MANASTASH MEN'S RETREAT

     After going to retreats with his sponsor and friends in AA, Jimmy D. asked why the Federal Way Men’s Stag group didn’t have a retreat? It was suggested that if he wanted a retreat, he should start one. So, in November of 1996 Jimmy and Steve C. went to the Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center to see the layout of the camp and to see if the camp would work for a small group. After talking to the camp director, walking the grounds, and looking at the Manastash Valley Jimmy thought this place would work for his small retreat. He would call it the Manastash Men’s Retreat.

     On May 16th, 1997, the first retreat was held at the Trading Post Lodge on the property with 22 men. The first Retreat Master was Howard P. from Scottsdale, Arizona. There would have been 23 but Jimmy had a heart attack and missed his first retreat. The 1998 retreat had grown to 36. The 1999 retreat was held at the Ridgeview Lodge and became the central point for all other retreats. In 2001 the retreat was held on the first weekend after Memorial Day and has been held on that weekend for the past 19 years and will stay on that weekend.

     In 1999 Jimmy asked Vern B. to assist him with the retreat and needed him as the attendance grew to 172 and filled up every lodge and cabin at the Lazy F Camp.

     It was Jimmy’s vision to have a retreat where men could come, relax, have AA sessions, and a wonderful spiritual experience, along with having some of the best Retreat Masters from all over the country. That vision has been experienced by men attending for their first time and by those coming back year after year. The Manastash Mens Retreat continues to have a positive impact on their lives.

     The tradition of the ‘Work Party’ began in 1998 on the Thursday before the three-day retreat as a way of giving back to the facility that has been so generous to us. It started with around 10 guys and now has 30 to 40 with chain saws, weed eaters, and assorted hand tools to spruce up the property and get it ready for the summer season.

     In 2017 after 20 years Jimmy turned the reigns over to Harry M. He is keeping the retreat constant with Jimmy’s vision. As the retreat grew, we could no longer hold our meetings in the meeting room. We started holding the meetings under a 40′ X 60′ tent on the upper-level grass area. As far as we know the Manastash Men’s Retreat is the longest running retreat in the state of Washington. Our retreat members are a diverse group and come from Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, and other states. We have a long running and a terrific association with the Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center and with the camp director. The goal is to have many more years at this great facility.