It is a weekend event filled with workshops, activities, meetings, and fellowship to help strengthen personal recovery and deepen connections within the fellowship. The retreat is open to anyone regardless of their location.

Friday, August ??th – Registration Opens

Friday, September ??rd – Scholarship Application Deadline

Friday, September ??th – Registration Deadline

Friday, September ??th – Final Registration Payments Due

The Weekend of October ??th through the 9th – Retreat!

Friday, October 7th

4:45 PM – Meet at Center on Halsted

5:00 PM – Load Bus

5:15 PM – Depart Walgreens Parking lot

(3646 North Broadway Chicago, IL 60613)

8:00 PM – Arrive at Villa Desiderata

8:30 PM – Welcome and Introduction to Retreat

8:45 PM – 12-Step Meeting (Panel of Speakers)

9:45 PM – Fellowship &  Free Time

Saturday, October 8th

7:15 AM – Morning Meditation (Optional)

8:00 AM – Breakfast

9:30 AM – Intro to Workshops

10:00 AM – Workshop 111:15 AM – Free Time

12:00 AM – Lunch1:00 AM – Workshop

12:15 AM – Break

2:30 AM – Workshop

3:45 PM – Free Time

3:45 PM – Group Activity (Optional)

5:00 PM – 12-Step Meeting

6:00 PM – Dinner

7:30 PM – Campfire Activity

8:15 PM –  Free Time / Games / Pizza

Sunday, October 9th

7:30 AM – Morning Meditation (Optional)

8:00 AM – Breakfast

9:00 AM – Gratitude Meeting (Lutz House)

10:30 AM – Pack Up / Free Time

12:00 PM – Load Bus / Departure

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM – Arrive at Walgreens Parking lot

(3646 North Broadway Chicago, IL 60613)

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Dress for the retreat is casual. We want you to be comfortable for the workshops and activities throughout the weekend. Don't forget your favorite pajamas (Onesies are optional)! Coats and jackets will be appropriate for the campfire and any other outdoor activities.

Linens, blankets, pillows, and towels ARE provided so you do not need to bring them unless you want an extra pillow.

Meals, beverages, and snacks are provided with the registration fee. There will be 7th Traditions taken for Villa staff gratuity as well & for pizza night. Please bring some cash if you are able, but it’s not required.

Also, feel free to bring any board/card games that you think the group would like to play on Saturday evening.

Transportation will be arranged by the Retreat Committee - Please let the Committee members know if you are planning to drive and if you would be willing to take others. Volunteer drivers help keep the Retreat affordable to all who attend!!!

Generous contributions beyond your registration fee help make this retreat sustainable from year to year and also help make it available to all recovering addicts, despite their financial situation.

If you’d like to make a donation, you may designate whether it should be applied to supplies/transportation or to the scholarship fund. Please note that donations are not tax deductible.

To make a donation please use one of the payment methods below, contact a planning committee member directly, or use the Contact Form.

Payment Options:

PayPal: Phone Number

PayPal.Me???

Venmo: Phone Number @

***Please be sure to include a note including your name, amount donated, and purpose for payment.

Anyone currently registered to attend the retreat who cannot attend will not be allowed to transfer their registration to a person of their choosing. Cancellation openings will go to those on the waitlist in the order they were received.

If you are unable to attend the retreat, please notify one of the committee members directly or send an email to cmaretreat@gmail.com ASAP so that those on the waitlist have the opportunity to attend. Those who have already made deposit or full registration payments will receive a full reimbursement, for the amount already paid, via the payment method in which it was received.