Open Skies. Grounded Life. A Return to What Matters.

The Pioneering Men Retreat guided by Jay Meacham

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A life-centered retreat for men ready to remember who they are — and rise into what’s next.

You weren’t meant to carry it all alone.

The world may have told you to stay strong, keep going, push through. But deep down, you know: it’s time to pause. To breathe. To listen.

This is a retreat for the man at a crossroads — in the space between what’s behind and what’s ahead. In transition. In search. In becoming.

If that’s you, you’re not lost.

You’re being called back to yourself.

Out here — beneath wide skies — you’ll remember: You are more than what you’ve become.

And your next chapter deserves your full presence.

about the retreat

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A rural landscape featuring an old windmill and three cattle grazing in a field of tall, dry grass, with distant trees and an overcast sky in the background.

the details

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  • This retreat is for you if:

    • You’re navigating a season of transition (career, family, identity, or faith)

    • You want to feel more like yourself again — but don’t know how

    • You’re open or curious, even if you’re unsure what you believe

    • You’re ready to set down the weight and walk a new way

    This retreat is NOT:

    • A leadership seminar or productivity workshop

    • A space to posture, perform, or prove anything

    • For men who aren’t ready to show up for themselves or others

    • Time away from devices, distraction, and noise

    • Grounding rituals in the tallgrass prairie

    • Symbolic exercises using nature (grasses, bison, turtle)

    • Partnered reflection, journaling, and soul-led conversation

    • Hot-seat coaching with Jay for deeper breakthroughs

    • Byron Katie’s 4 Questions for inner clarity

    • Space to feel, rest, and reset

    You won’t be asked to perform. You will be invited to be present.

    You’ll reconnect with a version of yourself that feels whole, grounded, and real.

  • The retreat will begin promptly at 6 pm on Friday, October 31st and end no later than noon on Sunday, November 2nd, 2025.  On Saturday and Sunday, we will start at 9 am sharp and end no later than 5 pm on Saturday.

  • Participants will begin the retreat Friday at a private residence in Cottonwood Falls.  Saturday and Sunday will be spent at The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, 2480B KS Hwy 177, Strong City, KS. 

    Follow this link to learn more about The Tallgrass Prairie: https://www.nps.gov/tapr/index.htm

  • There are a couple of ways to secure your own lodging:

    • A block of rooms are available at the Grand Central Hotel in Cottonwood Falls.  Mention PIONEERING MEN when booking. King bedrooms are $190 per night; queen bedrooms are $175.   Book reservation by calling (620) 273-6763

    • The Lark Inn Guesthouses in Cottonwood Falls, call (620) 273-1135 or https://www.larkinnpropertymanagement.com/

  • Plan to eat an evening meal prior to your Friday arrival.  There will be ample time Saturday and Sunday for you to eat meals and be ready at agreed upon start times for retreat work. Here are some options in Cottonwood Falls and nearby Strong City:

    • Grand Central Hotel and Grill https://www.grandcentralhotel.com/index.php/restaurant

    • Ad Astra Food & Drink, 318 Cottonwood St, Strong City, KS 66869, (620) 273-8440

    • Subway, 500 E 7th St # C, Strong City, KS 66869

    • Jacalito Mexican Restaurant, 521 Us-50, Strong City, KS 66869

    • Casey’s Convenience Gas & Convenience Store, 424 N Walnut St, Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845

    • HeBrews Coffeehouse, 313 Broadway, Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845

  • Remember this is a retreat so pack light.  Items to include in your retreat bag: a journal, pen, an open heart and mind, layered clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a water bottle, snacks, personal essentials, and attire suitable for the weather.

  • From the Kansas City area, Cottonwood Falls and The Tallgrass Prairie are approximately a 90-minute drive south on I35 to Emporia, KS then another 30 minutes west on US 50.

    TIP: Consider inviting and carpooling with other men.

  • There really is zero cost.  I challenge YOU to consider this an investment in YOU so consider the possibility of your time, positive energy, lodging, fuel for yourself and your vehicle as an investment with unlimited returns to YOU!  For those who want to contribute there’s a QR code for my PayPal below.

For those who want to contribute here’s a QR code for my PayPal:

QR code with PayPal logo in the center.

Because Something Inside You Knows: There’s More.

More than the stress.

More than the roles you play.

More than the man the world expects you to be.

You’ve done a lot in your life — maybe even accomplished what others call success. But something in you is stirring. Asking questions. Seeking something real. Something rooted. Something true.

You’re not broken. You’re not behind.

You’re in a natural season of becoming — just like the prairie around you. Dormant in some places, yes. But deeply alive beneath the surface.

Here, you’ll find space to be seen.

To speak honestly.

To be still long enough to hear what’s next.

This isn’t about fixing anything.

It’s about returning to everything that matters.

What Brought You Here

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Field of tall grass with the sun setting in the background, casting a warm glow.
Bison grazing in a grassy plain during sunset or sunrise.
A dirt path winding through green rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky.

Are You Ready?

If something about this speaks to you… trust that.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t need to come with answers.

You only need the courage to pause — and the willingness to be real.

Join us for a weekend that will mark the moment you chose to return to what matters most.

📅 COMING SOON! Spring & Fall 2026 Retreat Dates

📍 Cottonwood Falls, Kansas at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve