Retreat

These annual 3-day weekends are held at the Shadowcliff Lodge, built on cliffs adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park, overlooking the lake, a roaring stream, the mountains, and the town of Grand Lake. The 2024 Retreat is July 18-21. The Retreat is a 3-day event with a full program of interactive workshops & educational seminars, a variety of body therapies, social activities, and various other sessions. Each Retreat is an exceptional, empowering experience for the participants and the volunteers.

Sessions usually included in the agenda are:

We offer nature walks in the area, hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park (trailheads are adjacent to the property), a boat ride on Grand Lake, fireside chats & discussion groups, an interactive team challenge, as well as “down time” for hanging out, socializing, reading, games; or just relaxing and taking in the beauty of the environs.

A variety of body therapies are offered by licensed practitioners who volunteer their time all weekend. These include Massage, Energy Work, Acupuncture, Reflexology, and Chiropractic. Each morning we offer brief sessions of Yoga, Qigong, Exercise, and Meditation.

Although the rooms sleep up to 6 people, only 2-4 people share a room; and the bathrooms are shared throughout. Each Retreat is limited to 41 participants and 9 volunteers. Included in the Retreat are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Shadowcliff strives to provide healthy, fresh, delicious meals prepared and served using a “compassionate kitchen” model.

To ensure that everyone is able to attend (and for less impact on the environment and the wallet), we organize a carpool that leaves from Denver at 10am on Thursday morning. With good traffic, the trip takes 2 hours, and detailed driving directions are provided for everyone.

If you are coming from out of town and flying into Denver International Airport, you may need to arrive the day before (Wednesday). Please contact Michael who has information on all of the various options.

The Shadowcliff Lodge is an historic, rustic, & beautiful alpine lodge bordering Rocky Mountain National Park, Arapaho Forest, Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, and the roaring North Inlet Stream. Perched on a cliff overlooking Grand Lake Village and the Colorado “Great Lakes” area, Shadowcliff guests are treated to the magnificent grandeur of the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains. It was built over a 40 year period by more than 200 volunteers from 30 different countries, on land that is sacred to the Native American community.

The Retreat was begun in 1990 by the founders and previous owners of Shadowcliff, Pat & Warren Rempel, to honor their son Scott who died of AIDS in 1989. The Retreat is now a program of Treatment Educat10n Network (TEN). It is organized and run by volunteers, and is very grassroots in nature and spirit. The Shadowcliff Lodge is now owned and operated by a non-profit organization whose mission centers around sustainability education and providing an eco-friendly mountain sanctuary creating a climate for a restorative world. Click here to learn more about the Shadowcliff Lodge.

The weekend schedule/agenda is very similar at each Retreat.
To view the agenda from the last Retreat, click on the button …

All workshops and other activities are optional, but attendees are still expected to participate in a reasonable amount of the Retreat activities (or else consider allowing someone else to attend instead, since space is limited). The Retreat starts on Thursday afternoon and concludes by noon on Sunday. Individuals should not plan to arrive late or leave early.

Common sense and respect for the other participants, the volunteers, and the Shadowcliff staff are important guidelines for everyone. The Retreat prohibits the use of alcohol, illegal drugs, and marijuana (both on and off property, including bars in town). Shadowcliff is a non-smoking facility both inside and outside, but there is a designated smoking area down the road off the property. Unfortunately, pets cannot be accommodated.

The fee can range from $80 to $250, and is based on various factors. The actual cost for us to provide the Retreat is $300+ per person. However, all HIV+ persons** can request an optional fee reduction scholarship up to $50.  In addition, individuals on low income/disability can apply for additional assistance up to $170 (reducing the fee to as low as $80).  The fee is all inclusive and covers 3 days lodging & meals, body therapies, and all activities. A five dollar lodge staff gratuity will be added to the fee; and carpool riders are asked to contribute gas money to their driver ($6-8).

** Note: Fee assistance is limited to Colorado and adjoining states residents (CO, WY, NM, KS, NE, UT)

Please click on this button to register for the 2024 HIV Retreat at Shadowcliff:

After you register, you will receive a phone call to touch base on your registration.  Then later you will receive a confirmation letter (in the mail) with payment (and other) information. Payment is by check, money order, Venmo, Zelle, or cash (by arrangement). Please note that the Retreat is popular and space is limited, so register as early as possible. In addition, individuals attending for the first time will have priority (until 6 weeks out).
In an effort to be all inclusive, individuals without Internet access can register by phone (leave a message for Michael at 303-777-5737.

To pay the additional cost for meals and lodging, as well as other incidentals and Retreat expenses, we actively engage in fundraising all year. If you would like to donate to the Retreat, sponsor an individual, or assist with fundraisers in any way,
please contact Michael at: retreat.shadowcliff@gmail.com or leave a message at 303.777.5737.