A Summer of Retreats
Sunset at Campfire Rock - July 2026
A Summer of Retreats: Three Weekends, Three Ways of Coming Home to Ourselves
By Neerava S. Kroeger
Community Engagement Director & Retreat Facilitator
This summer, along with Mom & Kids Camps, I had the privilege of leading three very different retreats at Camp Fircom: From the Silence, an adult meditation retreat; Alumni Moms Camp; and From the Deep, a retreat for women.
On the surface, all three weekends could not have been more different. One invited participants into extended silence and meditation practices. The second was filled with swimming, kayaking, painting, archery, late-night conversations and laughter. The third asked women to look inward with honesty and courage through the Dalian Method.
Yet as I reflected on these three weekends, I noticed a common thread.
Each retreat created something that can be difficult to find in everyday life: time and space to slow down, connect, listen inwardly and simply be where we are.
And each time, I was reminded of how much the natural setting of Camp Fircom contributes to that experience.
From the Silence: Finding Stillness
A quiet night, July 25, 2026
From the Silence was an adult meditation retreat held July 24 to 26. Thirteen participants, ranging in age from 22 to 72, came together for a weekend of intentional quiet, meditation, self-reflection and connection with nature. We even had a mother and daughter attending together, which was especially lovely to witness.
For 48 hours, participants stepped away from screens, schedules and the constant stream of decisions that make up ordinary life. Their task was remarkably simple: follow the schedule, participate in the practices, spend time in nature and notice what was happening within. During the periods of silence, I also gave them a simple inquiry to explore on their own, unfolding through several steps over the course of the day.
For some, silence came more easily than for others. A busy mind does not necessarily become quiet simply because we stop talking. In fact, silence can make us much more aware of how much activity is happening inside us.
We explored meditation practices involving movement, breath and voice. Meditation itself is not a particular technique. At its heart, meditation is witnessing: becoming the observer of what is happening within us, without needing to change, fix or control it. Breath awareness is key. Through active meditation, we use one of the following: physical movement, more vigorous breath or our own sound to move stagnant energy and release what we may be holding in the body. This can make it much easier to settle into stillness afterwards, simply watching the breath and observing what is happening within.
The forest and ocean were important partners in this process. There is something about being surrounded by trees, water, birds and open sky that supports us in slowing down and paying attention. One participant became so still while standing in the forest that a usually elusive pine marten stopped nearby and watched her with curiosity. It was one of those extraordinary little moments that can happen when we slow down enough to notice what is around us.
During our final guided meditation, we used our voices. Rather than worrying about how we sounded, we allowed sound to move through the body freely. There was a sense of expansion and release as the participants gave themselves permission to use their voices fully, from their whole bodies, and without restraint. Several of them reflected afterward on how powerful the experience had been.
The weather did not cooperate with everything I had planned. Our early morning silent paddle had to be cancelled because of strong winds. But even that became part of the experience. Retreat asks us to work with what is actually happening, rather than trying to make everything unfold according to plan.
Alumni Moms Camp: Coming Back to a Beloved Place
Alumni Moms Camp, held August 7 to 9, brought together women who had attended Mom & Kids Camp at Fircom over the years. They already knew the camp. They knew the forest, the water, the accommodations, the food and the feeling of being here. That shared history created an immediate sense of connection, and the weekend gave everyone a chance to deepen those relationships.
It was truly a heart-centred weekend, and we simply had fun!
There was a lovely balance between playful camp activities and quieter opportunities to slow down and connect. We practiced yoga, meditation, shared some contemplative card practices over Sunday morning coffee, and made plenty of time for swimming, kayaking, archery, watercolour painting and gardening. There were late-night swims in the bioluminescent water, time together at Campfire Rock, exuberant dock jumping, plenty of laughter and, according to everyone involved, a great deal of appreciation for the food. We were completely spoiled by our kitchen team, who went above and beyond to make the meals extra special.
What touched me most was the authenticity and ease of the women. They knew Fircom, they knew the rhythms of camp, and they knew how to make the most of every opportunity. That familiarity meant I could hold the space lightly, offer possibilities, and let the women take it from there.
This weekend was about joy. Playful, uncomplicated, wholehearted joy. Swimming, laughing, reconnecting, trying new things, lingering over meals and remembering how good it feels to simply enjoy being together on the beautiful grounds of Camp Fircom.
I absolutely loved this weekend. Sometimes retreats are about having enough space in nature to play, rest, reconnect and remember what it feels like to be completely at home somewhere.
From the Deep: The Courage to Look Within
As the summer came to a close, we gathered for From the Deep, a retreat for women held September 11 to 13.
This retreat had a different intention.
From the Deep offers women a concentrated opportunity to explore patterns, emotions and experiences that may be getting in the way of moving forward in life. The weekend is grounded in the Dalian Method™, a specific guided process combining breath, verbal expression, body movement and conscious awareness to explore the root causes of pain and suffering and open the way to greater freedom and clarity.
For this weekend, the invitation was to experience the work, and then continue on at their own pace, back home.
We moved, explored, questioned, expressed, listened and reflected. We worked with many of the active meditation practices that had been part of From the Silence, while going deeper through the Dalian Method™.
What I witness every time I offer this retreat is the power of a group process.
As each woman became willing to express something honestly and authentically, the others began to recognize pieces of their own experience. Different lives, different histories, different personalities, and yet so many of the same fundamental human struggles.
We can easily imagine that we are the only ones struggling with something because our particular circumstances are unique. But when we are willing to share honestly, we often discover that the underlying human experience is much more universal.
Lavern, From the Deep closing circle.
That recognition can be deeply relieving.
We realize we are not alone.
By Sunday afternoon, the change in the group was palpable. Women who had arrived carrying uncertainty, difficulty or questions were leaving with greater clarity, energy and a renewed sense of possibility.
The moment that stays with me most came during our closing circle.
I had already planned a follow-up gathering for two weeks after the retreat, to revisit the experience and work with specific action steps for moving forward. But what touched me most was seeing that the women were already making plans to stay connected. They were talking about ways to see one another, support one another, have “accountability buddies” and continue the relationships they had begun.
What Retreat Makes Possible
Leading these three retreats reminded me once again that there is no single way to retreat, and no single place from which people arrive.
Each person brings their own history, their own level of self-awareness, their own questions and their own willingness to look inward.
Some people are ready to explore deeply. Some need rest and play. Some need silence. Some need connection. We do not have to arrive at the same place.
What Camp Fircom offers is space.
Space to slow down, to listen, to move, to laugh, to be honest. Space to connect with others who are also doing their best to navigate this complicated and beautiful thing called life.
I am continually reminded that everyone is on their own journey, doing the best they can in their life. We all have different levels of self-awareness and different levels of courage when it comes to looking honestly at ourselves.
And yet, I see a common thread. We are willing to explore.
On Gambier Island, the forest, ocean, wildlife and open space become part of that experience. Nature does not ask us to be anything other than what we are. Nature simply gives us room to breathe, listen and reconnect.
This summer reminded me how powerful that can be.
Three retreats with three very different groups of people, and three very different experiences.
Underneath them all, was the same simple invitation: to step away from everyday life for a little while, make space for ourselves in nature and discover what becomes possible when we have the time and support to truly be present.
Neerava 🌲🩵
Perhaps you’re feeling inspired to make some space for yourself.
We’d love to welcome you to Camp Fircom in 2027. Explore our upcoming retreats and find an experience that feels right for you.
