December 2023 Events
Guardians: end your year on a high note by joining us for winter adventures, mobility, meditation, music, peer support, and more. With both virtual and in-person events available, there’s something for everyone.
Our events are offered at no cost to all guardians (active & retired): Veterans, Active Military, Reserve, National Guard, Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, EMS, Dispatchers, Corrections, and Federal Agents.
Please RSVP to join an event. We hope to see you soon!
Spread the word
Share this post or a link to our calendar with family, friends, and coworkers — or you can download the PDF version of our December calendar to print out & pin up at home, work, the gym, or wherever else!
Get outdoors in the Hudson Valley
Join our Another Summit Outdoor Leaders for a few more walks & hikes to close out your year! Even though winter has definitely arrived, it’s still great to get outdoors to enjoy some fresh air. As some of our parents (perhaps) say, “There is no such thing as bad weather — just bad clothing.”
A peaceful nature walk in a popular riverside public park along the Klara-Sauer trail towards Denning’s Point, a historic and unique peninsula on the Hudson that is home to the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries and educational center run by Clarkson University.
WHO: Guardians and friends/family (kids welcome)
WHEN: Saturday, December 2 @ 10:30 AM ET in Beacon, NY
DIFFICULTY: 🟦 Blue (easy)
DISTANCE: 3.25 miles
DURATION: 2 - 3 hours
WHO: Guardians and friends/family (kids welcome)
WHEN: Sunday, December 3 @ 11:30 AM ET in NYC
DIFFICULTY: 🟦 Blue (easy)
DISTANCE: 3.25 miles
DURATION: 2 - 3 hours
Enjoy a peaceful walk to the Cornish Estate Ruins in the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve. We'll pause to explore the ruins of the old mansion and make our way to the old dairy barn, now taken over by nature.
WHO: Guardians and friends/family (kids welcome)
WHEN: Saturday, December 9 @ 10 AM ET in Cold Spring, NY
DIFFICULTY: 🟩 Green (moderate)
DISTANCE: 3.75 miles
DURATION: 2 - 3 hours
This 7 mile hike will pass around Nuclear Lake onto the Appalachian Trail to the northern summit of West Mountain for a view of the surrounding hills and farms of the Pawling area.
WHO: Guardians and friends/family (adults)
WHEN: Sunday, December 10 @ 9 AM ET in Pawling, NY
DIFFICULTY: 🟨 Yellow (moderately strenuous)
DISTANCE: 6.98 miles
DURATION: 3 - 5 hours
Join us in closing out the last day of 2023 by watching the sun set from the casino ruins viewpoint on Mount Beacon. Bring a friend, something to sit on, and celebrate the end of the year with a beautiful sunset (weather permitting) and great conversation. Hot drinks provided, and this outing is transit accessible.
WHO: Guardians and friends/family (adults)
WHEN: Sunday, December 31 @ 3 PM ET in Beacon, NY
DIFFICULTY: 🟩 Green (moderate)
DISTANCE: 2 miles
DURATION: 2 - 3 hours
Improve your mobility
Mobility isn’t the same as flexibility — it’s the movement capacity of your joints. It’s what helps you move throughout your daily life — from getting out of bed, going up and down stairs, carrying groceries, or picking something up off the floor.
Not only is it about the ability to do these things, but it’s about being able to move without pain or difficulty. Maintaining (or recovering) mobility is important for everyone, from young people to athletes to older adults.
Mobility is the foundation for living a healthy and independent life. Mobility comprises all the skills required for everyday living: physical stamina, strength, balance, coordination, and range of motion. The importance of mobility becomes clear when you rise out of bed, shower, manage a flight of stairs, walk a half-mile, get in and out of a car, or carry groceries. Mobility also helps us avoid falls and prevent injuries, and allows older adults to live longer on their own. In short, mobility helps you stay “in the game.”
Semper Stronger trainer Angela will lead two mobility workshops for us this month:
Monday, December 4 @ 7:30 - 8:30 pm ET via Zoom
Learn about mobility & movement, the benefits, learn & try a few joint mobilizations, and receive advice on how to incorporate movement into daily life.
Our Level 1 classes can be done sitting in a chair (no floor-work required)
Monday, December 18 @ 7:30 - 8:30 PM ET via Zoom
Challenge and refine your movement abilities through a combination of standing and floor-based exercises.
This class is designed for individuals who already possess a baseline level of mobility and are looking to improve their performance in and out of the gym.
Decompress & Sleep Better
Clinical psychologist Dr. Richard Miller developed iRest (or Integrative Restoration) in an effort to help people “integrate emotions, thoughts, and psychology, as well as restore us to our true wellness as human beings.” An iRest meditation session is designed to relieve stress and pain, improve sleep, and help reset your nervous system.
Sit or lay down in a comfortable position
Close your eyes & focus on the voice of the instructor (ours is Annie Okerlin)
Throughout the session, Annie will guide us through various stages & ways of meditating, such as body scans, breath awareness, or emotional exploration
The goal is to create a sense of inner peace, self-knowledge, and emotional resilience
Join the next iRest with Annie
WHEN: Monday, December 11 @ 7:30 pm ET
WHERE: Zoom
Everyone is a Writer
Author Julia Cameron notes in her book The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation into the Writing Life, "I believe we all come into life as writers." Whether it's poetry, songwriting, or storytelling, the freedom to express and record through written language is a powerful thing. And it’s truly available to us all.
Come (in-person or via Zoom) to one of our writing workshops to discover, create, and express freely on whatever platform suits you best. Hosted regularly by Carmel High School English teacher (and Army veteran) Michael Silvestro, these opportunities offer a chance to engage with literature & writing (and other guardians!) in a fun and friendly atmosphere.
WHERE: Hybrid
Zoom
Mahopac Public Library, 3rd Floor, 668 U.S. 6, Mahopac, NY, 10541
Jam Sessions
Encore organizes regular Jam sessions — outlets for guardians to explore music & build meaningful relationships. Hosted by a trained Lead Musician, these are casual community-based music experiences.
WHO: Guardians only (veterans & first responders)
All skill levels are welcome to join
Bring your own instrument or use one of ours!
Peer Gatherings
Led by a Peer Leader from Guardian Revival, these group sessions are an open forum and offer an opportunity to listen, learn, or share what's on your mind. Hosted as a mix of in-person and via Zoom:
Vet2Vet peer gatherings are open to all Veterans, Active Military, Reserve & National Guard
First Line peer gatherings are open to all Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, EMS, Dispatchers, Corrections, and Federal Agents
Wellness Wednesdays gatherings are open to all guardians and focus on various topics related to health & wellness, including exercise, nutrition, mindfulness, and sleep
A note to our guardians
During December, the messaging & displays of major holidays are present almost everywhere. For some, that may be welcome or exciting. However, we acknowledge that some members of our community may struggle to find peace and enjoyment around the holidays. These challenges are real — for many reasons, the holidays aren’t easy for everyone.
Whether that feels relatable or if this is your favorite time of year, we hope you’ll join one of our upcoming events — chances to connect with your peers, feel supported by others & by us here at Guardian Revival, and perhaps learn something new & enjoy a fun event.
We are here for you. you are never alone.
Our Guardian Revival Talk Line is operational 24/7, including on weekends & holidays. This phone line provides peer support & mental health resources, operated by guardians, for guardians. This is not a crisis line — just a confidential, open opportunity to reach out for connection & support, anytime. We are always ready to take your call: 845.745.0088
