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Nature Connection Weekend

Fri, 14 Jun

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Balkan Retreat

Discover the real Fruška Gora

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Nature Connection Weekend
Nature Connection Weekend

Time & Location

14 Jun 2024, 19:00 CEST – 15 Jun 2024, 20:00 CEST

Balkan Retreat, Zike Begejovica 31, Бешеновачки Прњавор 22200, Serbia

About the event

ENGLESKI (ZA SRPSKI JEZIK - DOLE)

I invite you to join me on a journey.

Let's wake up early in the morning. Let’s leave behind our mobile phones and our worries. Let’s go for a slow, slow walk. Let’s get into our bodies, get closer to our selves and meet the real, living, Fruška Gora.

In today's fast-paced world, our lives are filled with endless stress and constant distractions. Amidst this chaos, we find ourselves increasingly disconnected from ourselves, each other, and the natural world that surrounds us.

This nature connection event is born out of a deep understanding of the profound impact this modern lifestyle has on our well-being. Together we will find a moment to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the essence of who we are and the world we inhabit. It's an opportunity to step away from the screens, the noise, and the distractions, and to immerse ourselves in the beauty and simplicity of the natural world.

I have lived here on the edge of the Fruska Gora for 7 years and have walked in its sanctuary almost every day of every season. I wish to share with you one of these walks. I invite you to experience how this deep and special relationship with the forest offers us so many opportunities for stillness, connection, creativity, magic and joy.

What is Nature Connection?

Nature connection is about immersing ourselves in the natural environment using our senses. This interaction offers numerous advantages on a personal level, including mental, physical and emotional well-being, as well as environmental benefits (such as care for nature and taking action). It invites us to redirect our focus away from the conventional approach of learning about nature through factual information (such as identifying trees and birds), towards experiencing how elements of nature evoke emotional responses within us: how it makes us feel.

Through guided activities and mindful practices, I will help you discover a new relationship—with the earth beneath our feet, the air in our lungs, and the rhythms of life that surround us. These activities should help you feel more in tune with nature and more part of it, rather than just a visitor passing through.

It's about the joy of simply being present and cultivating a deeper sense of gratitude and appreciation for the natural world that we belong to and from which we are inseparable.

In essence, this nature connection event is a gentle reminder—a call to return to ourselves, to each other, and to the world around us. It's an invitation to slow down, to turn on all our senses, and to rediscover the beauty and magic that lies within and all around us.

I hope when you return home you will feel peaceful, nourished, inspired and more alive!

Vivien von Abendorff

Balkan Retreat

Note: The walk will be held in the English language, but Vivien also speaks Serbian if needed for translation.

About Vivien and the Balkan Retreat

Vivien left London, her home town, for Bešenovacki Prnjavor in 2017. Beforehand, she had completed her English Studies Bachelor's degree (2009) at the University of Nottingham and Master's degree from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London (2011)  and worked as an actress, director and teacher. Together with her partner, Kalki, she moved to Serbia to build the Balkan Retreat and the Balkan Producing House NGO. The Balkan Retreat aims to be a creative and inspiring space which hosts a variety of activities, such as artist residencies, workshops, courses and holiday rental for tourists. We try to implement sustainable practices (organic gardening, rainwater collection) following permaculture principles. Vivien holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. Vivien’s experience of hiking, wandering and camping, living next door to the Fruska Gora, growing her own food and tending to her garden, has transformed her way of thinking about and relating to the natural world. She completed a "Vision Quest" rite-of-passage in the UK, involving a 4-day solo wilderness fast. She is experienced in meditating and also paints and writes.

Schedule:

Friday 14th: Arrive at 18:00 to meet and for a dinner.

Saturday 15th: 7:00-8:00 - set off on walk (earlier, if very hot)

17:00-18:00-  return for dinner around the campfire

You are welcome to stay longer in the evening or stay with us on Saturday night (extra €25 per bed). Please notify us in advance.

Programme

We will be out in the forest ALL day and will carry our picnic lunch with us. Be prepared for insects and being out in the elements (heat/rain).

The Walk

I will guide you through a process of observing our environment through our bodily senses, interacting with it in various ways and then reflecting upon this experience.  This is not a hike - our goal is not to arrive anywhere, nor to exercise. It is a slow, mindful walk, with many pauses and stops where we stay in one place for a longer time.

"Activities" will include:

- Meditative practice

- Sensory perception excercises 

- Contemplation of concepts such as depth and mood

- Exercises that help us understand relationship and exchange (reciprocity)

- Exercises that stimulate childlike curiosity and playfulness

- Engaging with the mythic imagination

- Reflecting upon experiences with the group

- Creative promts (such as journalling, drawing, writing, collecting objects)

Note: The walk will be held in the English language, but Vivien also speaks Serbian if needed for translation.

Location and Facilities

Note: Accommodation is only available for 7-8 people at the moment. Unfortunately children are not allowed on this particular event.

At the Balkan Retreat, there is shared accommodation. There are two double rooms and one room with four individual beds. The three apartments all have private bathrooms and kitchens/kitchenettes with air-conditioning.

There is an outdoor roofed terrace (Letnjikovac) with BBQ facilities and a fire pit. We have a one-acre wild garden with plenty of places to relax.

For more information about the Balkan Retreat, please take a look at our website www.balkan-retreat.com

Cost

€20 - only the guided walk

€40 - walk + picnic snack and dinner

€80 - 1 night accommodation, breakfast, picnic lunch and two dinners.

Places are limited so you need to SIGN UP.

What you need to bring:

  • Walking shoes or strong, supportive trainers
  • Clothing for ALL weather - yes, if it rains, we will still go (unless it storms!)
  • Clothing that you don’t mind sitting on the ground with (i.e. getting a bit dirty!)
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat
  • Insect repellant (very important!) and soothing cream for bites
  • Journal and pen
  • Sketchbook (optional)
  • Rucksack
  • Torch
  • Water bottle(s) - enough water for a day

To SIGN UP or if you have any further questions, drop us an email, message, or phone call.

info@balkan-retreat.com

Instagram/Facebook: #BalkanRetreat

+381-65-413-7677

www.balkan-retreat.com

SRPSKI

Pozivam vas da mi se pridružite na specijalnom putovanju.

Hajde da ustanemo rano ujutru. Ostavimo mobilne telefone i brige iza sebe. Hajde da krenemo u laganu, lezernu šetnju. Uronimo u naša tela, približimo se sebi i upoznajmo pravu, živu Frušku Goru.

U današnjem svetu brzog tempa, naši životi su ispunjeni beskonačnim stresom i stalnim ometanjima. Usred ovog svakodnevnog haosa, sve smo više otuđeni od sebe, jedni od drugih i prirodnog sveta koji nas okružuje. Ovaj događaj povezivanja sa prirodom nastao je iz dubokog razumevanja, snaznog uticaja koji ovaj moderni način života ima na naše blagostanje. Zajedno ćemo pronaći trenutak da zastanemo, dišemo i ponovo se povežemo sa suštinom onoga što jesmo i sveta u kojem živimo. To je prilika da se udaljimo od ekrana, buke i ometanja i da uronimo u lepotu i jednostavnost prirodnog sveta.

Ja zivim ovde na ivici Fruške Gore već sedam godina i šetam njenim utočištem skoro svakog dana u svako godišnje doba. Želim da podelim s vama jednu od tih šetnji. Pozivam vas da doživite kako ovaj dubok i poseban odnos sa šumom nudi toliko mogućnosti za tišinu, povezanost, kreativnost, magiju i radost.

Šta je povezivanje s prirodom?

Povezivanje s prirodom znači uranjanje u prirodno okruženje koristeći naša čula. Ova interakcija nudi brojne prednosti na ličnom nivou, uključujući mentalno, fizičko i emocionalno blagostanje, kao i ekološke koristi (kao što su briga o prirodu i preduzimanje akcija u svhu njene zastite). Poziva nas da preusmerimo fokus sa konvencionalnog pristupa učenju o prirodi kroz činjenične informacije (kao što je identifikacija drveća i ptica) ka doživljaju kako elementi prirode izazivaju emocionalne reakcije u nama; kako se osećamo. 

Kroz vođene aktivnosti i samosvesne prakse, pomoći ću vam da otkrijete novi odnos – sa zemljom ispod naših nogu, vazduhom u našim plućima i ritmovima života koji nas okružuju. Ove aktivnosti bi trebalo da vam pomognu da se osećate više povezani sa prirodom i više kao integralni deo nje, a ne samo kao prolazni posetilac. Reč je o radosti jednostavnog bivanja i negovanju dubljeg osećaja zahvalnosti i uvažavanja prirodnog sveta kojem pripadamo i od kojeg smo nerazdvojni.

U suštini, ovaj događaj povezivanja s prirodom je blagi podsetnik – poziv da se vratimo prvenstveno sebi, jedni drugima i svetu oko nas. To je poziv da usporimo, uključimo sva naša čula i ponovo otkrijemo lepotu i magiju koja leži u nama i oko nas. Nadam se da ćete se, kada se vratite kući, osećati blazeno, duhovno nahranjeno, inspirisano i življe!

Vivien von Abendorf,  Balkan Retreat

Napomena:

Šetnja će biti održana na engleskom jeziku, ali Vivien takođe govori srpski ako je potreban prevod.

O Vivien von Abendorff i Balkan Retreat-u: 

Vivien se rodila i odrasla u Londonu (majka joj je Srpkinja, a otac Englez). Diplomirala je engleski jezik i knjizevnost na Univerzitetu u Notingemu u Engleskoj 2009 godine u prvoj klasi i magistarala je studij scenografije, glume i rezije na Kraljevskoj Akademiji Dramskih Umetnosti (RADA) u Londonu (2011). Bavila se glumom, rezijom i predavanjem engleskog jezika.  Zajedno sa svojim partnerom Timom (Holandjaninom), preselila se u Srbiju 2017 godine, u zelji da osnuje Balkan Retreat i Balkan Producing House  kao nevladinu organizaciju (NGO) . Balkan Retreat ima za cilj da bude kreativan i inspirativan prostor na kome se organizuju razne aktivnosti, kao što su rezidencije za umetnike, radionice, kursevi i iznajmljivanje za turiste. Tezi se ka samo-održivim  delatnostima (organska bašta, sakupljanje kišnice) prateći principe permakulture. Vivien ima Sertifikat za permakulturni dizajn. Vivienino iskustvo povezano sa planinarenjem, samostalnim lutanjem i kampovanjem  u prirodi, uzgajanjem sopstvene organske hrane i odrzavanje  bašte po principima permakulture, transformisalo je njen način razmišljanja o prirodi i ljudskom odnosu prema njoj. 2023 -ce godine Vivien je u Velikoj Britaniji završila "Vision Quest" – ‘Ritual Duhovnog Preobrazaja’, koji je uključivao četvorodnevni solo post u divljini. Ona je iskusna u meditaciji, takodje se bavi slikanjem i pisanjem.

Raspored:

A) Petak 14: (ZA ONE KOJI BUKIRAJU SMESTAJ) Dolazak u 18:00 za upoznavanje i večeru

B) Subota 15: (SVI) 7:00-8:00 - polazak na šetnju (ranije, ako bude veoma toplo)

C) 15:00-16:00- povratak na ranu veceru oko logorske vatre

Dobrodošli ste da ostanete duže uveče ili da ostanete kod nas u subotu uveče (dodatnih 25 € po krevetu). Molimo vas da nas unapred obavestite.

Program:

Bićemo u šumi pola dana i nosićemo piknik ručak sa sobom. Budite spremni na insekte i boravak na otvorenom, sto moze da ukljuci prirodne elemente kao sto su vrucina ili kiša.

Šetnja:

Vodiću vas kroz proces posmatranja našeg okruženja koristeci sopstvena telesna čula, interakcije sa njim na različite načine i zatim refleksije o tom iskustvu. Ovo nije planinarenje - naš cilj nije da stignemo bilo gde, niti da fizicki vežbamo. Ovo je lagana, samosvesna šetnja, sa mnogo pauza i zaustavljanja na kojima ostajemo na jednom mestu duže vreme.

"Akcije" će uključivati:

· Meditativnu praksu

· Vežbe senzorne percepcije

· Kontemplaciju koncepata kao što su dubina i raspoloženje

· Vežbe koje nam pomažu da razumemo odnos i razmenu (recipročnost)

· Vežbe koje stimulišu detinjastu radoznalost i razigranost

· Angažovanje sa mitskom maštom

· Refleksiju o iskustvima sa grupom

· Kreativne podsticaje (kao što su vođenje dnevnika, crtanje, pisanje, sakupljanje predmeta)

Napomena: Vodjenje kroz setnju će biti održano na engleskom jeziku, ali Vivien takođe govori srpski ako je potreban prevod ili dopuna.

Lokacija i objekti:

Kapacitet smestaja je za 7-8 osoba.  Nažalost, ovaj dogadjaj  nije povoljan za decu ispod 18 godina. U Balkan Retreat-u, postoji zajednički smeštaj. Postoje dve dvokrevetne sobe i jedna soba sa četiri pojedinačna kreveta. Dva apartmana imaju privatna kupatila i kuhinje/čajne kuhinje sa klimom. Postoji spoljašnja natkrivena terasa (letnjikovac) sa roštiljskim sadržajima i logorskom vatrom. Imamo divlju baštu površine jednog hektara sa mnogo mesta za opuštanje.

Za više informacija o Balkan Retreat-u, pogledajte našu veb stranicu www.balkan-retreat.com

Cene:

A) €20 - samo setnja

B) €40 - setnja i piknik rucak plus vecera

C) €80 - uključuje: 1 noć smeštaja hranu (doručak na samoposluživanje, piknik ručak i 2x večera [petak i subota veče])

Ograničen broj mesta - morate se prijaviti da biste se pridružili

Šta treba da ponesete:

- Cipele za hodanje ili jake, podržavajuće patike, odeću za SVE vremenske uslove. Mi idemo cak i ako pada kisa (osim ako ne bude jako nevreme!)

- Ponesite odeću za kojom nećete žaliti da sednete na zemlju (tj. da se malo uprljate!)

- kremu za sunčanje

- sešir

- sredstvo za zaštitu od insekata (veoma važno!) i kremu za ubode

- dnevnik i olovku

- svesku za skiciranje (opciono)

- hranu (ako dolazite samo na setnju)

- baterijsku lampu

- bocu(e) za vodu - da moze da drzi dovoljno vode za jedan dan

Za PRIJAVU ili ako imate dodatnih pitanja pošaljite nam e-mail, poruku ili pozovite. 

info@balkan-retreat.com 

Instagram/Facebook: #BalkanRetreat 

+381-65-413-7677

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