Women’s Mini-Week

I’m writing this article to let all of the women of St. James to know about a wonderful opportunity for rest and refreshment that is happening this August: the annual diocesan Women’s Mini-Week. Women’s Mini-Week is actually not a whole week long (thus, the word “mini”); it begins with dinner on Thursday, August 16 and goes through brunch on Sunday the 19th. However, due to work and home responsibilities, a number of women arrive on Friday and/or leave on Saturday. Women’s Mini-Week is held at Camp Lakotah (formerly our diocesan camp, Camp Webb) just outside of Wautoma, Wisconsin. I went to Women’s Mini-Week for the first time last year and loved it.

No Expectations

What I loved most about Women’s Mini-Week was the “no expectations” atmosphere. Women are free to come to as many or as few of the activities as they want. Because it was my first time to attend and because I didn’t know anybody, I went to almost everything. I went on nature walks, I went to Morning Prayer, I went to a soap felting workshop (ask me about it!), I joined the makeshift choir for the Saturday Eucharist, I went to Evening Prayer, I was in a group that made a labyrinth (ask me about it!), I went to the white elephant bingo, I went to a gorgeous candle-light Compline service, I went to cool off in the lake, I went to the campfire (a mellow s'mores and beer party), and I went to every meal (of course!). In contrast, there were some people I saw only at meals; the rest of the time they were at the lake. Nobody minded—at least, not as far as I could tell.

I didn’t grow up in this diocese, so Camp Lakotah didn’t bring back memories for me, but I really enjoyed hearing about everybody else’s memories. One Camp Webb “graduate” took me on a tour and told me funny stories about her summers at the camp. As for the accommodations, because I was a newbie, they put me up in the brand-new nurses’ quarters, with electricity and bathrooms. Wow! This summer, I’ve chosen to go more rustic and stay in one of the cabins with no electricity and no bathroom. If you’re interested, talk to me and/or click on this link.  Maybe we can even drive up together!

Sheryl Slocum