When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty. —John Muir
Job wrote, “Turn to the animals and let them teach you...Listen to the plants of the earth, and learn from them.” Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air...Consider the lilies of the field,” and “From the tree, learn its lesson.” In this weekend retreat for men, we expand our awareness of God’s presence in the wild, attune ourselves to the wisdom of nature, and embrace our place within the community of creation. Through wandering, rest, and renewal in the woods—along with shared meals and meaningful conversation—we open ourselves to the sacred wisdom of the wilderness. Steve Thomas will provide the five presentations for conversation:
The Call of the Wild and Wildman
Our Place in the Community of Creation
Beholding the Divine in God’s Wild Sanctuary
The Glory of Trees in God’s Creation
Rooted and Grounded for a Resilient Life
For several wilderness wandering times when men turn to wild teachers, men may also spend time with some of all of sixteen stations of Trees of Life: Learning from Our Elders hanging from trees in the forest. There will also be small group times for conversation for what men are noticing in the wild and within themselves. The table for the Sunday morning service will feature an artful display of items men have gathered representing the beauty, biodiversity, and abundant life of God’s wild creation.
Pilgrim Park, Princeton Illinois
Event: Wisdom of the Wilderness: Turning to our Wild Teachers
Start Time: 5pm on Friday, October 10, 2025
End Time: 1:30pm on Sunday, October 12, 2025
Event Venue: Pilgrim Park Camp in Princeton, Illinois (26449 1340 N Ave, Princeton, IL 61356)
Event Cost: $375, includes two nights lodging and 6 meals.
Event Registration: Please contact Carmelite Spirituality Center @ 630-969-4141 or click on this e-mail: (retreats@carmelitespiritualcenter.org).
Our guide for this event is Steve Thomas, the US coordinator for Mennonite Men. Steve co founded and directed Peacemakers Academy—a Mennonite martial arts school, and taught as an adjunct professor in peace, justice, and conflict studies at Goshen College. He is a cofounder of the Indiana/Michigan MALEs chapter of Illuman and a cofounder of Pathways Retreat. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and has a graduate certificate in urban forestry from Oregon State University.
Event Flyer