Retreats for Families
In his book Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv brings forth research that shows that we are increasingly teaching young people to avoid direct experience in nature and the consequences of that for our children is significant: "As one scientist puts it, we can now assume that just as children need good nutrition and adequate sleep, they may very well need contact with nature...Healing the broken bond between our young and nature is in our self-interest...because our mental, physical and spiritual health depends on it."

As you make plans for the winter, we invite you to bring children or grandchildren to Turtle Rock Farm to give them the opportunity to be in nature: running freely in pastures, exploring life along the shoreline of ponds and creeks, observing insects and animals, learning about flowers and vegetables, watching clouds and the stars...

Call us to arrange for a day or weekend in nature at Turtle Rock Farm LLC. 580.725.3411

“Sabbath keeping values our ability to rest, not merely our ability to work. In sabbath we live in God's economy, where our purpose is not production but play. In keeping sabbath we measure ourselves by a different yardstick: we try to see how much delight we can take in the world, not how much we can get 'done.'”--Donna Schaper, Keeping Sabbath

In this busy, multi-tasking world, a day for rest and spiritual nurture, a day for play, solitude or relaxed family time is difficult to schedule. On this retreat, participants have the opportunity to consider the idea of Sabbath-Keeping. We will look at the possibilities for keeping sabbath, including what some people do on their sabbath day, and then each participant or couple or family will look at their lives and plan for ways to bring sabbath-keeping into their particular lifestyle.

$65 includes lunch 9:00 to 5:00. Can also stay overnight for $30 per night.

What is a chicken tractor? It is a portable, movable, bottomless pen. The chickens peck and scratch the soil to clean your garden beds, eat pest bugs and weed seeds, and fertilize the beds with their manure. You benefit from the fertile soil as well as the fresh eggs you receive. We will discuss the needs of the chickens as well as the different designs of the coop and pen. You can discover the joys of raising your own chickens.

$65 retreat fee 10:00 to 4:00

Much of Oklahoma was native prairie. This retreat will take us back to the prairie, where we can learn about its history (from its ancient beginnings as an ocean, as hunting ground for Native Americans, as home for pioneer families and modern farming and ranching) and its ecosystem. We will spend time in the prairie noticing the grasses, birds and wildlife - the prairie community.

And we will come away, having experienced more intimately the prairie ecosystem of which we are a part, with the wisdom that only the prairie can offer and a deeper understanding of how to live in harmony with God’s good creation.

This is an overnight retreat, beginning Friday evening at 7 p.m.. You are welcome (and encouraged) to bring a tent and camp out on the prairie. Cost: $95 for retreat and indoor lodging; $75 for retreat and camping.

Decisions we make about food not only impact our health, but also the health of the planet. On this retreat participants will learn how food impacts global warming, why it matters what we eat and what we can do about it: where to get food, what kind of food to get and how to cook it. We'll learn about cooking local fresh food using methods that are simple and that create flavorful meals. Half the day will be spent in the kitchen. The retreat ends with a supper we prepare together, and a reminder of the joy of eating together.

Fee is $80. 10 am to 7 pm

Decisions we make about food not only impact our health, but also the health of the planet. On this retreat participants will learn how food impacts global warming, why it matters what we eat and what we can do about it: where to get food, what kind of food to get and how to cook it. We'll learn about cooking local fresh food using methods that are simple and that create flavorful meals. Half the day will be spent in the kitchen. The retreat ends with a supper we prepare together, and a reminder of the joy of eating together.

Fee is $80. 10 am to 7 pm

Much of Oklahoma was native prairie. This retreat will take us back to the prairie, where we can learn about its history (from its ancient beginnings as an ocean, as hunting ground for Native Americans, as home for pioneer families and modern farming and ranching) and its ecosystem. We will spend time in the prairie noticing the grasses, birds and wildlife - the prairie community.

And we will come away, having experienced more intimately the prairie ecosystem of which we are a part, with the wisdom that only the prairie can offer and a deeper understanding of how to live in harmony with God’s good creation.

This is an overnight retreat, beginning Friday evening at 7 p.m.. You are welcome (and encouraged) to bring a tent and camp out on the prairie. Cost: $95 for retreat and indoor lodging; $75 for retreat and camping.