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We packed our bags, loaded the bus, and headed up to Monkton, Maryland this month for our annual trip to Camp Puh ‘Tok! Each year we take time to escape the business of the city and slow down in the natural landscape, giving everyone the reset and recharge they need to stay well as we near the winter.
Being out in nature can be a great way to reset your bodies, but combining that with meditation and the comfort of comradery can further connect and refocus our minds. Nature Worx is a non-profit that brings people outside, teaching how to develop a relationship with the natural world, gain a fresh perspective on their lives and create a sense of connection to all living things. They came out to lead a program for the men this year, taking walks, meditating together and going through mindfulness exercises to the soothing sounds of birds and rustling leaves around them.
Meals are another change to “the normal” that always give us the opportunity to get creative in both planning and problem solving. The men are responsible for breakfast and lunch giving those who are “differently abled, not disabled,” as our clinical director says, the opportunity to shine in the kitchen, flipping pancakes like pros! For dinner, we graciously welcomed help from volunteers with Church of the Nativity to do a cookout on night one followed by a spaghetti dinner to close things out on night two. We even had some s'mores by the fireplace to close the night!
What were some favorite parts of the trip? I’ll let you hear it from the men:
- “I loved listening to the performer play the guitar by the fireplace, reminded me of music nights with my parents as a kid,” referring to Dan Zanes who played thanks to Our Joyful Noise Baltimore.
- “I loved the all you can eat spaghetti, ziplining was fun too.”
- “The comradery, getting to know the guys better through the closeness we had” said one of our new clients.
- “I enjoyed getting lost and using my military skills to find myself again.”
A huge thank you to all the staff at The Baltimore Station for working tirelessly to ensure the men had a positive experience as well as those at Camp Puh 'Tok for welcoming our group each year. A very special thank you to Church of the Nativity for donating the funds to make this trip possible. We could not make the difference we do without the support of our community!
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