START OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH INTENTION
A Nature Retreat In Joshua Tree, CA
January 5th - 7th 2024
Desert Skies And Time To Reflect
Joshua Tree in January is warm and crisp when the sun is out and cool at night, which means it’s perfect weather for wandering through boulders during the day and cozying up around the fire with a hot beverage at night.
This retreat comes at the perfect time to offer some extra support after all the holiday craze. You will have time to be still, explore the desert landscape, and reflect on your year ahead.
This retreat is one of our most nourishing glamping style experiences we offer with a focus slowing waaay down.
THE TRIP AT A GLANCE
LOCATION
Joshua Tree, CA
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Low
DURATION
3 Days
REQUIRED OUTDOOR SKILL LEVEL
Low
GROUP SIZE
10-12 people
EMPHASIS ON MEDITATION
High
Retreat Schedule
Camping vibes meets an all inclusive resort
Yummy food, cozy set up, and all the planning taken care of so all you have to do is get yourself there.
As we move through the weekend the invitation will be to slow down and listen more deeply.
There will be workshops offered Friday + Saturday morning and afternoon as a way to orient towards the theme of the retreat.
Rough Schedule
Thursday Evening: You are welcome to show up and camp Thursday night so you can settle in before we begin Friday morning.
Friday: We will start to gather around 10:30am and will begin opening circle at 11am sharp.
The Weekend
Spend the mornings waking up with a warm cup of coffee or tea as you soak up the desert air. We will start our days with light guided movement, then transition into workshops with meditation and journaling all centered around letting go of what’s not needed from 2023 and setting intentions for 2024.
As we move into the afternoon you will have time to wander and wonder amongst the famous Joshua Tree boulders. As the pastel color sky starts to fade into a blanket of stars we will circle up around the fire to connect and reflect.
Sunday Morning: Wake up and slowly pack and prepare for the transition home. There will be some yoga and a closing circle.
What’s Included
FOOD: All meals and snacks. Have restrictions? No worries, we got you!
GEAR: Any big gear items you might need (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad) plus a cozy camping kitchen set up
EXPERT GUIDES: Expert guides trained in Wilderness First Response and master group facilitators (see bio’s below).
FACILITATION: Goal setting and intention setting workshops. Guided meditation and yoga. Meaningful discussion around the fire.
PRE TRIP CALL: Show up feeling connected and prepared
PRIVATE ONLINE COMMUNITY: Ask questions and deepen relationships
NOT INCLUDED
Any unexpected expenses or trip interruptions
Personal items
Trip Insurance
COST
$850 or 3 payments of $285*
LOGISTICS
Accommodations & Getting There
Directions:
Your destination is Indian Cove Campground.
If flying the closest airport is Palm Springs or LAX is a 3 hour drive away.
Where you will be staying during the trip:
We have group campsites reserved at Indian Cove campground. There are beautiful desert rocks surrounding the campsites and nature walk trails that you can wonder down during your free time.
MEET YOUR GUIDES
Zoe
Zoe (She/her) is a licensed therapist and has been running groups for over 10 years, guiding people backpacking for 15, and teaching mindfulness and meditation at corporate companies and conferences for the past 4 years. She is equally passionate about exploring our external world through backpacking as she is our internal landscape, both as a way to grow and learn.
Kiki
Kiki Wiliams (She/they) is a multi-passionate human being in pursuit of both personal and collective liberation. She is a 500hr registered yoga teacher, meditation practitioner, and deep lover of nature!
IG: @diveturnwork
What others are saying
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Nina W.
“I often crave the outdoors, a chance to escape LA, and experience a little adventure. But I don’t do it on my own because, you know, life, and a thousand other excuses. Wild Mind Retreats eliminated all my excuses and made it super easy for me to have the exact escape from the city and reconnection to myself and nature that I was craving.”
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Deb D.
“I went on a backpacking retreat with my wife, my daughter, and four other women I didn’t know before signing up. It was challenging yet fantastic. I used to backpack years ago and thought I’d never be able to do it again. I worried about being able to keep up with all of these younger people. But from the get-go, I felt supported and encouraged by the group. Zoe did a truly amazing job of connecting us to the reverence of where we were.”
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Alexandra Cinazan
“Backpacking was something I’ve always wanted to do, but I knew I didn’t have all the info and resources to do it on my own. Zoe’s retreat was a great opportunity to learn the basics of a backpacking trip. Besides the amazing opportunity to meet some lovely women that I can now easily call sisters. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life!”
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Jillian Lydell
“If you're thinking about this trip - just do it. It is tough in some ways but the beauty and support and your own inner strength and growth make it worth it in every way. Zoe and Jennifer are incredible guides that have experience, tenderness, humor, wisdom, and the ability to teach you all along the way.“
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Jimmi Williamson
“I would recommend this experience to anyone looking to reconnect with the natural world but also reconnect with themselves. Zoe created a safe and supportive environment for us to learn the ins and outs of backpacking basics. But most importantly they provided an uplifting and meaningful experience I will forever treasure.”
Relationship with the land
Dear fellow wild women,
As we embark on retreat, we will be entering into Joshua Tree National Park which is part of the Mojave desert and was originally strewed by 15 Native American tribes including the Mohave. Understanding the history of the land we are walking on is something I am working to incorporate more of into the retreats I offer.
In addition, my intention for this trip is to be in relationship with the land. For me that means thinking of ways I can give back to the land for all that I receive. Part of this involves traveling on the land in a way that minimizes impact and donating to organizations that protect and look over the land.
I am open to any thoughts or suggestions around this topic.
With love,
Zoe
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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If you cancel the trip 30 days or more prior to the start date you can receive a full refund.
If you cancel 8 -29 days before the trip receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 7 days of the trip there are no refunds.
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Wild Minds Nature Retreats are our least physically strenuous trips.
Think more glamping style. We will be at a campground, so you will be camping but we will have a nice shaded area with blankets and a whole kitchen set up.
You will have your car so you can pack whatever you want to feel comfortable.
You will be sleeping in a tent (but don’t worry, we can provide you with one and help you set it up 😉). The toilet situation is a campground style pit toilet.
There will be a lot of lounging and moving slowly with the option to go for nature walks if you choose.
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One of the best parts of camping versus backpacking is getting to bring all the good food!
Once our group is formed we will work together to pick meals that are within everyones food requirements.
Some examples of what we might have for dinners is… pasta with veggies, baked potatoes with yummy toppings, sausages, chili (+ salad and healthy yummy snacks).
Don’t worry if you have restrictions like being vegan or gluten free, we got you! We will work with you to figure out what you need to feel good.
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The follow gear can be provided upon request. Make sure to have your requests in by the deadline.
Camping Gear
tent
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
The rest will be your personal gear which you will be responsible for. I will share a packing list that will include things like coffee mug, water bottle, warm jacket etc.
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The campground has a pit toilet, what you might think of when you think of a campground toilet.
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There will not be service where we are going.
Part of this experience is going completely offline. For safety I will have a satellite gps tracking device which I can send and receive messages on in case of an emergency.
In addition we are are about a 10 min drive to get to service.
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This is a substance free trip. There is a focus and emphasis on deepening your relationship with yourself and the land. It is also an opportunity to expanding your capacity to be with the ups and downs without turning to substances.
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The group is small and intimate so I want to make sure this is the right trip for whoever signs up.
On the interest call we will talk about what you want to get out of retreat, the challenges that might arise, and if this is the right trip for you.
It is also a time for me to answer any questions you might have.
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This trip is for those over the age of 18. There is no age limit on who can come on this trip. Part of this experience is getting to be with people you might not otherwise be around, which is lovely.