s appeal has been that it’s low-key and less stressful than a hotel in a big city!

I like that there are many sleeping options, from primitive camping in a tent to hauling in your own RV, or even renting a screened shelter or bunkhouse space. It’s great for people who are new-ish to camping (me!) because you can still shower in hot water and have plug-ins both in the bathrooms and at your private campsite. You can get away with bringing less equipment and will still be able to shower and brush your teeth quite easily (Glamour + Camping = Glamping!)

We brought fairy lights to illuminate our tent site, so that our kids could find their way back to where we were – and nowhere is too far from the bathrooms or shared kitchen area. If you must have fresh cream in your freshly brewed coffee from the snack bar, they’ve got you covered! It’s so fun to sit around a campfire and partake of the community meals, or wander into the kitchen area for a smoothie in the late morning, watching the kids creating clever crafts, getting their faces painted, or making foam swords.

There’s always something going on, and it’s so nice to see kids of all ages just finding things to do together in a natural space, outdoors. Additionally, many of the discussion sessions were really useful to share in, even for more seasoned unschoolers, because you can really gain a broader perspective from other unschoolers with different priorities, challenges, or circumstances. The Kid Village is especially fun, because even the very little kids can gently ease into the pace of things, and it’s sometimes a really great place for the adults to hang out, too! Great, in-depth conversations ensue as we watch our toddlers scribble with markers, ride on rocking horses, or build bedsheet forts!


Why did you decide to join us again this year?

Because we love it! It’s our favorite yearly family trip – where we can connect deeply with like-minded souls, and we know that our kids can roam freely and feel safe in the gorgeous outdoors because friends are everywhere you turn. Especially as a family of (mostly) introverts, this doesn’t feel overwhelming to us. It’s the perfect amount of social connection without pressure or a rush to get somewhere else. We love the calm pace of the Radiant Retreat, because it’s not fun to feel stressed trying to squeeze in all the sessions you can, running from one thing to the next, and never really see the stars or enjoy the campfire or breathe in the crisp fall air. There’s a slower, more easygoing pace to this Retreat/Conference, which really allows for more dynamic, fluid moments to unfold between everyone who’s there.


What are you looking forward to the most this year?

This year, I want to make SURE I get a canoe ride! My kids absolutely adored that the last two times, and I want a turn too. It’s also a great time to get a massage from some talented hands, and explore the many hiking and biking trails. I definitely want to participate in the dance party and drum circle – anything that’s happening around a bonfire! I’m also offering a session this year on Honoring Our Kids’ Choices, and I love to share and discuss the unschooling lifestyle – so that will be excellent too! Also, the chili cookoff on Thursday night is NOT to be missed!

I asked my kids and here’s what they said:

Ian (16) is looking forward to foam sword making and battles.
Lili (13) is excited to be the official RAD photographer and hooping with her own hoop creation.
Claire (8) loved playing in the lake most of all last time, and now she’s super excited because she’s learned how to swim! She’s also obsessed w fairies and nature spirit lore, and will love the fairy house building. She’s looking forward to tie-dying, giant bubbles, bike riding and fire building too (so pretty much everything, lol!)
Nik (4) wants to go on canoe rides, build fires, and foam weapons building and battles. Ollie (3) wants to see giant bubbles and fires.


What would you tell a new-comer who is considering the Retreat for the first time?

I think that the Radiant Retreat is a wonderful, life-changing opportunity for a family to experience together, whether they’re unsure of unschooling, or have been doing it for years. I considered myself an unschooler for almost ten years before I finally attended any sort of gathering or conference, and once I did, our entire family underwent some great leaps and bounds!  It was a major “upleveling” experience for all of us! Unschooling is of course not just about academics or even learning, but rather, it’s a full-immersion lifestyle for every family member, including parents!

Coming to the Radiant Retreat can be a memorable and profound experience for adults and children alike, and the social connections made at Unschooling conferences are often deep, lasting bonds.

Thanks Krystal for sharing your experience!


If YOU would like to join the “Radiant Tribe” this November,
click on a link below to get started!

We are looking forward to welcoming your family
and offering support you as you explore educational and parenting alternatives!

register

Click to Join the Fun!

RadiantRetreat

ALL the Details

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Money’s Tight?

FAQs

Questions?

Introverts Find a Home at the RAD Retreat!

April Wells and her daughter Judy were first time Retreat attendees in 2014.  As an Atheist and an introvert, April was nervous about joining “the Radiant tribe,” but she was pleasantly surprised by the open and accepting attitude she found – families all along the spectrum of home education styles AND religious beliefs/non-belief.

 

April was the first of the “early birds” to register this year, so I asked her to share her thoughts about the Radiant Living & Learning Retreat for any newcomers that might be considering it.

April&JudyWells


I really enjoyed the camaraderie.
I don’t really fit into most groups, but for a weekend I got to feel like I was part of something. My daughter got to free range with a pack of other children who were also free ranging and hang out, play and be herself.

For any newcomer families who do not consider themselves unschoolers, this retreat is a chance for you and your children to sit back and relax and have a good time while getting a good look at families who are succeeding while unschooling.

For families who already unschool it is pretty much the same thing, you get to meet other families who have amazing kids who are succeeding.

For ANY family, the retreat is an opportunity to learn from other families, and to be a part of that process as you share your successes and failures.”

Thanks April for sharing your experience!


If YOU would like to join the “Radiant Tribe” this November,
click on a link below to get started!

We are looking forward to welcoming your family
and offering support you as you explore educational and parenting alternatives!

 

register

Click to Join the Fun!

RadiantRetreat

ALL the Details

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Money’s Tight?

 

FAQs

Questions?

 

Retreat Highlights from a First Time Radiant Family

Daisy McCarty and her family were new to the Radiant Retreat last year.  They were one of the “early birds” to register this year so I asked her to share a little about their experience as “newbies” last year and why they wanted to return.

Many thanks to Daisy for taking the time to share in such detail!


Notes on Radiant Living from the McCarty Clan

FallLeaves

My family was excited to attend the Radiant Living & Learning Retreat last year in lovely Cleburne, Texas. We knew it would be a wonderful chance to reconnect with unschoolers/life learners we had met at other events and meet new people—especially those in the North Texas area. We were right!

LakeView

 

 

 

 

 


My Favorite Moments 

Watching the kids collaborate on creating the surprisingly amiable Hunger Games battles that spanned the entire weekend made me smile. As someone who was eclectically homeschooled and self-taught throughout my own childhood, I remember with fondness the long days spent creating new games and playing for hours without interruption. It was fantastic to see another generation being gifted with the same opportunities.

HG3

HG1

MixedAgePlay

 

 

 

 

 


My Husband’s Favorite Moments

WkshpCircle2The talks and discussions were a highlight of the weekend for my husband, Ken. He talked all the way home about the sessions he had attended. Other parents offered helpful insights into some of the challenges we were facing and we were able to implement these solutions successfully at home. As someone who was still new to the concept of whole life learning, being around like-minded people and mentors was reassuring for Ken.


Our Daughter’s Favorite Moments 

KidsInDirt2Little Jasmine (then 2 years old) had a wonderful time playing and exploring with children of all ages. She especially loved staying up in the evening to make friends with a little brown and white toad that was hopping around outside the bunkhouse. Eating delicious smoothies made with healthy, natural ingredients gave her a fresh appreciation for the potential of dates and chocolate blended to perfection.

 


Why We’re Attending AgainMcCartyFamily

Our trip in 2014 left us energized rather than feeling like we “needed a vacation from our vacation.” Over the weekend, we were able to slow down, catch up with friends, and simply revel in the presence of people who are all different from one another but dedicated to creating a more liberated and harmonious world.

Thanks for creating this space for us, Christina! We look forward to seeing everyone again in November.

register

Click to Join the Fun!

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Money’s Tight?

 

FAQs

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9 weeks until the Radiant Retreat! GIDDY UP!

I feel so grateful once again to be a part of the Radiant Tribe!  This year I have decided to take better care of myself and ask for more help with the Retreat prep work.  Two remarkable Radiant Mamas have stepped up to help out in BIG ways: Nina Jones and Krystal Trammell!  <3  Learn more about the whole Radiant Team here.

Krystal is handling all of your registration questions and organizing the staff registration credits.  (formerly called volunteer credits)

If you are planning to request registration credits in exchange for helping out at the Retreat this year, please get in touch with Krystal ASAP by submitting the Staff Application.

 


NinaJones

Nina is in charge of hospitality, catering and more so you will be hearing from her as the retreat gets closer and we begin taking orders for meals.

 

register


IF YOU HAVEN’T REGISTERED YET: It’s time!
REGISTER NOW to reserve your spot!

Everyone who pays their registration THIS WEEK (by Noon Sept 4th) will receive a complimentary gift!  

You can choose between

We are getting excited that the 2015 Retreat is just around the corner!
We can’t wait to see you all in November!!!

Heaps of Love,
Christina AND the Radiant Team
ChristinaWEster