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Sound Rivers Staff Retreat 2025

Sound Rivers

Posted on October 8th, 2025

Every fall, Sound Rivers staff gathers together — away from the office, away from the everyday demands of the work — to do a hard reset. A “RE-treat,” as Program Director Clay Barber called it, to review the past year; reevaluate goals; recalibrate direction if needed; renew relationships; restore energy; relax and recommit to the work we do.

This year, Sound Rivers staff returned to the Trinity Center in Salter Path, from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday morning, for the annual working retreat. The days started with (optional) sunrise yoga and ended with board games or evening walks on the beach and in between was plenty of planning for the coming year. This year’s retreat also included the entire staff becoming certified in CPR and basic First Aid, and a first listen, as a group, to Sound Rivers’ latest podcast, “Indigen-US.”

With Sound Rivers’ employees spread across three offices in Washington, New Bern and Raleigh, it’s a rare occasion when we are all in one place. The time and space to brainstorm together, pool talents and build off one another’s ideas is invaluable to working together as a team. And that teamwork means we’ve got great things in store for the coming year!

A rare occasion: the entire Sound Rivers’ staff in one place. Front row, left to right: Water Quality Specialist Taylor Register, Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman, Communications Director Vail Rumley, Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz; back row, Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop, Executive Director Heather Deck, Development Coordinator Jay Potter, Business Manager Lauren Rowe and Program Director Clay Barber.
Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz performing CPR on a “patient.”
Afternoon break.

And in the non-working hours …

On the walk to sunrise yoga.
Sunrise at the Trinity Center, Salter Path.
Post-sunrise yoga Day 1.
A post-yoga swim before breakfast.
Evening gatherings for games, podcast-listening and in one case, cutting the fabric for a niece’s Halloween costume, took place in the shared living room.
Stargazing on the beach.

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