First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton (FUUSN) has invited TPC to join them for a three-day retreat at the Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center, near Saco, on the beautiful coast of southern Maine. We are excited about this new venture and hope you will consider joining us. All are welcome.

On the agenda: s’mores around the campfire, arts and crafts, sports, talent shows, discussion groups, singing, dancing, biking, sand sculpture building, apple-picking, walks through the woods, and wonderful meals with friends, all on miles of beautiful, sand beaches.

The retreat will be held on the weekend of October 13-16. For more information, contact Brandi Hopkins.

Here is the link to sign up:  Ferry Beach Registration 2023. Per person rates are on the form.

What’s Ferry Beach place like? Ferry Beach is a small UU conference center on a seven-mile stretch of sandy beach in Maine. It’s a collection of mostly renovated wood frame buildings from the last century. The main building has a lobby with a fireplace, comfy chairs and a wrap-around porch that faces the ocean. There is a huge dining room with a nice, big porch where we share catered meals.

What do we do? Some of us stay put at the beach all weekend, playing volleyball, basketball, doing puzzles, creating arts and crafts, or engaging in deeper dive discussions around significant issues. Others venture out to enjoy museums in Portland, apple picking, environmental ecology trips, kayaking, or shopping at the outlets. We cheer brave performers at the talent/no talent show. Mostly, we form deeper connections with each other through shared meals, play, and the beauty of the ocean.

Basic Ferry Beach information:

• Housing is in rustic wooden buildings with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. Some units have been renovated.
• The drive takes approximately 2 – 2.5 hours. Ferry Beach is available to us from 4pm Friday until 2pm Monday.
• Humans only, NO pets allowed.
• Others may be added to your room to maximize the number of people we can fit in.
• Room assignments, information, and directions will be emailed on or around October 9th.
• The room assignment team works hard to accommodate everyone’s needs.
• Applications are processed in the order received and incomplete applications will be processed last.
• If fees are a problem, reach out to the FUUSN or TPC contact. Confidential scholarships may be available.

Questions?

• FUUSN:  Jacki Rohan at 617-285-3879 or fuusn.ferrybeach@gmail.com
• TPC:  Brandi Hopkins at 267-261-8394 or brandi.stoffregen@gmail.com

Activities: Our activities schedule depends on YOUR creativity and generosity. Please contact the appropriate person to volunteer to run an activity for children and/or adults. They will coordinate with each other to provide one schedule for all!

• FUUSN Activity Coordinator: Emily Gelbert at 617-512-2150, fuusn-ferry-beach-activities@fusn.org
• TPC Activity Coordinator: Carol Allen at 617-327-0542 (no texts), ceallen99@mac.com

We need all of those wishing to attend to have their forms and payments returned By September 25th!   If you wish to sign up online here is the link:  Ferry Beach Registration 2023.    Kids age 8 and under are free!