Fun & Gaymes at Cal-Wood
Thirty-seven GBQT men from across the state attended Colorado ManREACH’s first gathering of the summer at the Cal-Wood Retreat Center in Jamestown, June 27-30, 2013. The Men at Play theme was adopted from the workshop with the same name which offered fun indoor and outdoor activities that brought out the kid in all of us, including Two Foxes and a Squirrel, People and Houses, Tube Races, a Water Balloon Dance and a colorful Parachute Toss.
Other workshops at the gathering included I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Spirituality and the Gay Man, Not So Square Dancing, and Trans101. Each provided an opportunity for us to learn more about ourselves and each other. Morning heart circles and a Conversation in the RAW (Real Ass World) deepened our connections.
Dinner Friday night was shared with the bicycling-riding, bingo-playing, fundraising glitterati also known as the Denver Cycle Sluts. Bea Dazzle, Sassy Squatch, Zoey Diddim, Cookie Fortuna and Fred, their treasurer, did not show up in drag, however. They thanked ManREACH for the opportunity to get out of “face”, not to mention the great meal served up by our own Fabulous Food Faeries.
The Denver Cycle Sluts have raised over $5,000 for Colorado ManREACH over the last four years. After they left and several of us spent time Not So Square Dancing our booties off, we were treated to a truly awesome lighting storm, including one big bolt that struck right in Cal-Wood’s backyard. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and no fires were started.
Saturday night’s Fun & Gaymes produced riotous laughter among players at five different tables where five different table gaymes were being played. Afterward, everyone agreed that Cards Against Humanity must be the most politically incorrect game ever invented. If you weren’t personally and completely offended at least once, then you weren’t paying attention. All in the name of fun, of course.
See more photos of the Cal-Wood gathering here.
Thanks to all who attended for creating another memorable gathering, including the many volunteers who helped with housekeeping and meal preparation and clean up. Additional thanks to the workshop presenters and the Programs Committee for hosting another special event. Extra special thanks to Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP) for providing free, confidential HIV testing services, to Robby Robertson and Ross Barnhart for sharing their photos and to the Fabulous Food Faeries who must love us a lot to feed us so well.
There are two remaining summer gatherings. The next one is at the Sophia Peace Center in Dolores, August 8-11. The last is at La Foret Retreat in Black Forest, August 29-September 1.
Colorado ManREACH gatherings are made possible by your private donations, Colorado HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, King Soopers Neighborhood Rewards, the Denver Cycle Sluts and a great group of volunteers. Thank you!