Wilderness Retreats
A retreat into presence
Multi-day, guided backpacking trips through New England Wilderness.
Join an intimate cohort of creatives, carrying just what we need to stay a little while in the wilderness, just far enough the birdsong becomes the loudest sound we hear and the mountain ridge opens onto... more mountains; we won't measure success in summits and suffering, but rather the rigor of our presence.
“I return to the wilderness to remember what I have forgotten, that the world can be wholesome and beautiful, that the harmony and integrity of ecosystems at peace is a mirror to what we have lost.”
— Terry Tempest Williams, The Hour of Land
beginner friendly
Led by experienced wilderness guides, and a low-mileage itinerary, so you can leave the stress of planning behind, and drop into retreat-mode.
nature immersion
The forest is the retreat center: We rise & set with the sun, drink spring water and fresh air, cook over a campfire, and reset to the pace of the forest.
among creatives
The forest is also the muse -- through tuning practices, non-linear explorations, ritual, and a good dose of clowning around, we feed the creative force in all of us.
in Boston's backyard
Trips are all within 2-3 hr driving from Boston, making these a manageable long weekend getaway. Carpooling available.
nature connection that fuels creative practice
There is a creative life force aching to move through us, and it's the same force that created the forest we dance with.
Our spacious itinerary will nourish this life force with time carved for:
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guided morning meditations
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nature awareness practices, opening our eyes to the often unseen
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miles of singing and miles of silence
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2-4 hour "artists date" solo experience
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movement & dance explorations
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evening fire circles
These journeys are for those who...
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Can’t seem to carve enough time outside in daily life — and feel the cost of that absence.
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Have never backpacked, but ready to carry the weight and leave the creature comforts behind.
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Have backpacked and didn’t thrive in high‑mileage, high‑pressure expeditions.
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Love backpacking, and want deeper community, ritual, and nature‑connection.
There is an application process, as trips are limited to the size of the campsite. We aim to enroll eclectic cohorts of people who will bring a range of skills and perspectives to the group.
2026 Wilderness Retreats
Summer Calendar
Summer Solstice:
Berkshires
3 - Day | 6/19 - 6/21
9-10 miles, 1.5K ft Elevation Gain
This 3-day Solstice Retreat follows a mild grade trail along a flowing creek up to a low summit with 360 views of surrounding mountains. We will set up camp at a spacious group campground just 1.5 miles from the trailhead which will be our home base for rest, reflection, and nature immersion. Our summit is a short 1.5 mi away from our campsite which we will venture to Saturday and again early Sunday morning for the brave early birds seeking to catch a solstice sunrise sing. This retreat will honor the Solstice, marking the longest day of the year. We will move between seasonal reflection and spacious solitude, nature immersion experiences and group song that will slowly wake up our senses to the high season of summer. Meeting Spot: Mt. Washington Head Quarters Departure: Friday at 12 PM Return: Sunday at 4 PM Group Size: 12 Participants, 2 Guides Cost: $279 - $534
White Mountains Retreat
4 - Day | 7/9 -7/12
Estimated: 18 miles, 3.5K elevation
This 4-day Backpacking Trek takes on the grandeur of the White mountains. We will meet at Basin Campground, Thursday evening, for community building and preparation. Friday we hike with our full backpacks 5 miles to our basecamp, nestled between peaks. Saturday we will dance along the Wild River allowing generous time for river dips and non-linear exploring, before heading back to camp for rest, dinner and community fire circle. Sunday we will finish with a mild summit and a few hours in solitude, before slowly traveling down the mountain in song and story back to our trailhead. This 4-day journey provides challenge and beauty, silent mornings and festive afternoons, full of practices that unleash our creative spirit. Co-led by Milly and Shekinah, who bring 14 years of deep friendship, and a season of co-instructing at the CT Wilderness School together. Meeting Spot: Basin Campground, NH Arrival: Thursday 4 - 8PM Departure: Sunday 4 - 5PM Group Size: 8 Participants, 2 Guides Cost: $390 - $720
Singing the Berkshires
3 - Day | 8/14 - 8/16
6-8 miles 1.5K elevation gain
Calling upon the Singing Circle Community - this 3-day backpacking retreat is for you. The same route as Solstice, but co-led by song sisters Milly and Nicole. Friday we hike a gentle 1.5 miles into a group campsite with picnic tables, fire rings, and a privy—an accessible entry into the wilderness. Once camp is set - we will adventure with a lighter load up to our summit, another 1.5 miles to an overlook with views of CT, NY and MA. We will bless the rolling hills with the songs they inspire, and bring the refreshed self back to our basecamp or an evening of fire, story and more song. Meeting Spot: Mt. Washington Head Quarters Departure: Friday at 12 PM Return: Sunday at 4 PM Group Size: 10-20 Participants, 2 Guides Cost: $279 - $534
LGBTQ+ Fall Equinox Retreat
Bigelow Hollow, CT
3 - Day | 9/18 - 9/20
8-9 miles [low elevation gain]
SAVE THE DATE details coming soon Meeting Spot: Bigelow State Park, CT Departure: Friday at 12 PM Return: Sunday at 5 PM Group Size: 8 Participants, 2 Guides Cost: $279 - $534
We will bring all of the necessary group gear:
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All food and cooking equipment, first air, water filtration, group shelter & more
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Tents: You are welcome to bring a personal tent, otherwise we will provide 2-4 person tents for participants to share.
You are responsible for bringing personal gear:
1. 55+L backpack (rental available for $30)
2. sleeping bag & sleeping pad
3. appropriate layers & rain gear
See full detailed packing list.
A Sample Day
6:00 am — Rise & Stretch
6:30 am — Personal Practice
7:00 am — Breakfast & Plan for the Day
8:30 am — Silent Morning Miles
10:30 am— Session One (Guided Meditation & Sit Spot)
12:00 pm— Lunch & Rest
1:30 pm — Afternoon Miles
3:00 pm — Session Two (Movement Research: Dancing the Forest)
4:30 pm — Set Up Camp, Rest, Cook
6:30 pm — Dinner & Clean
7:30 pm — Fire Circle: Song & Reflection
9:00 pm — Tent Time
why we retreat
Retreat comes from the Latin retrahere — to draw back, to withdraw. Together, as a community with the forest ecosystem, we draw back from the noise, speed, and extraction of the modern attention‑economy — not as escape, but as necessary hygiene.
We retreat to remember what modern life has taught us to forget:
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That our bodies are not separate from the earth.
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That there is a creative life force moving through each of us worthy of our time & attention.
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That healing happens through action, ritual, and relationship — not insight alone.
As Mary Oliver reminds us, "we need not repent for miles and miles in the desert —
we only need to let the soft animal of our body love what it loves"
Interested,
but not ready?
sign up for the newsletter, for 1-2/month emails about upcoming trip annoucements and general inspirations from the field.
Contact
Here to answer your questions or field any inspirations or location requests for the Fall 2026 calendar.