News from Ring Lake Ranch
Winter News from Ring Lake Ranch, 2010
Greetings of peace to you!
Despite the often fierce winds and equally cold temperatures, Ben Verheul, the Facilities Manager, is working through his long list of projects to keep improving the Ranch. Trail Lake gets
busy with ice fisher-folk though and Ben and Amanda have furry and feathered visitors around their cabin – a herd of mule deer, an occasional moose, coyotes, an elusive cougar, and the
ever present magpies.
Registrations are coming in steadily for the summer. In fact, twice as many people had registered at the end of January than at the same time last year – and last year was a great summer.
NB: The sessions with Margaret Coel, Will Willimon, and Carrie Newcomer are filling quickly.
If you haven’t checked the 2010 Schedule of Programs, it is posted here.
Most of our stellar staff from last summer will be returning – much to my relief:
Marty Dorst & Audra Mullineux will be wrangling again, teaching the fine art of equine enjoyment;
Karen Marshall & Amanda Verheul will be spinning culinary magic again;
Ben Verheul will make sure the water is running, the toilets are flushing, the buildings are in fine shape;
Joyce Heil, associate director, has stayed in practice for reiki, has new treasures to sell in the gift shop, and will do the other thousand jobs she has, and
I will be directing again, trying to keep the finances on track, housing squared away, etc.
We are interviewing cook applicants to find just the right one. And, we’re hoping that Becky Meyer will be able to join us again as our very capable hike leader/housekeeper.
Look for the spring Carillon in March. If you are not on our mailing list, send me an email with your address, and I will gladly add you.
If you have not bought your Ring Lake Ranch cookbook, please email Joyce at joyce@ringlake.org or phone us at 888.458.5253. Price is $10.00
+ $3.00 shipping.
Partial scholarships are still available. Contact us for a simple application.
Finally, if you have any questions or need any information, let us help: info@ringlake.org or use our toll free number – 888.458.5253.
Come spend a week or two of your summer with us at Ring Lake Ranch!
Peace and all good,
Carl Koch, Director |
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Fall News from Ring Lake Ranch
Greetings of peace to you!
On September 12, we began closing down for the winter. Given all the financial worries that abound, we had a fantastic summer.
Over the summer 334 guests each spent a week enjoying renewal
in this sacred wilderness. This number closely matches our number of guests from 2008 – and that was a great year. We have
been blessed.
A most notable piece of September News comes in the words of Terri Schulz, President of the RLR Board: “The Ranch’s Board of Directors signed a conservation easement
with the Jackson Hole Land Trust. This means that the Ranch has sold the development and subdivision rights to the Land Trust, taking them off the market in perpetuity.
In addition to preserving
the land as it is, the money for those rights has effectively doubled the Ring Lake Ranch endowment, thus insuring the financial stability of the Ranch. A conservation easement is a voluntary,
legally binding agreement that limits certain types of uses now and into the future.
The conservation easement will allow all current Ring Lake Ranch activities to continue as well as potential
expansion of facilities to a modest degree. What makes Ring Lake Ranch so special will be maintained forever: the wilderness setting, the wildlife habitat, the cultural heritage of the petroglyphs,
and the limited amount of land that is transformed by human development.”
In September, we also purchased three new horses. Here’s a picture of Rosie, a six-year-old Appaloosa.
Snows blanketed the Ranch early in October.
The 2010 Schedule of Programs is posted . By the first of
October over 20 people have already registered for next summer. So, it’s not too early to make your plans to come to the Ranch.
Peace and all good,
Carl Koch, Director |
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Late Summer News
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I loved the hospitality, friendliness of the staff & volunteers and of course the beautiful sacred space.
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The best aspect of RLR is the open ended schedule with structured times in this setting and generous support for basic needs.
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It has given me a chance to work through some heavy stuff. I feel more centered and whole.
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The evening sessions were so good I wanted them to keep going. Wish I could stay longer.
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The best things were connecting with nature, family, friends, animals, and weather (the hail storm)!
Well, the point is clear – once again Ring Lake Ranch has been drawing guests into wonderful encounters with sacred wilderness and the Divine Spirit.
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The 2010 Schedule of Programs will be posted on the website soon. Among our presenters are a Pulitzer and Emmy Award winning playwright, a novelist and historian of American Indian spirituality,
a Methodist bishop, a well-known singer-songwriter, and several renowned theologians. Stay tuned.
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Ben Verheul, our Facilities Manager, and Amanda Wolfe, one of our cooks, got married on August 8 in the outdoor chapel with over 100 witnesses and celebrants. They will live and work
from what was Cabin B, which now has a new addition that is almost completed.
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On July 25, the Jackson Hole Land Trust hosted a picnic and celebration here at the Ranch. We are completing negotiations to make the Ranch a wildlife conservation easement property,
protecting the wildness in perpetuity. More about this in the fall Carillon.
Have a blessed fall. Peace and all good.
Carl Koch, Director
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June 2009
The season at Ring Lake Ranch is one-third over. How time zooms by here. And we are having fun – along with learning a lot, meeting great people, and encountering the wonders of creation
in this sacred place.
SESSIONS:
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Katherine Turpin’s session was a wonderful reflection on Sabbath – as well as being a “Sabbath” experience. One of the participants commented, “I would definitely
recommend Ring Lake Ranch. This is a unique place for activity and rest—a perfect place for ‘Sabbath’.” Another said, “An amazing week. Very spiritual & fun & rejuvenating.”
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We are now hosting the third and final group of boys for this year from Elder HS in Cincinnati. As usual they’ve had a great time, formed strong bonds, and conversed on key issues
for young men their age. We delight in having them come. Next year will be their 12th year!
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The Come Apart and Rest Awhile week with Karen Kappell and Pauline Wittry uncovered artistic talent in everyone. Maybe more important, we also discovered new ways of seeing and appreciating
the natural wonders around us. One of the participants remarked, “A heartwarming experience [that] helped bring some clarity into my current life situations.” Another declared
that Ring Lake Ranch “is the best kept secret that I’m eager to share with others.”
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We still have a few spaces in some of the retreats. So if you wish to still come, give us a call or send an email to check about available space. We are blessed with great speakers, generous
patrons, eager guests and, of course, this sacred place in the mountains.
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Remember if you have ANY questions, give us a call at 888.458.5253 or email us at info@ringlake.org.
SCHOLARSHIPS:
We’re having another great summer of renewal in a sacred wilderness at Ring Lake Ranch. Come. Join us.
Peace and all good,
Carl Koch, Director
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Spring 2009
Lots happening at the Ranch! The staff is gathering. We’re preparing for a great summer.
SESSIONS:
The Living Land is full, and Belden Lane’s session on Wilderness Spirituality is almost full. In fact, we will have solid attendance throughout the summer – despite the struggling
economy. We are blessed with great speakers, generous patrons, eager guests and, of course, this sacred place in the mountains.
We still have some openings for the other sessions. I recommend that if you are interested in a particular session that you register sooner rather than later.
Remember if you have ANY questions, contact us.
SCHOLARSHIPS:
Some scholarships are still available. If you wish to come, but are strapped for funds, check about receiving some assistance. Call Carl at 888.458.5253 or email carl@ringlake.org.
ADDITION TO THE FACILITIES MANAGER’S CABIN:
As you can see from the photo, the addition is progressing nicely. The Board decided that the time was right to improve the living space for the facilities manager who resides year-round at
the Ranch to steward this blessed place. The addition adds a living room space, a second bedroom and bath. An unfinished loft could be made into a bedroom.
REFINISHING CABINS;
Last summer we started the three year project of refinishing the exteriors of all the log cabins. The process begins with cob blasting (yes, instead of water or sand, they use ground corn
cobs to take the old finish off – eco-friendly and very effective), hand sanding, and then staining and sealing. Completed are cabins 1, 2, 7, Hermitage, B, and right now the Living Room
is being refinished (see photos before cob blasting and after).
Again, part of being good stewards is making sure the buildings receive the care they need to house guests for the next forty years. |
VOLUNTEER WEEK:
This week filled up quickly. We have lots of projects lined up for everyone: re-siding the Chapel, dozens of repair jobs, cleaning of all sorts, sewing curtains, and so on.
The energy is building for another great summer of renewal in a sacred wilderness at Ring Lake Ranch. Come. Join us.
Peace and all good,
Carl Koch, Director |
January-February 2009
No time like the present to register for this summer’s programs. One session – The Living Land – has already filled up.
We have an exciting lineup of retreats for 2009, so please check them out on the Programs link. If you have any questions, be sure to email us at info@ringlake.org or give us a call on our
toll free number – 888.458.5253.
The spring edition of The Carillon, the Ranch’s twice-annual newsletter, will be mailed out in early March. If you would like to receive our printed news or email newsletter, please
email us at info@ringlake.org.
A Gentle Reminder: Spiritual Growth through the Enneagram with Eric Wheeler replaced Communicating with Animals. The enneagram is an ancient tool of spiritual growth. For
more see Programs and the Read More link for details. |
The last member of the staff has signed on for the season. They should be an outstanding group.
Our two wranglers are a married couple with long experience working with horses. In addition,
Marty is an artist, and Audra an emergency room nurse.
Becky, the new hike leader, has led snow-shoeing adventures in the Rockies, taught pilates and kickboxing, has an MS in Exercise Science
plus an MDiv.
Our three cooks – Karen, Amblyn, and Amanda (back from last year) – promise to continue the tradition of healthy, hardy meals.
Ben, Facilities Manager, has been working on all
sorts of projects this winter, so the Ranch should look and operate better than ever.
Joyce, Co-Director, is working on the Ranch cookbook and has a new line of attractive items for the Gift
Shop. Joyce has organized a whole group of volunteers to help out all through the summer.
As the days lengthen and snow melts, I feel the energy building for another great summer of renewal in a sacred wilderness at Ring Lake Ranch. Come. Join us.
Peace and all good,
Carl Koch, Director |
November - December 2008
Planning. That’s the name of the “game” right now: planning to make next summer a wonderful time once again for renewal and
refreshment at Ring Lake Ranch.
The Carillon, the Ranch’s twice-annual newsletter, was mailed out on November 17. If you would like to receive our printed news, please email us at info@ringlake.org;
send your name and address to be included.
Likewise, beginning in early December, we have started sending our e-newsletters every three week. Using the above email address,
let us know if you would like to receive these brief e-news reminders.
We will be advertising in Christian Century and The National Catholic Reporter, starting in February. Those surfing the web will find us on FindtheDivine.com, SeekaRetreat.com, and RetreatFinder.com.
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We have an exciting lineup of retreats for 2009; please check them out on the Programs link. Registrations for next summer’s retreats are double the number from last year at this
time. If you have any questions, be sure to email us or give us a call on our toll free number – 888.458.5253.
Note Well: We had to replace Communicating with Animals with Deepening Your Spiritual Growth with the Enneagram with Eric Wheeler. Charlene Boyd had an unexpected scheduling conflict, so
we asked Eric to return again to the Ranch. See Programs for more details.
Peace and all good,
Carl Koch, Director
PS: In January we will start recruiting cooks, wranglers, and a hike leader for the summer 2009 staff. If you know of anyone looking for an adventurous summer job, please have her or him
contact me at the email address or toll free number. |
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October News 2008
Two feet of snow blanketed the Ranch for several October days. A few drifts remain, but the welcomed moisture has seeped into the thirsty soil.
The fall edition of the Carillon, our newsletter, is just about ready to go to press. We’ll be sending it out after the Nov. 4 elections and before Thanksgiving. If you are not on
our mailing list, let us know your address so you can receive the Carillon. Email us at info@ringlake.org.
Ben Verheul, the Ranch’s sole year-round inhabitant, has been busy: taking down a couple of dead trees that threatened buildings, winterizing the plumbing system, stocking in the wood
supply that will heat his cabin this winter. He has also been working with Ole, our new horse. Ole seemed a good name for a Norwegian fjord horse.
One morning last week, Ben heard a vehicle roar to a stop next to his cabin. A woman frantically yelled for help. Her husband had been severely injured when his horse rolled over him on
a mountain side just up Torrey Valley. Having years of experience with Search and Rescue, Ben called for the help he would need. Then riding the same horse up to the injured man, Ben stabilized
him until the rescue crew could carry him down the mountain. He got to the victim in the nick of time. Even so, he is still hospitalized in Idaho Falls, ID, with severe head trauma. We’re
proud – and reassured – to have Ben at Ring Lake Ranch.
Check the our next summer’s programs – they are posted, along with the new registration form. It’s going to be another inspiring summer.
Peace and all good,
Carl Koch
Director
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September News 2008
On September 20, Joyce and I drove through the Ranch’s front gate on the way to our winter home in La Crosse, WI. When we waved goodbye to Ben Verheul, Facilities Manager, our emotions
were mixed. The summer proved exciting, challenging, inspirational, and moving. It was also exhausting – as could be expected.
We probably had a record number of guests for our programs. Here are some of their comments about their time with us:
“I felt as if I had been given an amazing gift to spend the week there among such inspiring new friends and amidst such unforgettable surroundings.”
“Outstanding week with you all in a beautiful setting – Are we lucky?!”
“The whole place, the whole time, is spiritual. I like being allowed to make of the
week what I wished, what I needed, not having anything imposed.”
“I think the real beauty of Ring Lake Ranch is in its intimacy—that people can share and be themselves and not posture or hide or project.”
“Ring Lake Ranch is a treasure that I hope lasts a very long time – long enough for my kids to bring their kids, at least!”
“This is a sacred space, which allows the space to just be PLUS renewal PLUS programs!”
Well, you get the picture. Thanks have to go to the great staff. Joyce and I have invited them back. But, thanks must also go to the guests who open their hearts and minds to each other
and create the supportive community so important to the success of each program. So, thank you all.
Thanks again to Roberta Bondi for her wonderful wisdom, gentle presence, and kind guidance during her session on Praying through the Seasons of Life. And, thanks to Fred and Susan Webb.
We celebrated ten years of Fly Fishing and Theology programs at Ring Lake Ranch by presenting the Webbs with one of Ben’s sculptures from antlers (see photo). We hope that these avid
anglers keep coming back for fly fishing and theology for many years to come.
Peace and all good,
Carl Koch
Director
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