Nature Connection Women’s Retreats
Nature Connection Women’s Retreats
February & June 2026
A down-to-Earth retreat dedicated to deepening our nature connection.
We invite you to come and relax in a beautiful setting, with other forest-loving women, deepening your connection with nature and giving your nervous system what it needs.
These retreats are coordinated by Jay Ridgewell (Held Outside Nature Connection Experiences) and supported by Monique Ross (Heartwood Nature Bathing), Sara Aiken (Essential Nature Connection) and the land at Bellthorpe Stays, Jinibara Country (Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland).
A small group of women, a private landscape, shared meals,
a solo journey day,
opt-in group nature connection activities,
rest.
The big picture
We think that many of us long for a deeper connection with the more-than-human world.
We want to make time to just sit and watch ants, listen to waterfalls and stroke moss. We know it's good for us in so many ways, and will help us live better with all beings. But we don't do it as often as we'd like.
So: we're booking a beautiful place, carving out a little time, inviting good people and preparing some grounding, creative and inspiring activities held together by simple ceremonies to help us tend to our nature relationships.
Who this is for
Women who have strong or growing relationships with nature,
who want to spend whole days outside developing that relationship,
with the safety and comfort of an organised group, on private land, with simple food and affordable accommodation,
while sharing with and being influenced by other likeminded and likehearted women.
What this retreat isn't
It won't be a luxury, action-packed schedule of culturally appropriated activities, run by super confident insta-styled gurus making a profit out of participants' vulnerability. (Of course, not all retreats are like that either! We just want to make it clear that we're aware of that kind of thing and also to recognise our privilege to even consider going on or designing a retreat at all).
It is also not about survival skills*, an educative course*, therapy* nor indvidiual health*.
*although developing your relationship with nature may lead to improved resilience, learning and personal growth and physical, mental and spiritual health. See this summary of the research into benefits of time spent with nature, for a start.
A retreat is a way to book in time for yourself, and be supported in your relationship with nature.
Join our next retreat
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Held Outside newsletters will inform you of upcoming sessions, latest research and ideas to try nature bathing on your own. (view past newsletters here)
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Feel held, outside.
© 2021 Held Outside
Buderim, Qld.
I acknowledge that this area of the Sunshine Coast (Australia) is the unceded lands of the Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi people and that a sentence on a website is not enough. I do my best to respect country and the elders and teachers past, present and emerging through how I live, speak and work.
May we all tread gently.
