March 20th-22nd, 2026

Weekend SCHEDULE

Join Sally for a powerful weekend designed exclusively for women in the military—active duty, guard, reserve, and veterans. The retreat will be held at Camp Manitowa in Benton, Illinois. This unforgettable retreat offers connection, discovery, laughter, and well-deserved relaxation. It’s a chance to recharge, reflect, and celebrate the strength and sisterhood of military women in a supportive and inspiring space.

Friday:
4:00-5:00pm - Arrive and get settled in your yurt or cabin
5:30pm – Gather for a rundown of the weekend events,
ice breaker, meet our facilitators, & set intentions for the weekend
6:00pm – Dinner - the food will be amazing

Bonfire fun after dinner

Saturday:
7:00 – Coffee & light breakfast available and option to walk or jog around the lake or hike camp trails

Note: you are welcome to make coffee/tea in the office anytime
8:00-8:45am – Yoga for all levels with Alicia Allen

9:00am - Esmeralda (Esme) Aharon - Finding Purpose Beyond the Uniform

10:45am - BRUNCH & Break

Afternoon Options:

12:00pm - Chaplain Alexis King - Moral Injury
1:30pm - Ropes Course (weather dependent) or arts & crafts
3:00pm - Living your Values Presentation and collage work with Yolanda Y. Loving, LCSW (Gunzel)
4:00pm - Optional Pleasant Hollow Winery excursion on the camp bus or stay at camp for arts and crafts
6:00pm - Dinner
7:00pm - Peer Support group to process moral injury around the campfire

Sunday Options:
7:00am - Coffee and light breakfast available in the kitchen + walk or run around the lake and chat with Esme and Alexis
8:30-9:15am - Yoga for all levels with Alicia Allen

9:30am - Facilitator break out sessions

11:00am - BRUNCH, Circle of Sharing, & Goodbyes

During the entire camp, you can pick and choose what you will attend. Curate your weekend!
Take all the free time that you want!
Sleep late, have a friend grab you breakfast!

What to bring:

Bedding & pillows
Towels for shower
Headlamp or flashlight
Sunscreen
Throw or blanket for the bonfire/meals
Ear plugs
A variety of clothing/hats for weather changes
Hiking boots if you want to explore, shower shoes, comfy shoes for camp
Swimsuit if you want to cold plunge :)

Lodging:

Wonderful Yurts and heated cabins. You can request a small cabin or yurt all to yourself with an upcharge.

Our Facilitators:

Sally Drake, Retreat Creator

Sally is the owner and Race Director of MSE (Multi-Sport Experience) Racing and produces quality endurance events including triathlons and running races in the Greater St. Louis area and Illinois. She is also a USAT Level II Triathlon Coach, coaching triathletes of all levels from newbie to elite, with a passion for helping them achieve or exceed their goals. Along with producing races, Sally has created a collection of retreats designed for women. The retreats give women an opportunity to find themselves again, to try new adventures, and to build powerful connections.

Esmeralda Aharon

Esmeralda Aharon is a combat veteran, international bestselling author, educator, and builder of belonging whose leadership reflects resilience, faith, and social justice. Born in Brownsville, Texas, and raised as a migrant farmworker, she learned perseverance and compassion early, values that continue to shape her mission of empowering others to rise.

After the loss of her son, Esmeralda transformed grief into purpose, serving 26 years in the United States Air Force Chaplain Corps, providing interfaith spiritual care and intercultural leadership, fostering hope and unity among service members in high-stress environments. As a senior enlisted leader, she advised commanders on ethical decision-making, religious accommodation, and mission readiness, helping shape inclusive, values-based leadership across commands and beyond.

Her distinguished service earned multiple awards, including theSpirit of the Four Chaplains Award (2012), President’s Volunteer Service Award (2014), Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year (2016), and a nomination for the LATINA Style Distinguished Military Service Award (2017).

A sought-after speaker and retreat facilitator, Esmeralda has delivered keynotes and workshops for the HQ Air Mobility Command Chaplain’s Conferences, leadership retreats, veterans’ panels, and galas, sharing messages of hope, resilience, and belonging that inspire transformation.