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Merrowvista welcomed 20 eager participants to its first Spark, a three-day retreat for adults, Aug. 23 to 25. AYF Director of Adult Programs Holley Young said it was a joy to see so many people reconnect with a place that meant so much to them as children.

“There were Spark participants who had not been back to Merrowvista in decades, and to see their reconnection with a sacred place from their youth was very meaningful,” she said. “Because Spark at Merrowvista was ‘small’ in numbers, it created an opportunity for the community to form, connect, and truly bond as the weekend progressed.”

Spark began in 2022 at Miniwanca after hearing from several former summer camp participants who wanted to continue their paths of growth and self-discovery as adults. The program grew rapidly in its first two years, and the AYF decided to expand the program to Merrowvista.

“At Spark, we strive to allow adults to play, learn, and lean into the AYF four folds and balanced living activities that hundreds of youth experience during the summer,” Young said. “In this way, all AYF programs are encouraging youth of all ages to unleash our best selves!”

Young was excited to tap Matt Loper, a longtime Merrowvista community member and former AYF full-time staff member, to co-facilitate this program. “We were both immensely moved by the openness and vulnerability that our community demonstrated, and the intense bonds that were created in such a short amount of time,” Young said.

Merrowvista Spark participants spent time in community and small touchstone groups, sharing and reflecting on their time together. Young said one highlight of the weekend was keynote speaker Katy Belden LeGrand, whose presentation “Seeing Others and Being Deeply Seen” resonated with participants.

The community also spent time enjoying the vast beauty of Merrowvista’s stunning acreage in the mountains. “Hiking to The Ledge, talking around the campfire, and taking a plunge in Dan Hole Pond is a testimonial to the reality that practicing the mental, physical, social, and reverent elements can positively impact our lives,” Young said. “We left renewed and empowered to send our sparks out into the wider world.”

Young said Merrowvista Spark will return in the future, and she looks forward to reconnecting with this powerful community.