Camp Mabon:A Journey with Mother Nature for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Camp Mabon is offered through The Center for Earth-Based Healing of AIWP, a 501(c) 3 (Religious) non-profit organization. We are committed to spiritual healing through nature connection and every woman is empowered to define for herself what "spiritual" means. At no time will a specific spiritual or religious philosophy be endorsed or promoted.
$680
Raised
12
Supporters
$10,000
Goal
Created by
Michele Zehr
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About

Think back to the most traumatic experience of your life. You can probably still feel that surge of discomfort in your gut when you think about how painful this experience was for you. You know how traumatic experiences stay with you for the rest of your life and that sometimes it can be a lot to “hold” along with everything else you’re responsible for in your life. Now imagine that what happened to you was so culturally taboo that it was terrifying to even ask for help to heal. This is what the women who attend Camp Mabon have often experienced in their lives, and we believe it’s time to provide a safe, supportive, and shame-free space to heal from the trauma of sexual violence.

Here is what one of our campers had to say to future campers:

Dear Survivor,

Camp Mabon was hands down one of the best experiences I have ever been through. In the beginning, leading up to leaving I had EVERY reason NOT to come. From home issues to work issues to everyone that was supposed to ride with me backing out. I rode here solo and filled with anxiety. Once I arrived I was greeted with love and openness. The women that have founded Camp Mabon are the bravest most loving souls. No one is pushed to do anything. This camp is not about our pasts, it is about the NOW. Taking care of yourself in the moment. Do not allow your worries to keep you from this amazing experience/journey. If you decide to attend Camp Mabon, it will change your life for the better. You will gain a sisterhood for life. You will gain friendships to last a lifetime and most importantly, you will gain LOVE for yourself again. Our healing process starts from within and this is an amazing place to start. Good luck on your journey. I will be there to cheer you on.

BK, camper 2013

“Mabon” is the word for the Celtic celebration of the Autumn equinox, a time symbolized by harvest and the balance between day and night. Camp Mabon, founded in 2005, is a three-day nature-based retreat held in Virginia. It is designed for adult women who have survived any act of sexual violence, sexual abuse, or sexual trauma that involved a family member, intimate partner, acquaintance, or stranger. Campers and staff stay in a lodge with full amenities at Douthat State Park in Virginia, and meals are prepared communally. The camp experience provides a positive, pivotal, and transformative outdoor experience, particularly for survivors who may have limited resources to participate in such a journey. Camp Mabon is not a therapeutic camp and at no time will a camper be expected to asked to share her story.

Camp Mabon is offered through the non-profit organization, The Center for Earth-Based Healing of AIWP, and we have been able to offer the camp for the past 10 years solely on financial contributions. We have always honored our commitment to never turn a woman away if she is unable to pay the suggested minimum donation of $295.00. The total cost of offering Camp Mabon each year is $5,000 and we need your support to continue offering this transformative experience for survivors.

If you have questions, feel free to contact me at: info@we2empower.com. Thank you.

Michele Zehr, Director of Camp Mabon

Updates

Updates

Michele Zehr
10 years ago

A quick update! We're over half full for Camp Mabon 2015 already and it's not even June 1! Every year we seem to get full quicker and quicker as the word about Camp Mabon continues to spread. I'm also so excited that as I take over as director this year, that I've been able to set up a non-profit infrastructure to 'hold' Camp Mabon, which is what allows us to take tax-deductible contributions. I've created The Center for Earth-Based Healing, and can now begin to think about expanding Camp Mabon to a national model! Thanks so much to everyone who has supported the courageous survivors who attend Camp Mabon each year. We're still needing to raise funds for scholarships this year (5 women are already in need of assistance), so please pass this onto anyone you know who is passionate about supporting survivors of sexual violence. It's REALLY time that our culture throw away the old story of shame around this act of violence and begin standing up like the warriors that we are so that all survivors always feel supported!!  ~With gratitude, Michele Zehr, Director of Camp Mabon

 
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