Seein is Believin, a local non-profit organization that empowers youth through trauma-informed mental health programs and nature-based healing, is inviting Madison-area youth and families to its 2nd annual Healing in the Outdoors Youth Mental Health Retreat & BBQ at Warner Park on Saturday, May 31, 4-8 p.m.
“It’s definitely a very fulfilling day of activities and our young people are already excited about the event,” Prenicia Clifton, the founder of Seein is Believin, tells Madison365. “It’s exciting because the youth who have already come continue to come back, and every year they’re stronger, more resilient, and more confident in school. So we know it’s working.”
Due to inclement weather, last year’s inaugural Healing in the Outdoors Youth Mental Health Retreat & BBQ was moved indoors to the community center at Warner Park on Madison’s North Side.
“We’re hoping for better weather this year because we have so many activities we want to do. We will have things like yoga, hiking and meditation,” says Clifton, who recently found out that she will be honored as one of the 2025 YWCA Women of Distinction on June 16 at the Garver Feed Mill on Madison’s East Side. “This year, we want folks of all ages to be able to come, and we want to educate the parents, too. So children and young people will be able to go off and do the activities, and the parents can sit and do this workshop and discuss mental health and what it looks like in teens, especially in the summer, when they’re most vulnerable.”
The 2nd annual Healing in the Outdoors Youth Mental Health Retreat & BBQ is a family-friendly event and designed for youth ages 11–23 and their caregivers, offering “a unique blend of mental wellness activities, nature-based healing, and joyful community connection.”
“This is an event for both youths and young adults up to to the age of 23-24 because we have the anxiety of graduating from college, and the feeling of ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life’ to the anxiety of ‘I’m graduating from high school, and I’m just not sure what I’m supposed to do this summer,’ and then it’s like, ‘Oh, school starts again next year, and I don’t have any friends’ for the young people,” Clifton says.
“So we’ve really separated the exercises out so you can be of different ages and be able to work your way through the stations with people in your own age group,” she continues. “And also it’s for grandparents, parents, caregivers, and people who want information so they can be a resource when their grandchildren visit for the summer. So it’s really for everyone.”
The goal, Clifton says, is to give all the young people a 90-day journal of 90 things they can do outside in the wild or in nature this summer to work on their mental health every day.
“It’s just something they can do, whether it’s breathing, grounding, meditation, just an exercise every day to help them be better prepared to return to school,” Clifton says.
Thanks to generous support from Dane County United Way and Dane County Violence Prevention, the event will feature Yoga in the Park with Keena “Stay Flyy” Atkinson; a capoeira demonstration with Brendan Loula; and mindful hiking with Jasmine Banks.
Clifton says she is excited to be able to offer tension release exercises (TRE) with Sarah Giencke, a nervous system and resilience coach certified in TRE, who is the founder of Riset Resiliency, a wellness consultancy.
“We’re doing the TRE, which we haven’t done before. But I think that it’s time to introduce it into the community because TRE is kind of an untapped resource that has really worked for me in managing my pain and anxiety,” Clifton says.”So I’m excited to have Sarah Giencke present on that. There will be some small demonstrations and small groups with the parents and the children together, and then hopefully we can get more of it out to the community.”
The annual Healing in the Outdoors Youth Mental Health Retreat & BBQ will have raffles, guest speakers, and hands-on healing activities and, of course, a BBQ. The event is not just for young people, with Shekinah Hockenhull-Hogan leading a youth mental health workshop for parents.
“This retreat is a movement to help young people feel seen, supported, and emotionally safe,” Clifton says. “but it’s also the perfect time to give parents the tools and tricks they need before the summer gets started.”
Registration is required to receive food and program supplies at the 2nd annual Healing in the Outdoors Youth Mental Health Retreat & BBQ. The deadline to register is May 22.
