The deadline to register is Monday, February 20th.

Refunds are also available until February 20th.

Proof of COVID vaccination is required at the time of registration. All attendees are asked to take an at-home COVID test within 12 hours of departure. Masks are not required, but we encourage you to pack one just in case. Unfortunately, you cannot come if you test positive or if you have symptoms. We understand that we are in the middle of cold and flu season, and some symptoms (like a cough) tend to linger longer than they are contagious. You are clear to attend and with a mask if you have residual symptoms that are at least 10 days from the onset of your symptoms. (This is 5 days longer than the CDC recommends in an effort to be extra cautious.)

In addition to your usual overnight items, please make sure you have the following:

• Water bottle
• Exercise clothes and shoes
• Change of warm clothes for the evening
• Pajamas
• Yoga mat with name on it (to be used in variety of classes beside yoga) [we will have a few extra if you do not own a yoga mat]
• Small hand towel (for cardio classes)
• Layers for warmth
• Optional: If you are taking a class like Strength Training, you can bring your own weights (some 1-8lb weights will also be provided)
• Optional: a favorite game to play with smaller groups on Saturday evening
• Optional: cash or card if you would like to purchase wine or beer on Saturday evening

Please note:

• All bedding and bath towels will be provided by Islandwood.
• Islandwood highly recommends that you keep your packing to one small overnight bag. You will be required to carry your bag to your rooms so please do not weigh yourself down with too much stuff.
• Due to the sensitivities of those who have gone through chemo treatment, Team Survivor has a policy that prohibits scented products in order to provide a comfortable, scent-free environment for all members. Please do NOT pack scented products. Thank you!
• DO NOT bring food or alcohol, which Islandwood does not allow. Islandwood is providing us with plenty of food (full meals and snacks) and a cash bar on Saturday evening.

The address for IslandWood is 4450 Blakely Avenue NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. Check-in for the event is from 10:00-10:45 on Saturday morning. Please plan accordingly and do not arrive before 10:00 unless you are a volunteer.

Plan for your ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge. Click here to see the ferry schedule. We recommend catching the 8:55 or 9:35 ferry to Bainbridge Island. You must come by car as Uber/Lift is not an option there and the buses do not run on Saturday. If you did not receive the carpool list, but would like to, please email operations@teamsurvivornw.org.

Take the Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island from the Coleman Dock at: 801 Alaskan Way Pier 52 Seattle, WA 98104

From the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal:

• Drive up the hill from the ferry to the second stoplight, turn left onto Winslow Way.
• At the next 4-way stop, turn right onto Madison Avenue and continue to the next 4-way stop at Wyatt Way.
• Turn left onto Wyatt Way.
• Continue on Wyatt, rounding the back of Eagle Harbor (water will be to your left).
• The road will fork; take the right fork up the hill, following the signs to Port Blakely. You are now on Blakely Avenue.
• Continue straight on Blakely Avenue. In approximately 1 mile you’ll see Blakely Elementary School on your left.
• IslandWood is at the first driveway on your left after Blakely Elementary School. Turn left into IslandWood driveway. The street address is 4450 Blakely Avenue NE.
• Continue on the wooded driveway up the hill. Bear left to the parking area. Follow pathway and signs to the Welcome Center.

It takes approximately 10 minutes to get from the ferry terminal to IslandWood. You can arrive at IslandWood anytime between 10:00am-10:45am. Both the 8:55 and 9:35 ferries should allow you to arrive during this window. If you arrive too early, just stop for coffee in the cute town of Bainbridge Island before you come to IslandWood.

When you arrive at IslandWood, follow signs to Arrivals Shelter (to the right). If a cart is needed, unload your bags into a cart and then park your car (to the left). Pick up your cart and follow signs to the Welcome Center, where you will check-in. Room keys will be handed out at the Welcome Center upon arrival (please hold on to these as Islandwood will charge for lost keys). We will give you a TSNW tote bag filled with some important items for your day, and then you will be able to leave your overnight bags in your rooms and return for our 11:00am start in the Great Room.

Room check-out is Sunday, March 5, at 9:30 am. Bring your keys (very important!) and your bags to the Welcome Center.

If you would like to leave a phone number for your family to contact you in case of emergency, the number at Islandwood is 206-855-4300.

If you have any difficulties during your stay, you can also call Jennefer (TSNW Executive Director) at 917-673-9712 or Beatriz (TSNW Operations Manager) at 425-999-9015.

Click here to see a map of IslandWood.

Note: If you need to take a break at any point, close to the main events, there is a Wellness Room in the Welcome Center, where you can lay down or just take a breath on your own for as long as you need.

Is this your first TSNW Retreat? You are not alone! Join us for light refreshments and a chance to socialize with other new members before we kick off the weekend.

Hear from Bridgette Hempstead, founder of Cierra Sisters, Inc. – an African American breast cancer organization that uniquely provides support, education, and advocacy for women’s breast and health issues. Bridgette will share experiences of Black women facing cancer, and provide ideas of how we as a community can support one another and grow stronger together.

Naturalist Hike (Low Intensity), IslandWood Specialist: Explore IslandWood’s unique ecosystems and cultural history on a guided hike with a staff naturalist. Learn about the different uses of plants from the smallest fungus to the tallest tree.

Vinyasa Flow Yoga (Moderate Intensity), Michelle Tibbs: Vinyasa Yoga connects movement and breath to allow practitioners to flow smoothly between poses. Ceneter yourself and explore a variety of yoga poses for balance, strength, and cardiovascular wellness. We will use a combination of floor and standing poses.

Dance Fitness Fusion (Moderate to High Intensity), Kris Rooke: Break a sweat to a combo of fun and easy-to-learn movements set to music you know and love! Add strength, grace, and balance to make this unique workout even more effective. Come with an open mind and willingness to try something new and exciting.

Bodyweight HIIT (High Intensity), Denise Geroux: Bodyweight HIIT is a full-body strength and cardio combo class that can be modified for your level of fitness but is intended for those who want to breathe hard and sweat! Get your heart rate up as we work through sets of moderate- to high-intensity moves (including core) and end with a good cooldown.

Brianna Van Den Adel, MS, LCGC. Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer: The What, Where, When, Why, and How. Genetic testing has evolved rapidly over the last few decades and is now often part of routine cancer care.  Genetic test results can be used to guide decision-making for cancer surveillance, allowing individuals to be proactive about screening for cancer and even reducing their risks for developing cancer. This presentation will answer your questions about when and why someone may consider genetic testing, what it can tell you about your risks, and how you can go about scheduling a visit with a genetic counselor to start the process.

Satya Peterson. Young Survivors: Navigating Cancer at a Young Age. Cancer at any age is difficult.  Experiencing cancer as a younger person (20’s, 30’s, 40’s) has unique challenges and concerns, whether it is questions about working or going to school during treatment, impacts of treatment on your sex life and relationships, or what fertility may look like after cancer treatment.  For this break out session, please join Satya for a co-created discussion around concerns for those who have undergone a young cancer diagnosis.

Hannah Gaba, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA. Lymphedema: Risk Reduction, Effective Treatment, and Successful Lifelong Management.

Tai Chi Flow (Low Intensity), Denise Geroux: Tai Chi Flow will focus on grounding, releasing stress, gentle movement, and breathing exercises. A blend of Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Gong exercises, this unique practice will help you develop your own “body feel” of Tai Chi and experience the flow of your own Chi life energy.

Strength Training(Moderate Intensity), LaTaunya Witherspoon: Join us for a full-body workout focusing on strength and balance. All levels are welcome as we hit a variety of exercises for the large muscle groups. We will have some sets of weights (1-8lbs) available for use. You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

Zumba (Moderate to High Intensity), Sellyna Ehlers: A world beat workout where you will dance with friends and burn calories without even realizing it! The routines feature aerobic/fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body.

Wool Felt Succulents (Craft), Beatriz Palacio. Whether your home is filled with living plants or you can’t keep a plant alive, this craft session will allow you to add a bright, personal touch to your home during the gray Seattle winters. Learn how to make a cute succulent plant out of wool felt and plant it in a small planter that you can take home with you.

Learn a little about each program, ask questions, register for new programs if interested, and socialize!

Sound Bath Relaxation with Kimberly Kelly. Sound baths are a passive form of healing. All that is required of you is to lie back, close your eyes and listen to the soothing sounds of crystal sound bowls singing around you. As vibration moves through the body, your nervous system and energetic body become more balanced. *Please bring a pillow and blanket.

Dance Church. Dance Church is an all-levels movement class that offers a fun and inclusive approach to dancing! Designed for people of all shapes and sizes, backgrounds and abilities, Dance Church is a fabulous way to express yourself through movement. The teacher leads the class in a series of movement cues, accompanied by a curated playlist of multi-genre pop music. The format is open but guided throughout. No previous training is required, but open-mindedness is a prerequisite!

S’mores will be outside, so please wear extra layers. Games will be indoors in smaller groups (feel free to bring a favorite game!). Additionally, the IslandWood living facilities have large common rooms with beautiful fire places. It’s the perfect cozy spot for reading or doing a puzzle or just hanging out. Wear your comfy clothes, throw on your slippers, bring your knitting or a good book and relax at the end of the day in front of the fire!

Start your day off with a nourishing yoga practice focused on active relaxation. Stretch and release the effort of yesterday’s fitness sessions and prepare for another day of connection and movement. Please bring a yoga mat (We will have a limited number of mats for those who do not own one).

Dr. Hanna Hunter, MD. Return to Exercise: A Personalized Pacing Plan. Returning to exercise during and after cancer treatment can have long-lasting benefits beyond improving strength and fitness. Side effects of cancer treatment, as well as the physical and cognitive changes that can occur during treatment, often need to be addressed alongside a tailored exercise prescription. An individualized exercise program can include pacing and energy conservation strategies, strength training and aerobic activity. 

Dr. Lisa Price, ND. The Cancer Fighting Pantry. Turn food into one of your weapons against cancer. In this interactive presentation, Dr. Price will help you assess your dietary patterns and learn how to build your pantry to be a cancer fighting pantry, based on known mechanisms of action from hundreds of peer reviewed studies. Learn about the three predominant diet types in this country, take a quiz to know under which category you fall, then gain insight into the macro and micronutrients in specific foods that you’ll want to keep in stock. 

Stretch, Tone, Smile (Low Intensity), Kris Rooke: Stretch and tone the main zones of your body (Upper/Mid/Lower) with this low-intensity workout. Who says working out can’t be fun too? Throughout the session we hope to see you smile when you realize what you can accomplish.

Stick Fighting (Moderate Intensity), Denise Geroux: In this introduction to Filipino Single Stick Fighting, you will learn striking angles, run rhythm and flow drills with a partner, and receive guidance on how to apply self-defense techniques. Come and play in a non-threatening, fun exploration of the fundamentals that underlie the use of all weaponry. Sticks will be provided to borrow or purchase. 

Zumba Toning (Moderate to High Intensity), Sellyna Ehlers: Perfect for those who want to party, but put extra emphasis on toning and sculpting to define those muscles! Toning sticks or light weights will help you focus on specific muscle groups, so you (and your muscles) stay engaged!

HIIT (High Intensity), Kim Brasfield: Break a sweat with a complete, total-body workout. This fast-paced, explosive class features a warmup, core, upper- and lower-body work and a blast of cardio set to some sweet 80s tunes. Move your body and burn excess fat while having fun too! Be sure to bring a water bottle and towel.

Love Letters (Writing Workshop), Mary Gomez Camba: Mary’s writing workshop has been a favorite in the past and she is excited to lead another session. “Stories are what inspire humans to move outside their comfort zone and accomplish great things.” Mary is a master photographer, business coach, and a youth visual storytelling mentor. She has given a TED talk on the magic of serendipity and how, ultimately, we have the power to write our stories by getting involved and taking action. Mary will teach basic techniques to help you get started on your own storytelling journey with an exercise of observation and retrospect. In this workshop, you will be guided in writing a love letter to your past, present, or future self.

Lisa Thompson. On the Other Side of Fear there is Growth. Lisa will share her story of fighting cancer and climbing the world’s tallest mountains. She will share what cancer and mountains have taught her and that we are all stronger and more resilient than we will ever know.

Forest Hike. Enjoy a hike through the beautiful forest among towering Douglas-fir, Western redcedar, and Hemlock. View the bog and ravine habitat from the treehouses as you learn about a forest habitat deeply connected to and shaped by the people of Bainbridge Island.

Canopy Tower Hike. Take a vigorous hike down to the ravine, cross the suspension bridge, and ascend the 120ft canopy tower to get a new perspective on your surroundings. This is great for people that want to challenge themselves.

Ferries depart Bainbridge Island for Seattle at 1:20, 2:10, 3:00 & 3:55. Click here for the full schedule.