Welcome to your retreat! We look forward to working with you at Bend of Ivy Lodge. If you haven’t been here before, you can preview your visit at Bend of Ivy Lodge. The retreat is very participatory. Please anticipate working hard; you can also look forward to some relaxation and reflection as well! Here are a few things for you to know:
Arriving
The retreat will begin at 9:00 AM on the first day, and we will complete by 2:00 PM on the last day. Packages include lodging the night before the retreat start (usually Sunday for Monday start,) with arrival after 7:00 PM; this provides an opportunity to settle in and meet other participants. Please do not arrive before 7:00 PM as another group may be occupying the Lodge. If you arrange to stay elsewhere the night before the retreat, please arrive no later than 8:00 AM in time for breakfast.
Dinner the evening before the retreat is not available at the Lodge, so plan accordingly. Breakfast will be served at 8:00 AM the first morning. (Restaurants and a supermarket are ten minutes away in Weaverville or in Asheville; you’re welcome to keep food in the refrigerator if you wish.)
Please consider this a retreat experience. Retreats include early morning and evening sessions. We strongly advise against planning visits with friends in town, or booking conference calls or other business while you’re here. The retreat deserves your full attention.
Getting to the Lodge
Fly into Asheville (AVL) – Most people fly in/out of Asheville, it is the closest airport to the Lodge. It is about 35 minute drive from AVL, which is served by American, Continental, Delta, and United. You are safe to book a flight any time after 4:00 PM on the final day of your retreat. You may rent a car from the major agencies, or arrange for a shuttle by making reservations in advance with one of the ground transportation providers, which the cost can be shared with other students.
Fly into Charlotte (CLT) – You can also fly into Charlotte; ticket prices are often cheaper, but the drive time is about 2 hours and 30 minutes and you will need to rent a car or take a shuttle to Asheville.
Other nearby airports – Greenville- Spartanburg airport (GSP) in Greenville, SC is a 1.5 hour drive and McGhee Tyson airport (TYS) in Knoxville, TN is a little over 2 hour drive. These are both options if you don’t mind driving.
Ride sharing – If you are interested in sharing a ride to/from the airport, please fill out the ride sharing form. Jenny compile a list of those who are interested in coordinating ground transportation. She will connect those who respond, and you can work out details with each other.
The street address for the lodge is 3717 Bend of Ivy Rd, Marshall, NC. On arrival, unload at the Lodge entrance, then move your car immediately to the parking area, as the turnaround area at the Lodge is small. There is no need to stop at the office for check-in.
Resources
- Asheville Ground Transportation
- Asheville – Charlotte shuttle services
- Map and driving directions to the lodge
Meals and Lodging
- Meals and lodging are included in your registration package.
- On-site lodging is single occupancy (due to COVID)
- We advise staying on-site because of the long hours, the importance of the community, and the value of the uninterrupted time in a retreat environment.
- That said, if you wish to stay off-site, please contact Jenny for a list of local lodging. There is still a “commuter” fee for site use and meals, if you do stay off-site.
If you have special dietary needs, please complete the dietary request form so that we can provide your requests to the caterer. Because of the caterer’s planning and purchasing process, we need this information no later than ten days before the first day of your retreat. Last minute requests cannot be accommodated.
Living at the Lodge
We will be very casual. You’re invited to feel at home and to explore the land. There are 63 acres here, with gardens, waterfalls, a river, and lovely trails with high views. Spending time outdoors is an integral part of your retreat. Please bring comfortable walking shoes, and clothing appropriate for being outdoors in mountain weather that can change dramatically and rapidly. Plan accordingly. We ask that participants remove shoes at the Lodge entrance; you may wish to bring slippers for the retreat days. Also, bring comfortable loose clothes for indoor stretching: light sweatpants and a T-shirt are great.
You will most likely have a roommate; if you know another participant and wish to room with that person, let us know. There are four shared bathrooms. Towels, linens, soap, and shampoo are all provided.
What to Bring
Suggested items to pack:
- Journal
- Reusable water bottle
- Comfortable clothes for being outdoors in a range of weather conditions. You can check the weather with a ten-day forecast for Bend of Ivy.
- Walking shoes
- Slippers for indoors (if desired)
Pre-Work
Presence-Based Coaching retreats each have a required text. Reading the entire book before arrival provides the cognitive frameworks that support the strong experiential focus you can expect at the retreat. We suggest ordering books well in advance, to ensure adequate time for reading. For the PBC I retreat, the text is The Mindful Coach. For PBC II, the text is Presence-Based Coaching. For all retreats, expect additional information by email about pre-work about six weeks in advance.
Communication
There is a phone for local calls in the entryway, and wireless internet. The number at the Lodge is 828-658-9865; there is an answering machine to take calls when retreats are in session. Mail and overnight services can be delivered to you c/o Bend of Ivy Lodge, 3717 Bend of Ivy Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Please email Jenny or call her at 505-908-9211 with logistics questions.. We look forward to seeing you soon in the North Carolina mountains!