About The Men's Retreat Weekend
The Kita Center is honored to welcome Don Lipstein of Imagine Family Recovery and Coping After Suicide as part of our retreat team. Don brings both professional and lived experience to his work supporting individuals and families navigating suicide loss. He will be supporting the Men’s Retreat through guided group sessions, program development, and facilitation.
About Don Lipstein
Don Lipstein, CBFRLC, ACC, is a grief-focused professional with over 14 years of experience facilitating both individual and group support. He specializes in helping men navigate the unique challenges of grieving someone who died by suicide, guiding participants from isolation toward connection, resilience, and renewed purpose. Don leads with a steady, compassionate presence, offering practical coping skills, reflective practices, and peer-led support designed to validate experiences and reduce isolation.
In 2020, Don founded Imagine Family Recovery to extend his work beyond individual sessions to immersive retreats and structured group experiences. He joined the Coping After Suicide Support Groups Facilitator Corp in 2022. His approach emphasizes a balance of acknowledgment, skill-building, and hopeful pacing—creating a space where men can openly explore their loss, share stories, and learn strategies for moving forward while honoring their loved ones.
Don’s work is deeply personal: it is grounded in his experience as the father of Joshua, his eldest son, who died by suicide in 2011 after a long battle with substance use. Joshua’s life and legacy inspire Don to provide practical tools, honest conversation, and a supportive community for men who are grieving suicide loss. Through his retreat programs, Don aims to foster connection, reduce stigma, and empower attendees to find a path toward healing and ongoing resilience.
Pricing
The all-inclusive rate for the weekend is $675 per person. Your registration fee includes:
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Three-nights of lodging on Loon Pond (Friday-Monday)
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Daily meals and snacks
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Full access to weekend restorative and professionally-led grief programming
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All necessary supplies for programming participation
Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, pending a completed application, intake interview, staff approval, and deposit.
We believe cost should never be a barrier to healing. Scholarships are offered based on self-identified need, and no financial documentation is required. All requests are reviewed with care and confidentiality. Please fill out this Scholarship Request Form if financial assistance would be helpful for you.
Transportation assistance is not offered.
Accommodations
All participants will be assigned to communal bunkhouses with twin-sized bunk beds with nearby bathroom facilities.
Registration & Application Process
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Start Your Application
Visit CampDocs.com to begin your application.
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Complete the Application
Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis once all sections are completed and a deposit is received.
Please note: Completing an application does not guarantee admission.
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Submit a Deposit
A deposit is required to tentatively reserve your spot. Deposits are only refundable if your application is not accepted by The Kita Center. As each application incurs administrative costs, deposits are non-refundable once review begins or if your plans change. To inquire about a deposit waiver, email info@campkita.com.
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Intake Call
You will receive a call from our application team to help mutually determine if the retreat is the right fit for your family at this time. We’ll provide more details, answer questions, and may request to speak with your family’s counselor (if applicable). Your help coordinating permission for this contact is appreciated.
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Final Confirmation
Once accepted, you’ll receive an official confirmation and next steps. Remaining balances can be paid via credit card, check, or cash during registration.
Why Isn’t This Program Free?
At The Kita Center, our mission is rooted in providing approachable programs for all who have been affected by suicide loss—and many of our programs, like Camp Kita, DavidCares, and the Family Respite Cabin, are offered completely free of charge to participants. These programs are made possible thanks to the generosity of donors, grant support, and community partners.
The Young Adult Resilience Retreat is designed to operate "at cost", which means your registration fee directly supports the actual expenses required to run the program, including lodging, meals, supplies, and professional facilitation. Our facilitators are highly trained specialists in the field of suicide loss and grief, ensuring your family receives safe, meaningful, and expert care throughout the weekend.
While not expected, any revenue from this retreat that exceeds estimated program costs will directly support our free programs, making healing possible for more families across Maine and beyond.
We are committed to keeping this program as affordable and inclusive as possible, and financial assistance is always available. Thank you for helping us build a sustainable path for healing for years to come for you and for others still waiting to find support.