Wild Women Weekend Adults (16 +)

Location: Our Wild Women 16+ weekend will be held at the Trembling Aspen Retreat: a private 45-acre forested log cabin retreat in the serene Ghost River Valley: backing onto protected wilderness, just outside Banff National Park. Please note this will be shared accommodation - if you are coming with a friend/daughter please let Melissa know as sleeping arrangements will be designated as first come first served.

Dates: March 19 - 21 and June 25 - 27, 2027

Fees: $525 includes food- except personal snacks and drinks. All participants will bring a potluck item to share our first evening.

Friday: arrive at 4pm to set up(lesson on yurt camp stove lighting) and share a meal. Bear & Cougar Safety & Bear Spray lesson. Evening fire ceremony.

Saturday: Full day of lessons & challenges geared to participants choices (given via survey) - and maybe a cold plunge challenge!

Sunday: Breakfast, site clean up - closing fire ceremony and hike (plant ID and maybe some tracking) to end day. *Optional hike/exploration after 11am check out.

Come gain confidence within the outdoors while you bond with nature and each other! You will learn many aspects of bushcraft, campfire cooking techniques, basic tracking, compass, knots & tarps and so much more! You will experience team and personal challenges in an environment that will encourage you to step out of comfort zones while rediscovering your inner wild woman. We will also have various nature “sit spot” invitations for you to spend some time in quiet reflection.

Mom and Son Basic Bushcraft Weekend

Location: Our mom/son weekends will be in yurts outside Water Valley. Please note these will be shared accommodations so if you have friends you will be joining with let Melissa know - otherwise sleeping arrangements will be first come first served. We do have option for tent trailers/trailers and tenting on the site if this is preferred. Pending registration one holiday trailer will be an option and provided - shared accommodation.

A detailed packing list will be provided closer to the event.

2027 Dates: May 28 - 30(co-ed) and Oct 1 - 3

Friday night: arrive between 3 - 4pm to set up and share a meal. Meal & Clean Up Duties Given Out. Bear Safety Discussed and Bear Spray Lesson Given. Evening Fire Gathering and Possible Games.

Saturday - Breakfast 8:30/full day of activities/challenges. Tailored to registrants learning desires/level of skill.

Sunday - Breakfast, site clean up, final challenge and hike. Plant ID and hopefully some tracking will happen!

Fees: $560 includes food (in total not per person) (except personal snacks and drinks). Please inform Melissa of dietary needs/preferences.

Come make some memories as you and your son bond with each other as you learn new things and experience challenges together with other like-minded mom/son duos. We will be learning what to do if lost in the woods, bear & cougar safety (and how to use bear spray safely), different styles of fire builds, fire starters, cooking, knife safety and whittling (you will be bringing home awesome things you made), and experience fun challenges while learning some basic first aid. And so much more!

Mom and Daughter Basic Bushcraft Weekend

Location: Our mom/daughter weekends will be in yurts outside Water Valley. Please note these will be shared accommodations so if you have friends you will be joining with let Melissa know - otherwise sleeping arrangements will be first come first served. We do have option for tent trailers/trailers and tenting on the site if this is preferred. Pending registration one holiday trailer will be an option and provided - shared accommodation.

A detailed packing list will be provided closer to the event.

2027 Dates: May 28 - 30(co-ed) and Sept 24 - 26

Friday night: arrive between 3 - 4pm to set up and share a meal. Meal & Clean Up Duties Given Out. Bear Safety Discussed and Bear Spray Lesson Given. Evening Fire Gathering and Possible Games.

Saturday - Breakfast 8:30/full day of activities/challenges. Tailored to registrants learning desires/level of skill.

Sunday - Breakfast, site clean up, final challenge and hike. Plant ID and hopefully some tracking will happen!

Fees: $560 includes food (except personal snacks and drinks). Please inform Melissa of dietary needs/preferences.

Come make some memories as you and your daughter bond with each other as you learn new things and experience challenges together with other like-minded mom/daughter duos. We will be learning what to do if lost in the woods, bear & cougar safety (and how to use bear pray safely), different styles of fire builds, fire starters, cooking, knife safety and whittling (you will be bringing home awesome things you made), and experience fun challenges while learning some basic first aid. And so much more!

What does a Confidence To Rise Retreat Look Like?

Support, clarity, and a place to breathe within a small group of like minded people. A place to be reminded you are not alone. A place that holds no judgement -only understanding, compassion, connection and fun!

When life feels chaotic and exhausting, our retreats offer a chance to slow down, settle your nervous system, and move from chaos to calm. This is not about fixing, forcing, or controlling change, it’s about learning how to pause, respond instead of react, and rebuild confidence from a grounded, compassionate place. Each retreat is tailored to different journey’s and offer unique options for fun and relaxation.

When you build connection and lead with steadiness and love, you naturally become a more positive influence in other’s lives. Together, we explore practical, evidence-based tools that help you strengthen connection with others and learn how to communicate with greater clarity and confidence.

Life will still happen. Hard moments will still come. But you'll leave with the confidence and practical tools to rise, respond differently, and keep moving forward with strength.

You don't need a perfect life to feel at peace. You need the confidence to rise through an imperfect one.

FALL 2026: One Day Retreat (free overnight for those travelling) in Coleman, Alberta. This day is for woman who have loved ones struggling with Mental Health and/or Addictions. $197 per person - includes meals. Link to register: The Confidence To Rise Workshop

WINTER 2027!!

ALIVE & FREE
5-STAR GIRLS’ TRIP TO MEXICO
November 8–14, 2027 | Puerto Morelos, Mexico
$3,000 CAD plus airfare | Limited to 9 women
Perhaps life is going well, yet you have a sense that something is missing—something you cannot quite define.Or perhaps nothing is missing at all.
Maybe you simply need six nights in Mexico to laugh, relax, meet inspiring women, try new experiences, and feel ALIVE & FREE.
This is not a typical women’s retreat.These are not typical Mexico experiences.
Perhaps you are looking for something different—something you would not normally book for yourself. Something that takes you just beyond your comfort zone and allows you to experience Mexico in a completely new way.
These excursions have been personally experienced and selected for this trip, chosen with intention.
Puerto Morelos has become a very special place to us. There is something distinctive about this small beach town. Life moves more slowly. The atmosphere is peaceful, and the town has a beautiful, almost restorative energy that encourages you to breathe more deeply, let go, and simply be.

ALIVE & FREE is about giving yourself the space to pause, reconnect with what brings you joy, and enjoy being fully yourself. It is about stepping away from the usual pace of life and making room for experiences that feel meaningful, refreshing, and fun.
It is about laughing freely, trying something new, resting without guilt, and remembering that you are more than the responsibilities you carry every day.

That is the reason behind ALIVE & FREE.

We will stay together in a beautiful private beach villa, where you will have your own bedroom and private bathroom. And the best part? Everything is planned for you.
Our itinerary includes sunrise paddleboarding, a cacao ceremony, a traditional temazcal ceremony, a cenote experience, jungle, salsa dancing, a Mexican-themed evening with margaritas and sombreros, private chef meals, beach and pool time, an evening out, and a few surprises along the way.
Some experiences may make you laugh. Others may gently challenge you, encourage you to slow down, or leave you feeling something unexpected.
There will be exceptional food, meaningful conversations, new experiences, new friendships, adventure, laughter, and time to simply relax.

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
Six nights in our private beach villa
Your own bedroom and private bathroom
All meals
Private chef-prepared meals
Transportation to and from the airport
Transportation for all planned activities and experiences
All planned and guided experiences
Select alcoholic beverages, including wine with dinner
A few surprises along the way
We have taken care of the details so you can arrive, relax, and enjoy the experience. If you choose to explore independently or participate in activities outside the planned itinerary, any additional transportation, activities, alcoholic beverages, or personal purchases will be at your own expense.

Please remember that everything is optional.
Join us for every activity, or sleep in, relax by the beach, and do absolutely nothing.
And what will you take home with you?
Perhaps an unforgettable vacation filled with wonderful memories.
Perhaps new friendships.
Perhaps the confidence to try things that challenge you.
Perhaps you will feel lighter, happier, and more alive.
Or perhaps, somewhere along the way, you will discover something you did not even realize you were missing.
You do not need to come here to change yourself.
Simply come as you are.
Come for the fun.
Come for the adventure.
Come for the rest.
Come to try something new.
Or come for something more.

November 8–14, 2027
$3,000 CAD plus airfare | Limited to 9 women

Bring a friend and experience Mexico with us. Melissa & Jo

The (Confidence to Rise) retreat was great. Perfect escape from my reality. Nice to have the support and speak with people that have been through similar experiences. 

The retreat (Confidence to Rise) was very casual. We kind of went with the flow of things. I really enjoyed the bushcraft too. It’s great to learn new things I can put to use. I learned lots of new things and different approaches on how to handle the current situation I’m in. 

The location was great. The mountains always have a calming effect. The drive out there was relaxing and on the drive home I reflected on the day. I’m grateful that I was able to attend. The setting was great. The small group size made it very comfortable and intimate. We had everything we could want or need. Very accommodating. Lunch was great and the outside activities were a lot of fun.

Nothing is black and white and everyone is on their own journey. I need to remind myself that the person I love is still inside and I need to be supportive and I didn’t know what that meant. But now I have new tools to try. Nothing is going to be easy and we have a long road ahead. But I felt like I had tried everything. I like the idea of supporting his recovery with compassion rather than anger. I have a lot of work to do on myself and this has motivated me to do just that. 

I really want to thank you and your team for having me there. I also love the gifts we received. The hoodie, notebook and pen. It was unforgettable. Thanks for being selfless and wanting to help others that are struggling. You’re going to help change the world for the better. The world needs more people like you. 

Thank you Melissa for your teachings and the knowledge you shared. Learning about the bears, cougars, tracks and branches, grass and just the conversations to be aware of your surroundings is so important. The feathering was one of my favorites, learning about the fire. So many things I forgot and it brought back a lot of childhood memories for me. Rediscover Play.

The biggest takeaway is believe in yourself, you can do it. I’m constantly growing and I’ve attended retreats workshops of all kinds. This by far was my best and joyful experience. The group, the food, the teachings, just feeling the love by all.

The Women’s Wilderness Weekend was such a blast! Not only did we learn some incredible  skills like fire starting, building shelters with tarps, proper bear spray use, but we also had the chance to do some outdoor yoga, a leisurely nature walk, and fabulous girl talk and cooking around the campfire. Highly recommend to all ladies with any level of outdoor skill! I’ll definitely be going again, and I’m bringing friends!

Thanks for an amazing day yesterday. Everyone had a blast and learned so much. I know everyone walked away with more confidence too. Thank you. You will definitely be seeing us again!

We learned so much and enjoyed our time with you and your son - my son came home and taught his siblings how to light fires and is already talking about when we can join you again!