The third annual Southern Minnesota Women’s Retreat, organized and run by southern Beyond the Yellow Ribbon/ Olmstead County and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, was a success! Service providers, female Veterans, and female servicemembers gathered for a networking, destressing, and relaxing weekend.

This event, exclusive to female Veterans and current Servicemembers allowed for a unique and meaningful space. The event included a resource fair and many opportunities for relaxed and fun indoor and outdoor activities like horseback riding, swimming, ziplining, hiking, Yoga, and journaling. Amanda Hooper, a Veteran, and MACV employee, shared, “this is a time when female veterans can connect and be with those who understand what it means to be female and a veteran. We need these opportunities to know we are not alone.”

MACV was honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this event and provide some resources and informed guidance to female Veterans and service members!