New Pioneers was delighted to host our annual Board Retreat this February at the St. Catharine Motherhouse, setting us up for an exciting year of education, demonstration, and advocacy efforts for our local communities in 2026!

This fun-filled day familiarized new and returning members of the Board of Directors with New Pioneers' history, mission, and current projects through collaborative discussions and hands-on activities. This included an interactive game called "Viewpoints on the Line" to visualize and share different perspectives on environmental issues, and strategic visioning for the year.

This retreat also included a special visit from our foundress, Sr. Claire McGowan, who shared the stories of New Pioneers' creation and early years. We concluded the day by selecting committees our Board members will serve on in 2026, and a closing reflection song!

We are so grateful to our Board of Directors, the St. Catharine Motherhouse, and Sr. Claire for helping us make this unique retreat such a success!