In May and June, two special weekend retreats for older people were held in the Akmenė district. These events brought community members together for meaningful and enriching experiences surrounded by nature, combining wellness activities with creativity and vitality.
The first weekend camp, held May 16–18, invited participants to an unforgettable experience. Over the course of three days, seniors were able to enjoy not only the beautiful natural surroundings of the rural tourism farmstead, but also participate in various activities that promoted physical and mental well-being.
The retreat program was extremely diverse and enriching. Participants took part in trauma and injury prevention classes, where they learned practical skills on how to take care of themselves and help others in critical situations. Art therapy sessions became a real time of discovery – creativity turned into self-expression and a calming activity.
Special attention was paid to stress management. Practical activities revealed effective ways to cope with tension in everyday life. Meanwhile, the creation of miniature fairy tales allowed participants to unleash their imagination and experience creative joy.
The evening program was also full of interesting activities. The screening of a psychological film turned into a deep discussion in which participants shared their experiences and insights. At the end of the day, everyone enjoyed the sauna and hot tub – a great way to relax after active activities.
Morning exercises energized the body and spirit, while team and board games brought everyone together in friendly competitions full of laughter and support. The highlight of the camp was a battle of wits in which all five teams participated. The competition was fierce, and all participants earned sincere awards.
The second weekend retreat took place at the beginning of June and also attracted a lot of interest from participants. The program remained as varied and attractive as in the first camp, but was supplemented with new highlights.
A hike to the Purvėnai outcrop became a special feature of this camp. This excursion provided an opportunity to spend time in nature, enjoy the unique landscape, and gain new impressions. Observing nature and breathing fresh air added to the harmony of the overall program.
As in the first camp, participants enjoyed joint exercises, watching a psychological film and discussions, sauna and hot tub procedures. The battle of minds was interesting to everyone this time as well – the exciting knowledge test ended with prizes being awarded to all teams.
Both camps showed how important it is for older people to have opportunities to actively participate in community life. The enthusiasm of the participants, their positive and constant involvement in activities, and their openness to new challenges proved that such initiatives are not only meaningful but also necessary.
The knowledge gained at the camps about trauma prevention, stress management, and creative powers will certainly be useful in the participants’ daily lives. Meanwhile, the connections made and the sense of community experienced strengthen community solidarity and well-being.
These weekend camps were organized as part of the 2021-2027 Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania program project “Active involvement of communities to improve healthy lifestyle habits” (project No. LL-00167).
It is hoped that there will be even more initiatives like this, and that older people will have more and more opportunities to actively participate in community life, improve their health and enjoy meaningful social interaction.
