PACKAGES – Pricing
INCLUDES
All packages include meals (starting with lunch on Friday to Sunday breakfast) , private cabin accommodations (for up to 4 nights) and weekend activities/workshops – including scheduled access to the Sauna!
Subsidized Registration: Please contact laura@canadianecology.ca if you require financial assistance. We will try our best to help everyone to attend.
Donations?: Are you able to help support another participant to attend the retreat? Or want to support the CEC’s reopening efforts following the severe storm of 2025, consider donating to our Educational Foundation. https://www.canadianecology.ca/foundation/
SINGLE
$500 + HST
Private cabin for 1 person
double
$800 + HST
Share a cabin with a friend! Price includes accommodations, meals and activites/workshops for 2!
triple
$1100 + HST
Share a cabin with TWO friends! Price includes accommodations, meals and activites/workshops for 3!
add-ons
Additional Fees apply for the following options (+ HST)
Want to bring friends or family to join you in your cabin for the weekend, but not participate in the activities/workshops?
– An additional charge of $50 per person is charged for the weekend per person (does not include meals or participation in event activities) (Children 12 and under are free).
Sunday night accommodations available (at no extra cost). Please request during registration
SCHEDULE
(Draft – subject to revisions and updates)
THURSDAY
Afternoon:
Arrive anytime in the afternoon and enjoy some time to settle in and relax on your own.
Dinner: BYO or head into Mattawa
Evening: Campfire Social and Meet/Greet
Sauna: Available from 4pm to 10pm
FRIDAY
Breakfast not provided – please bring your own.
Morning: “Morning Welcome and Orientation”
12:30 pm: Lunch Provided
Afternoon: “Winter Forest Therapy Invitations and other alternatives” – Enjoying and appreciating winter, modifying for the environment and creative solutions
5:30 pm: Dinner Provided
Evening: Night walk and Wolf Howl, Campfire (exploring evening/dark sky invitations)
Sauna: Available from 4pm to 10pm
SATURDAY
8:30 am: Breakfast Provided
Morning: “Guiding in a Changing Climate” – creating a culture and community of caring, eco-grief and trauma informed leading.
12:30 pm: Lunch Provided
Afternoon: Free time to explore (ski, snowshoe, walk, rest, journaling, sauna, etc…)
5:30 pm: Dinner Provided
Evening: “Creating Community” – an opportunity to share and enjoy time together. Reach out if you would like to bring an activity, craft or idea to this session.
Tea with the Trees – community sharing tea/snack time!
SUNDAY
Early Morning: Optional early morning run/walk/snowshoe/sit-spot
8:30 am: Breakfast
Morning: Final Debrief, Goodbyes and Wrap-up
Feel free to stay into the afternoon and enjoy some last moments of relaxation
YOUR WEEKEND GUIDES
LAURA KIELPINSKI, OCT
Your event host and Forest Therapy Guide
Laura works full time as the Director of Education and Operations at the Canadian Ecology Centre (CEC). She is a certified Forest Therapy Guide with ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) and looks forward to sharing and deepening her practice with guests at the CEC.
Laura is also a qualified OCT teacher, GPS Instructor and Instructor Trainer for the National Green Check GPS Certification program, Instructor for the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s “Project Wild” and “Below Zero” programs. She holds an honours degree in Physical and Health Education (specializing in Outdoor Adventure Leadership) and a diploma in Environmental Science from Laurentian University, as well as her Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University in Outdoor Experiential Education. Laura holds certifications in Standard First Aid and CPR, Wilderness First Aid (80 hour WFR), ORKCA (canoe training) as well as risk management and safety planning. Her passions and interests include sharing her love of the natural world with all those around her and helping others to find comfort and enjoyment from spending time in the outdoors. She enjoys being active in a variety of outdoor activities (mountain biking, running, canoeing, hiking, and cross country skiing) with her friends, family and two children.
Emmma rooney (Co-host of this years retreat)
Certified Forest Therapy Guide and Founder and Creativity Facilitator of Blooming Caravan
Bio coming soon 🙂