Dearest Wild Ones,

This Sunday’s mid-month gathering is devoted to sharing a small portion of our faith stories. You are invited to bring a song, poem, reading or other expression that articulates an aspect of your faith journey. It might reflect a time in the past or where you are presently. As a snapshot of her faith journey, Sarah will offer a brief reflection on why we gather in a circle.

Longer explorations of your spiritual travels are welcomed on the first Sunday of every month. We are asking one individual a month to share their faith story more extensively. Amy graciously went first in July! If you would like to share your spiritual travels on an upcoming first Sunday, please let me know. We want to hear from everyone!

As always, we’ll look at what is happening in and on our local landscape one these hot July days and nights.

Wildly,

Sarah

If you haven’t been here before know that you must follow these directions or you’ll never find us!

LIABILITY

Your attendance at the event is understood to hold The Wild Earth Spiritual Community and its leaders harmless in case of illness, accident, or injury.

LOGISTICS/DETAILS

Gathering Times:

2:45 drumming or other spontaneous music.

3:00 gathering begins

Please arrive early enough to allow yourself time to walk to our gathering spot.

What to bring:

• Weather appropriate clothing
• Sturdy shoes
• Water and snack
• Camp chair

Location - Carderock Recreation Area (North Parking Lot)

Please note that GPS may not be accurate. Please carefully read directions at the bottom of this page so you know where to find us in Carderock. The park is large and there are several parking lots.

Look for “Wild Earth Spiritual Community” signs. When you enter the park, turn right at the T junction and drive to the very end of the road, past two parking lots. Park in the very last parking lot. Follow the path next to the restrooms and turn left at the sign directing you into the woods. Yellow streamers through the woods will direct you to our exact location. For those who have joined us in the past, we will be at the same site as we have gathered previously.

Restrooms – Restrooms are available at this site.

Terrain – We will have a very short walk along a dirt path to the gathering site which is mostly flat and even. If you are concerned, please bring a walking stick.

Filming and Photos – We would like to take photos of the program to post untagged on our website and Facebook page. Please let us know if you would rather not be photographed. Otherwise, we will assume photographs are okay.

Latecomers – If you don’t see us in the parking area, please follow signs for "Wild Earth Spiritual Community" to our gathering site.

Contributions – We will be collecting donations to support our work in organizing these free, monthly Wild Earth Spiritual Community gatherings. We are so grateful for your contributions and for making it possible for us to continue offering opportunities for deepening one's spirituality in nature.

DIRECTIONS TO CARDEROCK REC AREA: (WARNING: Independent mapping might send you to the wrong address. Best to follow directions below.)

From I-495 in Maryland:

1. Take Exit 41 toward Carderock/Great Falls.

2. Merge onto the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue 1 mile to the Carderock exit (on the right is the David Taylor Model Basin 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817).

3. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign.

4. Turn right at the T junction and continue to the very end of the road, past two parking lots. Park in the last parking lot next to the restrooms and follow the Wild Earth Spiritual Community signs to the site.

From I-495 in Virginia:

1. Take Exit 41 (Carderock/Glen Echo) from the American Legion Bridge and at the fork, bear left toward Great Falls/Carderock.

2. Merge onto the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue 1 mile to the Carderock exit (on the right is the David Taylor Model Basin 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817).

3. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign.

4. Turn right at the T junction and continue to the very end of the road, past two parking lots. Park in the last parking lot next to the restrooms and follow the Wild Earth Spiritual Community signs to the site.

From Washington (Georgetown):

1. From the intersection of "M" Street and Key Bridge, go west for approximately .5 miles and bear left onto Canal Road.

2. Stay straight on Canal Road which turns into the Clara Barton Pkwy and follow the Clara Barton Pkwy for approximately 9 miles to the Carderock exit (on the right is the David Taylor Model Basin 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817).

3. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign.

4. Turn right at the T junction and continue to the very end of the road, past two parking lots. Park in the last parking lot next to the restrooms and follow the Wild Earth Spiritual Community signs to the site.

Directions from I-270

From I-270:

1. Take I-270 South toward Washington.

2. Keep right to take I-270 Spur South toward I-270/Washington/I-495 /Northern Virginia.

3. I-270 Spur South becomes I-495 South/Capital Beltway.

4. Take Exit 41 toward Carderock/Great Falls.

5. Merge onto the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue 1 mile to the Carderock exit (on the right is the David Taylor Model Basin 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817).

6. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign.

7. Turn right at the T junction and continue to the very end of the road, past two parking lots. Park in the last parking lot next to the restrooms and follow the Wild Earth Spiritual Community signs to the site.

Covid requirements:

Please abide by the following COVID-19 Safety Requirements:

As long as you are fully vaccinated we will gather without masks. Please wear a mask and social distance if you are not. Thank you!

We will not be able to supply hand sanitizer, insect spray, sunscreen or chairs. Hydrating is important. We will not have snacks or drinks to share. Please bring your own if you want or need any of these things.

Please do not attend if:

You have had two or more symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days before the gathering; or

You have come in contact with anyone else with COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days before the gathering; or

You are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test or you are waiting for the symptoms to subside to the point of being recovered; or

You have tested positive for COVID-19 and are still suffering from COVID-19 or if symptoms have subsided and it has not been at least 10 days since the onset of symptoms before the gathering.