Pyramid Life Center's Programs
2022 Season Programs
Parish Groups
If you would like to register for a parish group at Pyramid Life Center, please follow the registration link below that takes you to Pyramid's Camp Brain registration website.
RegisterWith a Father's Heart: An Advent Retreat for Busy People
Join us for this virtual retreat as we follow Joseph through Advent. Joseph was the man chosen by God to guide the beginnings of redemption. As we celebrate the Year of St. Joseph and using Ignatian Spirituality as our guide we will explore Joseph as a courageous father, a working father, and as a father in the shadows. We will gather each night for 45 mins and participants will be asked to dedicate 30 mins to prayer each day. Retreat Box will be sent Nov 29th.
RegisterThe Journey Is the Goal: A Lenten Retreat for Busy People
We live in a goal-oriented society, a world that expects us to be productive every waking moment. But what if life is not about getting through a series of tasks or to a particular destination? What if the journey IS the goal? The forty-day journey through Lent is the perfect time to take a closer look at the expectations we put on ourselves — spiritual and otherwise — and explore how our constant striving can rob us of the possibility and promise available in the details of our days, moments when we rush by God right there in our midst. Join us for this virtual Lenten retreat and give yourself the gift of spiritual self-care that will see you through this season and beyond. Cost: $30. Participants will be asked to dedicate 30 minutes to prayer and reflection each day. All are welcome!
RegisterThe Way Retreat for Women: A Healing Retreat for Female Survivors of Abuse
Have you experienced or are you experiencing dread, confusion, deep hurt, betrayal or anger when you think of the abuse you have suffered? Or maybe you are feeling nothing at all. You have every right to these feelings…they are natural reactions to the trauma you have survived.
You may be asking yourself:
- What do I do with all of this?
- How will confronting my abuse experience affect my life?
- How will I ever recover my trust in people, God, my Church again?
- Does it really matter?
- Do I matter?
The Way is the path to take to find answers to these and many other questions for which your heart, mind, body, and soul have been searching. This is where your healing journey begins. These three days of guided meditations and prayer crafted around the Stations of the Cross will show you the steps Christ took to overcome dread, confusion, deep hurt, betrayal and anger not only for his experience of abuse – which culminated in his death on the cross and new life in the Resurrection – but for your abuse as well. You can choose to walk The Way with him, learn his ways, transform your pain and suffering into a new life, the life God has always wanted for you but that the sins of another has disfigured in countless ways.
RegisterOut of the Woods: The Journey to Long-Term Recovery
Often in 12 step rooms we hear newcomers being told, “It takes three to 5 years to get out of the woods.” This advice suggests patience with all that must be learned and experienced in those early years. Later, near the five-year mark, many of us realize that it can take that long just to get into the woods and to make real changes in our thinking and behavior. But if we stay and work the program, a wonderful thing happens: long-term recovery takes hold. A new and wonderful life begins. Join author and teacher, Diane Cameron and a group of women in recovery for a weekend of recovery strategy, conversation, laughter, healing and reflection on the journey to long-term recovery. This retreat is for all women from all Twelve-step programs. Bring your friends, your sponsor, and sponsee.
BIO: Diane Cameron is a teacher and speaker. She has led retreats on recovery and writing and spirituality for many years. She is the author of, “Out of the Woods—A Woman’s Guide to Long-term Recovery”, and “Looking for Signs—essays on spirituality and community.”Diane is a Times Union columnist, yoga teacher, spiritual director and recovery coach.
RegisterDirected Retreat
Although differing in their duration, Directed Retreats are a privileged time for you to deepen your relationship with God. You will be assigned a trained spiritual director with whom you will meet briefly each day to discern the movements of God in your life as revealed through your prayer. Aside from these daily conversations and the time you set aside for your own personal prayer, your time is unstructured. The only group prayer offered is the daily Eucharistic liturgy (depending on priest availability). An atmosphere of reverent quiet is to be maintained in the
RegisterAn Afternoon with Nadia Bolz-Weber
New York Times bestselling author Reverend Nadia Bolz-Weber has been called “a pastor for America’s outsiders” (BBC). She will be the first to attest that she doesn’t look like most people’s idea of a pastor, but the community of faith she founded in Denver, Colorado—House for All Sinners and Saints—is a haven for a diverse community seeking affirmation and acceptance. Krista Tippett, who interviewed Bolz-Weber for her public radio show On Being, described House for All Sinners and Saints this way: “These days, convicted felons and elected officials join teenagers with pink hair at this church and others like it—redefining what church is—and with a deep reverence for tradition.”
But Bolz-Weber’s gospel is not just for spiritual seekers. In a time when institutions of every kind—governments, corporations, universities, churches—are struggling to exert influence and maintain relevance, her House for All Sinners and Saints continues to thrive, especially among Millennials. In her books and talks, she makes the deeply felt argument that honesty and human connection are key to creating and sustaining community.
In the New York Times bestselling memoir Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint, Bolz-Weber “takes readers on the engaging and accessible journey” (Booklist) from her roots as a hard-drinking standup comic to an ordained Lutheran pastor. The book earned raves from everyone from the lead singer of the Violent Femmes to the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who said, “Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber speaks the truth of our humanity that we too often want to deny.”
Schedule:
10am- Check-in begins
12pm- Lunch
2pm-3pm- Nadia Bolz-Weber's talk
3-4pm- Q&A and book signing
Leadership Summit featuring Mike Patin
Join dozens of curious, growth-minded, change-driven men and women like you for the premier leadership event of 2022—The Leadership Summit.
You will experience two days of rich, high-impact, inspiring sessions, and learn from a diverse faculty who will share their wisdom and practical perspective to support you in your leadership growth.
RegisterDirected Retreat
Although differing in their duration, Directed Retreats are a privileged time for you to deepen your relationship with God. You will be assigned a trained spiritual director with whom you will meet briefly each day to discern the movements of God in your life as revealed through your prayer. Aside from these daily conversations and the time you set aside for your own personal prayer, your time is unstructured. The only group prayer offered is the daily Eucharistic liturgy (depending on priest availability). An atmosphere of reverent quiet is to be maintained in the
RegisterCamp Breakaway
Join youth from through out the region for the premiere Catholic youth camp. Experience prayer, low ropes, swimming, boating, small groups, mass, reconciliation, games, hikes and more. Open to youth entering 6th grade ( September 2022).
RegisterThe Gospel of Inclusion: A retreat for the LGBTQ community
Come and meet other LGBTQ men and women. Mingle with a friendly group in a structured and non-structured setting knowing that your privacy is important. Feel comfortable to celebrate and share your journey and outlook or listen to others in a fun, reflective and prayerful atmosphere. Director: Rev. Brandon Robertson
RegisterFriends of Lois - Taking Care of Ourselves
We’ve heard in meetings “put the oxygen mask on yourself first” but many of us still struggle with self-care. Old patterns run deep. Join us for a weekend to be reminded of your worth and value. Take some time to practice attentiveness to your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. You deserve it!
RegisterMoms Camp
Mom’s Camp offers quality teaching, focused one-on-one time with your daughter or son (ages 8-12), and adventurous activities that can deepen your relationships and spiritual perspective. Bring your daughter to conquer the low elements course, wake up early to canoe along the lake, explore our hiking trails, and enjoy the evening campfires. There are an abundance of fun camp activities to experience together.
RegisterStory Telling
A gathering where experienced and beginning storytellers explore ancient tales and the stories within. Facilitated by Marni Gillard, this weekend will include workshops, coaching and story swaps.
RegisterFamilies On A Mission (FOAM)
Join other families for this weekend of service as we grow together in faith and community. Families will serve together at a site on Saturday and experience all that PLC has to offer as well.
RegisterFamily Camp
This program gives families the opportunity to experience the wonders of nature and outdoor recreation in an atmosphere that fosters family interaction, group activities (e.g. planned hikes, nature walks, informal discussion and communal meals) are all part of this experience. You are invited to bring fruits and vegetables from your garden to share..
RegisterDad's Camp
Dad’s Camp offers quality teaching, focused one-on-one time with your child, and adventurous activities that can deepen your relationships and spiritual perspective. Bring your son or daughter to conquer the low elements course, wake up early to canoe along the lake , explore our hiking trails, learn to shoot at our archery range, and enjoy the evening campfires. There are an abundance of fun camp activities to experience together.
RegisterNature Retreat
The natural beauty of Pyramid Life Center will serve as a catalyst for exploring how god speaks to us in sound, sight, touch, smell, and taste. We will take time to reflect on their connection to our spiritual journey. Hiking will be an optional activity.
RegisterBig Book Step Workshop
This workshop is designed to be an experience of taking the steps as well as a study of the steps. It should be helpful for anyone, from newcomers to old timers and from those who have never done the steps to those looking to help carry the message. All are welcome
RegisterDirected Retreat
Although differing in their duration, Directed Retreats are a privileged time for you to deepen your relationship with God. You will be assigned a trained spiritual director with whom you will meet briefly each day to discern the movements of God in your life as revealed through your prayer. Aside from these daily conversations and the time you set aside for your own personal prayer, your time is unstructured. The only group prayer offered is the daily Eucharistic liturgy (depending on priest availability). An atmosphere of reverent quiet is to be maintained in the
RegisterStillpoint
Take a weekend to nourish body, mind, and soul as we enter into the beautiful fall season at Pyramid Life Center. This retreat will focus on the theme of “meditation in motion” and will include practices to help us discover the divine in the everyday. We will dabble in a little of everything: journaling, lectio divina, meditation, collage-as-prayer, music and more. Optional daily yoga classes will be offered by the retreat leader, who is also a certified yoga teacher. Participants may also personalize this retreat by creating prayer practices around their own interests — photography, hiking, kayaking — in the abundant free time that will be scheduled into our weekend. Silence will be observed in the early morning and through breakfast to allow us to dive deep into this time apart. (For those who want deeper silence, there is the option to take all meals in silence or to choose silence in the evenings as well.) Retreat leader: Mary DeTurris Poust
RegisterFall WriterFest
Enjoy a rigorous writing experience in a retreat setting. Workshops will be offered in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and more - including one workshop for those with a work-in-progress. Full morning workshops, brief afternoon seminars, lots of free time, and evening readings. Writers pre-register for the morning workshops; afternoon seminars are on a walk-in basis. For questions about workshops or seminars and to select a workshop, email Ellie O'Leary at EllieOLeary@gmail.com. For questions about registration or lodging and dietary needs, email Nelle Stanton at NelleStanton@gmail.com. Pre-registration with full payment is required for a workshop assignment. You must be in a workshop to attend.
RegisterSpiritual Journaling
“Getting to Know Me; Getting to Know all About Me”. Do you wonder why you do the things you do? A regular practice of Spiritual Journaling—with intention and prayer—is an effective way to address this conundrum. Join us for a weekend of journaling: you might get some answers!
RegisterFall Open Camping
Open camp weekend.
RegisterFamily Retreat
The heart of PLC’s is serving families. Our Family Programs are a time away from daily routines and responsibilities to pray, rest, and connect. This is what vacations have always been intended to be.
To truly pray, rest, and connect, we have taken care of every detail for you. From prepared meals for you, to the intentionally chosen and engaging activities, to the opportunities to encounter Jesus in a new way individually and as a family. Serving your family is what we love to do.
Come experience the joy of being able to truly pray, rest, and connect.
RegisterThe CampFacilities / Location / About
Learn about Pyrmaid Life Center, find out it's location and get directions, browse our facilities and more.
The Programs.Retreats / Vacations / Family Reunions
Learn about all of the different programs that Pyramid Life Center offers like retreats, workships, vacations and more.
The Activities.Fishing / Hiking / Canoeing
Learn about all of the great activities you can do at Pyramid Life Center like fishing, boating, hiking and more.