Countdown to Colorado | Schedule is LIVE! - Email #5
Dear Family,
Everything is working out for you.
Say it out out loud, right now. “Everything is working out for me.”
Only after you’ve said this ten times do we think you will be ready to sign up for workshops and design your schedule for the weekend.
You see, we want you to be in a place of abundance when you go to complete this task. Not rush, or hurry, or lack, or fear about not getting the classes you want, but abundance - trusting that the universe is always conspiring to give you exactly what you need.
That’s the spirit of the #STRESSPROTEST.
We believe that there are Black women all over the world who could only dream of the opportunity to have three days of rest and respite in a spectacular setting.
We believe that the fact that you were able to navigate child care and elder care, and time off, and save money, and say no to commitments, so that you could say yes to yourself, is confirmation that EVERYTHING is working out for you.
And that’s the energy we want you to hold as you get ready to create your schedule for the weekend.
From that place, of pure gratitude, we want you to study the offering of classes and then ask yourself these questions:
If this is an opportunity to become more expansive, what class would I choose that I wouldn’t ordinarily try?
What’s an area of growth for myself and is there a workshop that speaks to that?
Have I planned in enough time for rest?
What workshop would allow me to practice fearlessness?
Am I letting insecurities dictate what I think I am capable of?
Have I factored in fun and joy into my schedule?
What am I most excited to take back home as a skill?
How Do I Sign Up?
After you’ve answered these questions, and taken at least 15 minutes in silence to meditate on the answers, we invite you to visit our official SCHEDULE and create your experience for the weekend by signing up for workshops. You can do so by clicking “sign up” at the top of the page and creating an account. From there, you can curate your own schedule for the weekend! You can also download the SCHED app on your phones to better access the schedule via mobile.
A few important things to note:
All attendees are responsible for signing up for a shuttle bus transporting you to Estes Park on Friday, Sept 2. We recommend selecting a bus time at least ONE HOUR after your arrival to Denver Airport to ensure you have enough time to check-in at our Welcome Lounge at the Westin (located steps away from the airport). The Welcome Lounge is on the 2nd floor of the Westin, there will be volunteers to greet and guide you.
All attendees are responsible for signing up for a shuttle bus transporting you from Estes Park back to Denver Airport on Monday, Sept 5. We recommend selecting a bus time at least 3-4 hours ahead of your departure time. Monday is Labor Day so we expect the airport to be busy.
If you sign up for a hike experience, please be mindful it will take a few hours to complete. We are offering both on campus and off campus hike experiences so please read the descriptions to ensure you meet the physical requirements.
Each faculty member will be teaching a workshop twice a day, so you’ll have several opportunities to learn from them.
Built in to the experience are All Tribe sessions where we will process the experience together and try a few new things as well as Joy stations through the campus where you are invited to engage in impromptu fun. There are also spaces designed for you to rest, chill, and connect with other sisters in attendance.
All this to say, be easy! This isn’t a competition or even a conference. It’s a #STRESSPROTEST. Reject the tendency to perform excellence. Reject the habit of overfilling your plate. Embrace that you can do a new thing here and become a new woman in the process.
Ready to design the weekend of your dreams?
The schedule is HERE.
We’ll be in touch again throughout the week with more important information. If you’ve missed any of our last emails, you can access them HERE.
Love,
Vanessa, Morgan and the Team
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
COVID-19 PROTOCOL: Like our grandma taught us, we plan to remain safe! Please help us by adhering to our event protocol for COVID-19.
All attendees are expected to take a test within 24 hours of your arrival to Denver and to self-report your test in the NAVICA app.
All attendees will also be expected to take a rapid COVID-19 self-test upon arrival to the YMCA. Tests will be provided by GirlTrek.
Protocol if you are positive: You will not be able to attend the event if you test positive for COVID-19. However, 80% of your registration fee will be rolled over to next year’s event. For a more detailed breakdown of our COVID-19 testing protocol, please visit our FAQ page.
PACKING LIST: Like Badu taught us, we ain’t no bag ladies!
Please review the packing list HERE and commit to only bringing the necessities on this trip. Please read carefully and take note of the emphasis on carry-on luggage only! Trust us. It can be done. (Just watch this video of Morgan pulling it all together.) The packing guide also provides useful information on the YMCA Estes Park, the weather, and how to prepare for the altitude.
PHYSICAL PREP: By now you should be walking 2 miles each day. How is it going? Share your progress on social using #GirlTrek #stressprotest. Please review the physical preparedness pledge HERE as well as the breathing exercise that you should also be practicing for 2 minutes each day.
TRAVEL: Remember you must arrive in Denver by 2pm MT on Friday 9/2 to catch the last shuttle leaving the Westin Denver Airport at 3pm MT. If your flight is delayed and you arrive after 2pm MT, we ask you to email us at stressprotest@girltrek.org and let us know. UBERS may be difficult to find unless scheduled.
You can depart anytime you choose on Monday. The earliest shuttle bus will leave the YMCA at 2 AM MT to arrive at Denver Airport by 4 AM MT.
UPDATE: Last week’s email stated that you would be assigned a shuttle bus. Instead, you will now have the opportunity to select your own bus departure and transportation time once the schedule is released next week. We still ask that you please fill out THIS FORM so we can properly plan to have shuttles scheduled based on reported arrival and departure times.
STRESS PROTEST INFORMATIONAL:
If you have questions about this year’s event, watch the recording HERE from our zoom call this week where we covered what to bring, how to prep, and what to expect.
As always, if you have questions, please hit us up at stressprotest@girltrek.org.
Grateful that of all the places you could have chosen to be, you are choosing communion with us.
See you soon,
Vanessa, Morgan, and the #StressProtest team