Retreats & Programs

Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center welcomes and affirms people of every race, age, gender identity and expression, marital standing, physical or mental ability, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and sexual orientation or expression. ALL people are beloved and inherently worthy. You belong here.

Program Calendar

Prairiewoods offers more than 600 programs each year focused on ecology, spirituality and holistic health. Visit our calendar and registration pages to learn more about programming that speaks to you!

Upcoming Programs and Retreats:

Group Retreats

Prairiewoods offers a variety of organized retreats, from yoga to meditation, artistic expression to self-exploration, and much more. Retreats offer opportunities for rest, renewal, and deepening relationships with self, others, Creation and the Source of All Being. Retreats range from an overnight to a whole week in length. For an expanded list of retreats, please see our Retreat Brochure at our Newsletters page.

The Power of Silence: June Silent Directed Retreat

Cindy Dunn; Ann Jackson, PBVM; Leslie Schwarting; & Lucille Winnike, FSPA

May 31, 2026 4:00 pm -
June 6, 2026 1:00 pm

What’s the deepest silence you’ve ever known? Silent Directed Retreats offer opportunities to enter into deep silence to sense what it feels like to awaken a quiet and palpable connection with the Source of All Being.

Prairiewoods’ 30th Anniversary Retreat: We are Each Other’s Light

Sara Thomsen and Paula Pedersen

July 5, 2026 4:00 pm -
July 10, 2026 1:00 pm

Together we will honor 30 years of rootedness and dream forward as each other’s light. Come be nourished by the land, inspired by song, and renewed in hope.

The Power of Silence: July Silent Directed Retreat

Ann Jackson, PBVM; Leslie Schwarting; Lucille Winnike, FSPA; Cindy Dunn

July 19, 2026 4:00 pm -
July 25, 2026 1:00 pm

Participate in a week-long Silent Directed Retreat to delve deeply into the healing properties of silence. Silent Directed Retreats offer opportunities to enter into deep silence to sense what it feels like to awaken a quiet and palpable connection with the Source of All Being.

Searching for Home: Thomas Merton & Thomas Berry in Conversation

Judith Valente and Carol Lenox

August 7, 2026 6:30 pm -
August 9, 2026 1:00 pm

Engage with two thinkers foundational for the sisters in the imagining of Prairiewoods in this 30th Anniversary Retreat! Explore the writings of Merton and Berry in conversation and reflect on what it means to find home and how our own sense of home and place affects our lives.

Individual Retreats

Plan Your Own Retreat

Imagine creating a retreat for you and your close companions or colleagues. We’ll help you find a date and can provide the meals, overnight accommodations, and services you need to relax and rejuvenate. You’ll have plenty of free time to walk our 2.5 miles of trails, give Grandmother Oak a hug, move through the labyrinth together or gather in the Prayer Circle.

Additional activities may be available during your stay such as guided forest therapy, group spiritual direction, singing bowl meditation, centering prayer, yoga, qigong or creative art practices. Appointments for individual holistic services can also be scheduled, including massage, reflexology, healing touch and spiritual direction. Let us help you tailor a retreat just for you and your group!

Schedule your Individual Retreat

Call 319-395-6700 or email ecospirit@prairiewoods.org

“As a woman in leadership, maintaining work and life feels so daunting some days. This retreat was a much-needed opportunity to rediscover the deeper meaning in my life and work. I can’t wait for my next visit.”

– Clare Lindahl, CEO, Soil and Water Conservation SocietY FOLLOWING A SILENT DIRECTED RETREAT

Directed Retreats

A directed retreat provides extended time for prayer, solitude and quiet. According to your preference, a daily one-on-one meeting with a spiritual director is provided. As a retreatant, you enjoy a comfortable guest room or Hermitage and meals in quiet areas. Retreat length is flexible, and you may schedule directed retreats any time throughout the year.

Day Stays

Come for a day of quiet, meditation and solitude. You will enjoy a room at the Guest House to use for rest and relaxation during your stay. If desired, arrangements can be made for you to meet with a spiritual director or holistic health practitioner.

Programs

Ecology

Explore ecological programs and wide-open spaces that deepen your connection to Earth and inspire sustainable living rooted in reverence for all life. From hands-on experiences to reflective learning, Prairiewoods invites you to live in harmony with the natural world.

Spirituality

Engage in programs that nurture the soul, awaken inner wisdom, and invite a deeper relationship with the Divine. At Prairiewoods, spirituality is explored through silence, story, sacred practices, and connection with all that is holy.

Holistic Health

Experience holistic care that honors the integration of body, mind, spirit, and Earth. Through healing modalities and compassionate presence, Prairiewoods is a multi-dimensional wellness center that offers services to support your well-being and inner balance. Offerings include yoga, Qi Gong, singing bowls and more.

Prayer

Enter into the quiet rhythm of prayer or guided meditation to listen, rest, and reconnect with the Sacred. At Prairiewoods, prayer & meditation are woven into daily life as a source of guidance, healing, and deep communion.

Creativity

Awaken your creative spirit through programs that celebrate expression, imagination, and the sacred spark within. At Prairiewoods, creativity is a pathway to healing, connection, and joyful discovery.

Personal Growth

Discover programs that foster self-awareness, strengthen communication, and support healthier relationships. At Prairiewoods, personal growth is a journey of resilience, surrender, and navigating change with intention and grace.

Program Proposal Form

Name(Required)

First Last

Group or Business Name

Website

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

PROGRAM OR RETREAT

Program or Retreat Title(Required)

Please provide a brief description of your program or retreat, including how it relates to the Prairiewoods mission.(Required)

Focus (check all that apply)(Required)

Ecology

Spirituality

Holistic Health

Describe how the content of your program or retreat demonstrates this focus.(Required)

What will participants gain (learning objectives, outcomes or changes)?(Required)

In-person or Virtual(Required)

Proposed Day of the Week, Dates and Times.(Required)

Duration(Required)

Other (if applicable)

Desired Number of Participants(Required)

Target Audience(Required)

MARKETING PLAN

In bullet points, describe how you will market your program or retreat and recruit participants (i.e., social media, existing networks, contacts). Who is your target audience? How will they find out about your program or retreat? Do you have primary access to potential participants, or are you relying on other agencies or organizations to circulate your information to their constituency? Also think about testimonials, video clips or photos (that you have license to) that can be used as part of the marketing and promotion.(Required)

Have you facilitated or co-facilitated this program or retreat previously? If yes, please describe.(Required)

List relevant education, training, licensure or certifications. Please attach your resume (below), if applicable.(Required)

Upload resume, if applicable.

Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.

Prairiewoods is a nonprofit organization, and we rely partly on volunteers. Are you volunteering to facilitate this program, or would you like to discuss profit sharing or a flat fee with Prairiewoods?(Required)

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Annual Events

Loving the Wild: Spirituality in the 21st Century

Friday, May 15 - Sunday, May 17 (3 Ways to Engage are available! See Below!)
at Prairiewoods & Online

Step onto the land. Breathe deeply. Let your spirituality come alive in relationship with the living world. You are warmly invited to Prairiewoods for our Annual Spirituality in the 21st Century Gathering, a transformative experience rooted in earth, body, and soul. Together, we will explore what it means to love the wild—within ourselves and beyond—guided by renowned theologian, scholar, and eco-spiritual guide Dr. Lisa Dahill.

Garden Party

Saturday, June 20, 2026 • 5–8 p.m.
at Prairiewoods

Join us for an evening of community, celebration, music, food, and connection as Prairiewoods celebrates 30 years of spirituality, hospitality, ecology, and care for the earth. Join us at Prairiewoods on Saturday, June 20th, 2026!

Holiday Bazaar

Saturday, November 21 (2026)
at Prairiewoods

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Prairiewoods invites you to kick off the holiday season in festive style at the Prairiewoods Holiday Bazaar! This is a great way to get in the holiday spirit and support local artists selling a huge variety of handcrafted goods. Admittance is free, and gift prices are unbeatable!

Retreats & Programs

Program Calendar

Upcoming Programs and Retreats:

Soul Care for Adults: Creative Arts Grief Support Group

Metta Yoga – Gentle

Metta Yoga – Chair

Group Retreats

The Power of Silence: June Silent Directed Retreat

Prairiewoods’ 30th Anniversary Retreat: We are Each Other’s Light

The Power of Silence: July Silent Directed Retreat

Searching for Home: Thomas Merton & Thomas Berry in Conversation

Individual Retreats

Plan Your Own Retreat

Schedule your Individual Retreat

Directed Retreats

Day Stays

Programs

Ecology

Spirituality

Holistic Health

Prayer

Creativity

Personal Growth

Program Proposal Form

PROGRAM OR RETREAT

MARKETING PLAN

Annual Events

Loving the Wild: Spirituality in the 21st Century

Garden Party

Holiday Bazaar