Single parent retreat strengthens families

Photo By Staff Sgt. Arielle Vasquez | Tech. Sgt. Carmen Mena-Flores, noncommissioned officer in charge of commander’s support staff with the National Reconnaissance Office Operations Squadron, gives her daughter, Jasmine, 5, a hug at the Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Sept. 6, 2018. The 50th Space Wing Chaplain’s Office held a single parent retreat for families to give them time away and build resiliency. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)  

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

09.12.2018

Story by Senior Airman Arielle Vasquez 

50th Space Wing

The 50th Space Wing Chaplain’s Office hosted a free single parent retreat for military families Sept. 6 – 7 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The retreat featured several activities and seminars for the seven families who attended.

According to Staff Sgt. Joshua Jones, noncommissioned officer in charge of chapel administration with the 50th Space Wing, this marked the first single parent retreat the Chaplain’s Office hosted this year.

“Hosting this retreat was a way for us to recognize the hard work and challenges that single parents face and help them to build connections,” he said. “The Chaplain’s Office recognizes the unique needs and challenges single parents have, and we know holding retreats like this are important as it helped to give them a break and continue to build spiritual fitness.”

During the retreat, Maj. Martin Adamson, chaplain with the 50th SW, and Capt. Jordan Huggins, individual mobilization augmentee with the 50th SW, provided seminars for the families in attendance.

“The seminars and amenities gave the families opportunities to have fun together, which is part of the strengthening of relationships,” Adamson said. “There was space to come together to talk about how they can build those bonds.

“During the seminars, we talked about ‘Love Languages’ for children,” he continued. “Love Languages is a concept developed for couples and children to help them know better how to emotionally support their spouse and how parents can show love to their children. It is a brilliant, simple concept which has the potential to improve all personal relationships if applied.”

During the retreat, the families were provided with meals and had the opportunity to enjoy the waterpark during their stay.

“My daughter, Jazzy, had no clue we were going to the retreat,” said Tech. Sgt. Carmen Mena-Flores, noncommissioned officer in charge of commander’s support staff with the National Reconnaissance Office Operations Squadron. “I picked her up early from school and told her that the Air Force had a surprise for us. Once we arrived at the Great Wolf Lodge and walked into our hotel room, she was so excited. I explained to her why we were there and what was going to happen during our stay.
“I am so thankful that we had this fun opportunity,” she continued. “We enjoyed all the activities and it was nice to meet other single parents and their kids who attended. I'm so grateful Schriever AFB is committed to us, single parents. It's definitely a good feeling to know that we are not by ourselves; even though we’re single, we’re not alone.”

The Chaplain staff expressed the retreat ran successfully and are looking forward to hosting more events for Airmen and their families.

“We received some positive feedback from the families,” Adamson said. “I think the next time we do this, we will move the seminar time around to better accommodate parents and children. We are constantly trying to improve the experience for attendees and ultimately their resiliency. Overall, everyone was pleased with the retreat and we look forward to doing another one in the future.”

The Chaplain’s Office will host a family retreat Sept. 20 at the Great Wolf Lodge.

For more information about Chapel events, contact the 50th SW Chaplain’s Office at 567-3705.

• Date Taken: 09.12.2018
• Date Posted: 09.12.2018 17:15
• Story ID: 292486
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US