“I knew a trip with all women would be transformational and it was. The collective energy of women with no agenda and being one with nature while doing mindful exploration of me was a pause in life that cannot be taken for granted or forgotten. A chance to breathe and just be and think about what I need. What a gift to me.”
RUGGED RENEWAL: Vancouver Island
A blend of open sea adventure and beachside play, this Rugged Renewal is ideal for women seeking to delight in the natural world and discover their own wild natures.
Along with an introduction to sea-kayaking and camping skills, we will also be unplugging from screens, stepping out of the roles we hold at home, and will become observers of the beauty around us, while we savor the beauty within. Through daily mindfulness activities, learning about intertidal life, listening for whales, silent paddles, and yoga on the beach, the pace of our movements will be slow, while the days will be deliciously full.
Itinerary
*Details below are a general outline and will depend on weather and waves and others factors as well as the group.
Day 1 Arrive in Port Hardy, British Colombia, where you will be met by a taxi to shuttle you to Port McNeil, a sleepy little fishing village on the northern side of the island. We will gather for dinner and a pre-trip orientation, meet our sea kayak guides, learn how to pack our dry bags, get our neoprene booties, and go over all that the week entails. We stay the night at a simple Inn with an option for shared or private accommodations.
Day 2 We wake and leave our luggage behind (literally and metaphorically) and set off for our launch site. After getting acquainted with our kayak gear and how to pack our boats, we set off into the Johnstone Strait, and open our eyes for wildlife sightings. We’ll arrive at our first basecamp, with tent platforms, sleeping cots, and an outhouse… the amenities make this almost a glamping situation, but it’s the life around us that steals the show.
Day 3-6 Each day will incorporate a combination of physical challenge and restorative activities, such as yoga on the beach, guided meditation, and connecting with the natural beauty of the landscape, both external and internal. This dance between rugged and renewal helps us to expand our capacity in life for both stress and joy, cultivating more of a rhythm in our nervous systems that we hope will transfer back home.
Day 7 We wake up in our tents today, and say goodbye to island life. One more paddle and we close out our time on the water with gratitude and head back to Port McNeil for hot showers and dinner out on the town.
Day 8 Depending on your flight itinerary, you can opt for one of two shuttles back to Port Hardy and can get breakfast on your own. Goodbyes will extend throughout the day from the hotel to airport gates, as we all drift in different directions.
