Female Veterans Enjoy Four Days of Activity at ASF’s WIM Women’s Retreat

WINDHAM — The Adaptive Sports Foundation’s (ASF) Warriors in Motion® (WIM) Women’s Retreat came to an end Thursday after 10 female veterans enjoyed four days of outdoor activities, camaraderie and opportunities to connect with fellow veterans, Aug. 24-27.

“I’ve always been into sports and fitness, but I’ve taken a step recently. Finding the ASF’s Warriors in Motion Program gave me the opportunity to do these great activities and meet other veterans,” U.S. Air Force veteran Amanda Robles said. “I wasn’t necessarily looking for a women-only event, but after being here with my fellow female veterans, I really enjoyed and appreciated the energy that we experienced.”

The 10 veterans arrived in Windham on Monday evening, checking into their hotel before meeting at Christman’s Windham House for a welcome dinner. There, they met the ASF staff and volunteers who would be working with them throughout the week.

The first full day of activities began Tuesday morning, when the ASF shuttle bus picked up the participants and transported them to North-South Lake in nearby Haines Falls. The group of veterans and volunteers set off on a 2.5-mile hike around the lake and up to the scenic and historic Catskill Mountain House.

After their hike, the participants settled under a pavilion along the shore of North Lake for lunch before heading onto the water for an afternoon kayaking session. As soon as the participants entered the water, a cold, heavy rain began to pour. The weather didn’t deter the group, however, and the storm clouds soon passed to reveal a beautiful, sunny afternoon on the lake.

After a full day at North-South Lake, the veterans returned to their hotels to get ready for dinner at the Windham residence of ASF friend Rick Quattrini. Quattrini hosted a special paella dinner that he and the veterans prepared together over an outdoor open flame.

On Wednesday morning, the ASF shuttle once again picked up the veterans at 9 a.m. and headed across the Hudson River to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Copake for a full day of cycling. From their starting point in Copake, the group traveled south along the trail into Millerton, where they stopped for lunch before riding back north to their starting point. In total, the group of female veterans rode 16.5 miles.

The veterans returned to Windham and enjoyed another special dinner that evening, hosted by ASF donor and longtime friend Rosie Stubbs. Stubbs, who lives next door to the ASF lodge, has supported the Warriors in Motion program since its inception. She and her late husband, former ASF Chairman Bob Stubbs, championed the creation of a program for injured veterans more than 20 years ago, and she remains an active volunteer during the WIM Women’s Retreat.

To wrap up their trip to the Catskills, the veterans spent an hour Thursday morning at Mountain Breeze Yoga Studio for a relaxing chair yoga session, followed by a yarn workshop at The Knitting Room. These low-key activities served as the perfect way to wind down after several active days.

The veterans and volunteers then ventured to Chicken Run for one final lunch together before saying their goodbyes and departing.

“It was incredibly touching to see how quickly these women came to care about one another. They lifted one another, literally and figuratively,” ASF Development Director Olivia Antsis said. Antsis and ASF Assistant Program Manager Olivia Drum were the lead instructors for the women-only event. “They prioritized one another’s well-being before their own, respected each other’s boundaries, empowered one another to believe in themselves, and went out of their way to make sure that, whatever someone needed, they were there to offer support.

“It was so wonderful to witness their thoughtfulness and camaraderie. I am already looking forward to seeing them again next year!”

The strong connections formed throughout the retreat were also evident to Robles, who challenged herself during the group’s 16.5-mile bike ride.

“During the bike ride, I challenged myself on the second half of the ride by turning off the pedal-assist on my e-bike. I did this because I haven’t ridden a bike in years, and I like to push my limits. It was challenging, but it felt good physically and for my confidence,” Robles said. “The ASF is so important because it gives veterans the opportunity to engage with other people who have been through similar experiences. There’s a different connection among veterans; we all have each other.

“Many veterans, myself included, tend to isolate themselves after service, so these programs give us the basic need of socializing, all while doing activities that we may not be able to do for physical, mental or financial reasons. Veterans can feel like themselves again here.”

The WIM Women’s Retreat was the sixth and final Warriors in Motion event of the season for the ASF. Veterans from across the country visited Windham this summer for exercise, fresh mountain air and camaraderie among peers.

The ASF’s next WIM program will be its annual Bob Stubbs Warriors in Motion Winter Sports Weekend, a weekend of skiing and snowboarding scheduled for Feb. 4-7.