Interinclusion Summer Retreat Registration Form July 29-July 31, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions:

About the Interinclusion Summer Retreat 2016:

How long is the retreat?

The retreat is over three days, two nights, beginning on Friday, July 29th at 3:30pm and ending on Sunday, July 31st at 3:30pm. We are more than happy to suggest activities for the rest of Sunday day for those that want to extend their trip.

Are the retreats for adults only or are children allowed?

Because of the nature of the retreats which are fully packed days going late into the evenings, we are focused on an adults-only program. However, based on the age of the children, we may possibly offer some babysitting services so please be in touch with us directly if you are interested.

Who will be catering the retreat and what kind of food will be used? What if we have allergies?

The cooking will be done in the Crispe home or at the Inn in a kitchen that has been koshered by Rabbi Crispe. All food will be glatt kosher, chalav yisrael and pas yisrael. At every meal there will be vegetarian options as well as gluten free food and allergen free. If there are special needs this does not cover we can arrange for that as well with advanced notice.

What are the rooms like in the Grafton Inn?

Each room is unique with a different set up with the majority having a King or Queen bed. There are rooms that are available with two double beds if that is requested in advanced. If you have a specific requirement please let us know as soon as possible and we will try our best to accommodate. Please see their website for more information about the Inn: www.graftoninn.com.

Who are the speakers at the retreat?

The speakers are Rabbi Asher and Sara Esther Crispe (see bios below) who will be speaking both formally and informally throughout. The retreat is set up that every part of the program is an educational opportunity and interactive so learning will be included on walks, during other activities, etc.

Rabbi Asher Crispe is the Co-Director of Interinclusion.org, a social mosaic which perpetuates the arts, sciences, literature and music through Jewish tradition.

He is a highly knowledgeable technology expert and futurist as well as a media aficionado with a thorough and intimate knowledge of emerging developments in science and the digital universe. With over 20 years of experience as an educator, Rabbi Crispe regularly travels the world as a speaker / lecturer teaching in Jewish centers and academic institutions.

He specializes in illuminating the arts and sciences through the lens of the Torah. His lectures have focused on: music, film, architecture, gender theory, psychology, education, economics, regenerative medicine and physics.

He has also served as a consultant for financial, medical, and technological projects all relating to future trends.

Sara Esther Crispe is the Co-Director of Interinclusion.org, a multi-layered educational non-profit celebrating the convergence between contemporary arts and sciences and timeless Jewish wisdom.

She has traveled the world as a sought out motivational speaker and educator, presenting on interpersonal relationships and the Kabbalistic approach to self-development. Sara Esther was also the creator and editor for ten years of TheJewishWoman.org—a section of Chabad.org—the largest website on Judaism. She has also worked with Part2Pictures as a producer for shows relating to Judaism on the Oprah Winfrey Network and HARPO Productions, most recently a segment of the BELIEF series which was presented at the UN.

A prolific writer, her pieces can be found on numerous online sites including The Huffington Post. She is currently working on a book about the power of the Jewish woman as well as a book on parenting titled, I Used to be the Perfect Mother, Then I Had Kids.

What is the theme of the retreat?

Being that the retreat falls during the three-week period of mourning in Jewish practice, the theme of this retreat is:

“Transforming Darkness into Light: A Healing Retreat of Mind, Body and Soul”

What types of activities will be offered?

The retreats offer numerous opportunities for learning, interaction, relaxation and self-development. There is also free time scheduled for participants to explore the area and further engage in activities of their choice. Group activities include: painting and writing workshops, nature walks, time at the lake, bonfire and smores, classes, morning meditations and more….

Who is the retreat geared for?

We do not have a “target” audience rather we are looking for those who want to truly immerse themselves in an environment of growth, discussion and exploration. The goal of the retreat is to recharge our batteries by escaping the hustle and bustle of life and give ourselves the time in a naturally beautiful setting to really delve deep within while learning how to better connect with those around us.

How do we sign up and what is the cost?

Please contact us at info@interinclusion.org and we will send you a registration form. If you are coming on your own we can possibly arrange for you to share a room with another guest if you would like. Costs are as follows:

$425 pp (4 per room with 2 double beds)

$475 pp (3 per room with 2 double beds)

$550 pp (2 per room with king or queen)

$675 pp (1 per room with king or queen)

About Grafton, Vermont:

How far away is Grafton from NYC?

Grafton is about a 4 hour drive from Manhattan, 6 hours from Philadelphia.

What is the closest airport?

One can fly to Albany, NY, Burlington, VT or Manchester, NH. All are about a 2 hour drive to Grafton.

Is there public transportation?

Amtrak has a daily stop in Brattleboro, VT which is about 30 min. from Grafton.

If we want to extend our stay, what is there to do in and around Grafton?

Here is a list of attractions within an hour’s drive (taken from the www.gratoninnvermont.com website). This includes winter activities as well for future visits!

Art Galleries

• Gallery North Star, Grafton, Vt. – Fine Art Gallery – gnsgrafton.com
• Hunter Gallery, Grafton, Vt. – Fine Art Gallery – (802) 843-1440
• Jud Hartmann Gallery, Grafton, Vt. – bronze sculpture – judhartmanngallery.com

Antiques / Flea Markets

• Visit the Vermont Antiques Dealers Association website.
• Newfane Flea Market, Newfane, Vt. – largest Flea Market in Vt. Open May-Oct. – 802-365-4000

Attractions

• Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Tours, Waterbury, Vt. – more than an hour, but a great tour – benjerry.com/
• Grafton Village Cheese Co. – graftonvillagecheese.com
• Green Mountain Railroad – Bellows Falls, VT – rails-vt.com
• Harpoon Brewery, Windsor, Vt. harpoonbrewery.com
• King Arthur Flour – Norwich, Vt. – kingarthurflour.com
• Vermont Institute of Natural Science – Quechee, Vt. – vinsweb.org

Books / Reading

• Grafton Public Library – graftonpubliclibrary.org
• Misty Valley Books – Chester, VT – mvbooks.com
• Northshire Books – Manchester, VT – northshire.com

Entertainment (Misc.)

• Brattleboro – brattleborochamber.org
• Brattleboro Reformer website
• Cider Magazine, for live music listings in the area
• Ping Pong and Billiards – Grafton Inn Game Room
• Weston Playhouse – Weston, Vt. – westonplayhouse.org

Gardens / Farms

• Dutton Farms, Newfane, Vt. – Berry Picking, farm stand, greenhouse – duttonberryfarm.com
• Olallie Daylily Farm, Williamsville, Vt. – Daylily farm – daylilygarden.com
• Morningstar Perennials, Bellows Falls, Vt. – morningstarflowers.com/

Golf

• Bellows Falls Country Club (9 hole) – Rockingham, Vt. – (802) 463-9809 – com
• Crown Point Country Club (18 holes), Springfield, Vt., – crownpointcc.com
• Hooper Golf Club (9 hole) – Walpole, NH – (603) 756-4020
• Tater Hill Golf Club (18 hole) – okemo.com (closest to The Old Tavern)

Hiking

• Appalachian Trail (Long Trail), Vermont, Vermont’s piece of the AT is 150 miles. Elevation ranges from 400-4100 feet and is named the Long Trail.  greenmountainclub.org
• Grafton Ponds – graftonponds.com
• Grafton Village Park & the Nature Trails at the Nature Museum, Grafton
• Retreat Trails, Brattleboro, Vt. – a nine-mile recreational trail network. Five area entries, including one at the Retreat Petting Farm. windham-foundation.org

Historic Themed / Historic Sites

• American Precision Museum – Windsor, Vt. – americanprecision.org
• Billings Farm – Woodstock, Vt. – billingsfarm.org
• Calvin Coolidge Homestead – Plymouth Notch, Vt. – historicvermont.org/coolidge/
• Fort Number Four, Charlestown, NH — Living history museum (French & Indian Wartime) – fortat4.com
• Grafton Historical Society, Grafton — Museum with historic artifacts and exhibits on Grafton. – graftonhistoricalsociety.com
• Hildene, Manchester, Vt. –Todd Lincoln’s Mansion — hildene.org
• Vermont Historic sites – historicvermont.org
• Grafton Forge Blacksmith, Grafton — Authentic working blacksmith shop. Tours, items for sale. School Street.

Maple Syrup

• Plummer’s Sugar House, Grafton, Vt.

Movies

• Bellows Falls Opera House – Bellows Falls, Vt. – (802) 463-4766 – com
• The Latchis Theater – Brattleboro, Vt.– latchis.com

Museums

• Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Brattleboro, Vt. – brattleboromuseum.org
• Grafton Historical Society, Grafton — Museum with historic artifacts and exhibits on Grafton. – graftonhistoricalsociety.org.
• Hood Museum of Art, Hanover, NH – hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu
• Nature Museum at Grafton – nature-museum.org/
• Norman Rockwell Museum of Vermont, Rutland, Vt. – normanrockwellvt.com
• The Vermont Marble Museum, Proctorsville, Vt. – vermont-marble.com
• Vermont Museum of Mining and Minerals – Grafton, Vt. – (802) 875-3562

Quilting Shops

• Country Treasures, Chester, Vt. – Quilt Shop vermontquilting.com
• Grafton Village Quilts – Grafton, Vt. – com
• Waterwheel House, Londonderry, Vt. – Quilt Shop – waterwheelhouse.typepad.com

Shopping

• Green Mountain Spinnery, Putney, Vt. – locally grown and made yarns – spinnery.com/
• Manchester Designer Outlets, Manchester, Vt. – retail clothing outlet shopping – manchesterdesigneroutlets.com
• My Mind’s Design, Grafton, Vt. — Handcrafted woodworked pieces from Jason Ballard; commission pieces and retail pieces. – 802-843-1000. com
• Offerings, Putney, VT – Handcrafted jewelry –offeringsjewelry.com
• Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, Bellows Falls and Brattleboro – clothing, outdoor/sporting equipment – samsoutfitters.com
• Simon Pearce in Quechee or Windsor, Vt., glass blowers and pottery simonpearce.com
• Vermont Country Store, Weston and Rockingham – “purveyors of the practical and hard to find” – vermontcountrystore.com

Trail Rides

• Horses for Hire, Peru, Vt. – horsesforhire.net
• At Grafton Ponds – seasonal offering
• Friesians of Majesty, Townshend, Vt. – com

Spas

• Castle Hill Spa, Ludlow, Vt. – castlehillresort.com
• Equinox Resort & Spa, Manchester, Vt. – equinoxresort.com

Swimming

• Grafton Inn swim pond (summer)
• Grafton Ponds pond (summer)
• Rockingham Recreation Center, Bellows Falls, Vt. — Pool open in summer – rockbf.org
• Southern Vermont Health & Recreation Center, Springfield, Vt. – Indoor pool – myreccenter.org

Tennis

• Indoor Tennis – West River Tennis & Fitness Center – South Londonderry, VT – (802) 824-3688
• Platform tennis and standard tennis courts – Grafton Inn

Yoga/Pilates

• Grist Mill Wellness Center – Chester, Vt. – (802)875-5525
• In Grafton: Sundari Satnam Kundalini Yoga Center, NEW, class times vary. 802-843-2322

Sprockets Fitness Studio, Brattleboro, Vt. – Sprocketscyclestudio.com

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