Women’s Retreat

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Over 150 women gathering in joyful community at the inaugural Women's Weekend!

Women’s Weekend 2024 was filled with joyful community, meaningful conversations and much needed time to relax, reconnect and rejuvenate for over 150 amazing women!

Did you miss out this year? Don’t worry, pre-registration is now open for the 2nd Annual Women’s Weekend April 4-6, 2025. Secure a spot today by pre-registering and you’ll be the first to know when registration opens so you can finalize your retreat package. Read more, below, about this year’s retreat and save the date to join us next year!

The How of Happiness: Women’s Retreat 2024

The redwoods are calling you! Gather the women in your life and come spend a weekend of rejuvenation, connection and joyful Judaism at the Koret Conference Center at Camp Newman. A perfect balance of nostalgic camp fun and the opportunity to nurture yourself, body, mind and soul – the How of Happiness: Women’s Retreat will offer classic camp activities like climbing the Alpine Tower, hiking and s’mores by the campfire as well as inspiring workshops, a joyful Shabbat celebration and time to unplug.  This multi-generational weekend is open to all who identify as female and are 21+ (as alcohol will be available and served). Come with friends, family or on your own — and leave with deeper connections: to yourself, to nature and the beautiful tapestry of Jewish womenhood.

Weekend, all-inclusive packages start at $495 per person based on your choice of accommodations and includes access to all retreat activities, workshops and experiences, lodging, linens, sumptuous meals and all wine and non-alcoholic beverages.

Lodge with a small group of friends in our state-of-the art cabins with en suite bathrooms sleep up to 4 and are the perfect option for a campier type of weekend ($495 per person). We also offer both single- and double-occupancy options for a more private, hotel-style stay in our brand-new Lodge ($725 – $1,075 per person) or our Camp Motel ($625 – $875 per person).

Cabin Accommodations
$495 per person - up to 4 people

 

We have several cabin villages with a variety of outdoor amenities and a short walk to the heart of camp!

Offers:

  • 1/2-cabins sleep up to 8 people (for Women's Weekend cabins will sleep 4-6 max) and are great for groups of friends
  • Each suite includes four sets of bunk beds with one private bathroom with multiple shower stalls
  • All cabins include A/C and heat.
  • Several ADA accessible cabins available.

Camp Motel Accommodations
$625 per person - Double-Occupancy
$875 per person - Private Room

Our Camp Motel is located a short 5 min up-hill walk from the center of camp with a wonderful view overlooking the valley. Golf-cart transportation will be available to and from the Motel throughout the weekend during key transition times.

  • Motel Rooms can sleep up to 4 people (Women's Weekend will be only single and double-occupancy) and include twin-sized bunk beds in the 6 upper-level rooms and twin-sized single beds in the lower level rooms
  • Each room includes a private bathroom and shower
  • Balcony with incredible views

The Lodge Accommodations - SOLD OUT!
$725 per person - Double-Occupancy
$1075 per person - Private Room

The Lodge is at full capacity and SOLD OUT. Please click the tabs above to see our other wonderful accommodations.

The Lodge is SOLD OUT for this event. The Lodge is a brand new upscale, hotel-style building with 28-double occupancy rooms. Centrally located at the heart of camp, steps from the Dining Hall and all that main camp has to offer. View The Lodge Room Map >

Each room has:

    • 2 queen beds & a private bathroom
    • Mini fridge, microwave & Keurig coffee maker
    • small outdoor seating area with rocking chairs
    • Several single ADA accessible rooms available

Join Author-in-Residence, Sonja Lyubomirsky “The How of Happiness” and “The Myths of Happiness” – PLUS create your ultimate rejuvenating experience that uses all the senses:

  • art
  • music
  • Sonoma County wine & food
  • nature
  • joyful Camp Newman Shabbat celebration

Retreat Schedule At-A-Glance

Friday, April 12th

3:00-5:00pm      Welcome! Get settled into your room and join us for a casual glass of wine and a bit of nosh.

Evening    We’ll bring in Shabbat together with music, dinner and Israeli dancing followed by more time to connect and relax!

Saturday, April 13th

Morning/Afternoon      Enjoy an energizing breakfast and prepare for the day with a morning hike, yoga or Shabbat-themed activity. Then get a taste of camp climbing the tower or creating your own tie-dyed masterpiece! Be inspired by our keynote speaker following a delicious lunch and then dive in to hands-on workshop sessions lead by your sisters-in-community. Late afternoon is perfect for a nap or hike, meditation, a good book and conversation!

Evening    A very camp-y happy hour complete with wine pairings, s’mores and other sweet treats followed by a sumptuous dinner and a bit of fun! Finally, round out your day with late-night conversations around the firepits.

Sunday, April 14th

Morning    Breakfast and more sister-led sessions followed by a mid-year Tashlich at the creek and closing circle.

12:00pm     L’hitraot, see you next year! Save the date for another Women’s Weekend April 4-6, 2025!

Planning Your Trip

If you are flying from outside the Bay Area, there are several convenient airports: STS (Santa Rosa – 30 min drive to camp), OAK (Oakland – 90 min drive to camp) and SFO (San Francisco – 90 min drive to camp). Retreat check-in will begin at 3pm on Friday and we anticipate participants arriving between 3-5pm. Our retreat will end around 12pm on Sunday.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, Author-in-Residence
Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness (published in 39 countries). She received her B.A. summa cum laude from Harvard University and her Ph.D. in social psychology from Stanford University. Lyubomirsky’s research on the possibility of lastingly increasing happiness via gratitude, kindness, and connection interventions has received various accolades including the Positive Psychology Prize and an honorary Doctorate from the University of Basel.

Rabbi Sarah Parris
Periods, Purity, and Procreation: Reflections on Femininity from the Torah: A creative, female-centered exploration of the week’s Torah portion, Tazria.  Rabbi Sarah Parris is a clergy-team member of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco and Camp Newman faculty member.

 

Susan Battat & Tracey Green
Mahjong for Beginners
(Sat), Mahjong for All (Sun) and my passion is connecting people. Susan and Tracey love to play Mahj and use it to bring women together. In the past, year they have had between 35 to 50 women at their monthly get togethers which are all about creating community. Saturday’s workshop will cover the basics and teach you to play. Sunday’s workshop will be for anyone who wants to improve their game. We will also have open-play sessions throughout the weekend so, if you know how to play, please bring your Mahjong cards and a set, and let’s play!

 

Marcella White Campbell
Miriam and her Mixed Multitude:
Miriam, a visionary and revered leader, lived at a pivotal moment in Jewish history, when a “mixed multitude” were uniting to create a new people and a new culture. Let’s celebrate Miriam the person and discover the surprising diversity of the family and community she led and inspired. Starting with Miriam’s example, we’ll honor inspiring women in our own lives, and engage our senses with a fun hands-on activity. Marcella White Campbell, a writer, diversity coach, and mother of her own multicultural Jewish family, brings a unique perspective to celebrating our diverse Jewish heritage.

 

Rabbi Allie Fischman
Knitted Wire Creations If you enjoy using your hands and learning a new craft, come learn the simple and elegant art of knitted wire crafting! We’ll have time to learn some techniques before designing our own creations of bent wire covered in knitted yarn…the best part is that you don’t need to know ANYTHING to join! We’ll bend wire and use a special small tool to create a knitted yarn tube that fits over the wire. Templates for various Jewish designs and letters will be available or you can design your own. Rabbi Allie Fischman, Camp Newman Director, loves trying all kinds of crafts. She is especially taken right now with crochet and began knitted wire crafting after finding beautiful creations on Instagram. 

 

Wendy Verba
The Family You Want to Be – Creating Your Family’s “Diaspora” Culture:
How do you hold a family together when family members live far apart? Whether kids are launched, or extended/chosen family are disbursed, it’s an opportunity to reset your family culture and together create the kind of family you hope to be – how you want to communicate, deepen relationships, and support each other as adults. Wendy Verba, founder of Belonging by Design, will share a powerful tool for creating your family’s “diaspora plan,’ bringing you closer together even after the birds (or you) have flown.

 

Sonja Lyubomirsky, Author-in-Residence
Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness (published in 39 countries). She received her B.A. summa cum laude from Harvard University and her Ph.D. in social psychology from Stanford University. Lyubomirsky’s research on the possibility of lastingly increasing happiness via gratitude, kindness, and connection interventions has received various accolades including the Positive Psychology Prize and an honorary Doctorate from the University of Basel.

Relli Seigel
Heart and Art: Connect with other community members for a casual, fun, loving and relaxing experience of hands-on art creation (no experience necessary). Give yourself the gift of time and self-love, and take home an art piece that will be a souvenir of your own unique experience. Relli Siegel is an Artist as well as an Affiliated Facilitator of the Open Studio Project (OPS) and her workshop is based on the OSP process with her own twist to customize it for Women. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Camp Newman.

 

Tina and Leslie Wasserman
Our Recipes are Stories; Our Stories are Recipes: Prepare recipes that have traveled centuries and miles to remain part of Jewish culinary tradition. Hands-on cooking (and tasting) will be accompanied by a discussion of the influence of food in our religious and cultural lives today. Led by Jewish cookbook author and national lecturer Tina Wasserman and her daughter Leslie Wasserman, an entertainment industry professional, both Camp Newman board members.

 

Tori Greene
Tori Greene will lead soulful, musical Shabbat services during the retreat weekend. Tori is an explorer, community builder, innovator, and collaborator. Currently pursuing Rabbinical ordination with a dual-masters in Nonprofit Management at Hebrew Union College, she invites individuals to consider how the wisdom of our Jewish tradition helps us find meaning and purpose in our lives through a modern lens while weaving in music that calls to yearning Jewish souls. Follow her on IG @divreitori.

 

Jessie Shamout
Gentle Zumba:
Zumba is a high energy, low impact, follow- along dance workout set to Latin grooves. All ages and stages welcome, no dance experience required! Jessie has been dancing since she started walking and has been teaching dance for over 20 years. For the past 13 years, she has danced and choreographed for the Los Angeles-based dance company LA Unbound. She loves teaching dancers of all ages and stages and can’t wait to shimmy and shake with you soon.

Tracey Green
Yoga: With over 20 years of experience, Tracey is a seasoned yoga instructor who completed her training with Yoga Works (RYT 200) in 1994. She’s been active in the world of Embodied Jewish Wisdom since 2014 and was part of the team that helped form its global network. Tracey spent 15 years teaching yoga at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center. She also provides unique programs that combine Jewish traditions with yoga for holidays and retreats, and she organizes relaxing hikes through California’s redwood forests.