Member for

5 years 2 months
Photo
Cover Photo
bergamot blooms in a summer field
First Name
Deborah
Last Name
Haak-Frost
Biography

If you make a reservation for a retreat at GilChrist, you will most likely see my name on the email signature, talk with me on the phone, or see my face when you arrive. I’ve always delighted in being able to connect people with the natural world in ways that allow them to experience their environment deeply and meaningfully. My undergraduate degree in psychology and environmental studies paved the way for this beautiful integration of two passions of mine. The principles of permaculture – earth care, people care, and fair share – also shape my approach to my work. Making rest and retreat more accessible for all is something I try to work toward.

I also do a lot of the behind-the-scenes logistics and administrative work at GilChrist: working with group retreat facilitators, handling billing, managing social media, keeping the website up to date, cataloging the library, and also pitching in with cabin cleaning and feeding the goats.

When I’m not at work, you can find me volunteering in my Three Rivers community, cooking and baking in my kitchen, taking in thought-provoking television and movies with my husband, or daydreaming about grand garden plans for my backyard.

Job Title
Caretaker for Community Engagement
Cover Caption
Bergamot blooms in this summer view from the GilChrist office
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Staff Department
GilChrist Retreat Center
Department or Org
GilChrist
Email
dhaak@fetzer.org
Submitted by dhaak on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 10:26

We are excited to welcome group retreats back to GilChrist! Group gatherings of all types have been a hallmark of the hospitality we provide, and over the past two years, we’ve missed the connection and renewal they offer to guests. While solo retreats give much-needed respite from the rigors of daily life, a group retreat has a special way of building community through shared contemplative practices. In January, it was so good to see participants gathering again in WindHill – safely and joyously!  

To make our shared space in WindHill, including the downstairs apartment, as safe as possible, we came to a few important decisions after much discussion, based on input from many different perspectives and voices. 

  • WindHill access: The building, with its library, meditation loft, chapel, and kitchen, is now open to vaccinated and masked guests.  

  • For group retreat participants: Full vaccination against COVID-19 is required.  

  • For solo retreat guests: Vaccination and disclosure of vaccination status is optional, and access to WindHill is on the honor system. 

  • Vaccine exemptions: Group participants and solo guests with vaccine exemptions due to disability (ADA) or religious conviction (Title VII) are welcome to submit an exemption request. 

If you are seeking connection with others in a group retreat setting, check out the wide range of offerings that facilitators are providing this year! (Got any elementary school teachers in your life? Applications just opened for the week-long teacher residency in July). 

In other updates: 

  • We are welcoming individuals to come on retreat for any number of nights. Submit your requests as early as possible! Weekends may be fully booked with group retreats, but weekdays tend to have more availability.  

  • We are leaving cabins empty for 24 hours between guests. During that 24-hour period, a staff member will retrieve the laundry, restock supplies, and give the cabin a second cleaning. Based on the latest understanding of the viability of coronavirus in the air, staff will not enter a cabin within three hours of a guest's departure or arrival. 

  • If you have any questions about what retreat looks like at GilChrist these days, take a look at our FAQ!  

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GilChrist Retreat Center
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Slideshow
small group gathered in WindHill