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Discovery
Community
Weekend
Retreats
Discovery Community organizes four weekend
retreats each year, along with monthly
social and recreational events. The Weekend
Retreats are facilitated by experienced
volunteers from the Discovery Community, and
they are generally held during the weekends
of the Memorial Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving, and President's Day holidays.
We utilize different sites throughout the
year that include locations in Sonoma
County, Clear Lake, and Napa County. All of
the sites are suitable for a wide-range of
activities, and promote relaxation in a
scenic environment.
Typically there are from 40 to 60 men in
attendance, and the atmos phere is relaxed
and friendly. The retreats include some
structured activities to help participants
relax and get to know each other, as well as
plenty of unstructured time to hang out,
engage in recreational activities, or
quietly enjoy the splendor of the setting.
The retreat facilitators guide the
participants through workshops, discussion
groups, personal support groups, and large
group gatherings. The facilitators also
organize less structured activities like
volleyball, dance parties, laying by the
pool, soaking in a hot tub and a popular
"No-Talent" Show, in which retreat
participants can share their talents (or
lack thereof) with the entire group in a
festive evening show. The "No-Talent" Show
is also a great time for you budding drag
queens to show your stuff as our "Bevy of
Beauties" always kicks off the show.
 Many retreat
participants have developed long lasting
friendships and committed relationships
through the retreat, and by continuing to
participate in the organization have found
that Discovery provides an extended family
for them. Each community gathering allows
participants to build on those friendships,
and make new ones. "It is a little scary
going on a weekend with a lot
of gay men
that you don't know. But I not only felt
included, I didn't want the weekend to end."
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