Second Annual Adventure Awaits Yoga Retreat(s)
Second Annual Adventure Awaits Yoga Retreat(s)
at Birchwood Wilderness Camp
with Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats
For two weeks, Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats took over what is typically a boys’ summer camp on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Last summer we hosted just one yoga retreat at Birchwood. We had such a good time last year that this year we returned to lead three back-to-back yoga retreat sessions.
The first retreat was led by Amanda Imes with very helpful assistance by Nora Woodworth, Alayna Sobieniak and Bonnie Thoe-Austin.
The second retreat was led by Bryana Cook with very helpful assistance by Nora Woodworth, Jessica Baumhofer, and Michelle LeBlanc.
The third was led by Bryana Cook, Stacy Nightwine, Joella Erin, and Nora Woodworth.
Thank you Birchwood Wilderness Camp Staff!
Our lovely hosts at Birchwood Wilderness Camp included Ashley Bredemus, Victor Pilon, and Dan Bredemus, with amazing assistance from Nemo, Gio, Archie, and Ames. This crew goes ABOVE AND BEYOND for our group and we are so grateful for them. Ashley is one-of-a-kind in making you feel cared for, welcomed, and special before, during, and after your Birchwood excursion. Ever consider sending your kiddo to summer camp? We cannot say enough great things about Birchwood Wilderness Camp!
Thank you Nora Woodworth and Happy Dancing Turtle!
We also can’t say enough good things about Nora Woodworth! She was instrumental in assisting at our yoga retreats and leading our small groups in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness. She oozes passion for outdoor and environmental education. She is the best, especially when you’re in a pinch. You can’t help but also get excited about birds, bugs, and scat while listening to her geek out about it. Nora works for Happy Dancing Turtle. This environmental sustainability non-profit is based in Pine River, MN and Nora leads a branch in the Driftless Region of Southeast Minnesota. They have amazing environmental education programming for school-age kiddos, families, and adults.
First Retreat: Test of Courage
This retreat is not for the faint of heart. From multiple yoga classes, a water slide that would test even the most courageous heart, a rope swing that requires a lot of strength and even more courage, to portaging canoes, hiking, and climbing a very high rock face- this retreat had us busy from dawn to dusk. I loved fostering connections during the canoe day trips, as time in the canoe and on the island allowed me for some longer conversations with retreaters.
Our first canoe day trip group was obsessed with jumping off the rock. They jumped, jumped, and jumped again! On the way back Nora was duffing in the middle of the aptly named Rodent canoe. To her surprise a little mouse popped out of Ashley’s day pack. They tried to rescue the mouse but it jumped out and swam to shore (we hope). As the canoe was pulling up to the portage, a second mouse hopped out of Ashley’s pack! We couldn’t believe it. It was definitely a high of the retreat for me as we laughed, a lot.
On the third day we were all exhausted and very hot during the afternoon yoga class. Bonnie led us through an invigorating flow but we all burst into deep belly laughs when she cued us to move from boat pose into a chaturanga, and we were like, “what!!??” It was great.
We shared many intimate moments and I know we all left feeling stronger, rejuvenated, and resilient. Until next year friends!
Second Retreat: Open to Possibilities
This retreat group included many returning Adventure Awaits retreaters and newbies. All excited for the wilderness, fun, and seclusion ahead. The weather was HOT (unusual highs of 90 degrees nearly every day, but that didn’t stop us from playing hard! From ages 25 to 74 years young, this group had adventures to remember. They took full advantage of all that Birchwood and the edge of the BWCA had to offer.
I absolutely love witnessing fresh-faced yogis entering a new yoga retreat experience. There’s nothing better than seeing the newness of it all soak in and resonate. New connections, aha moments, challenges, and lifelong memories.
One of my favorite things to witness at this retreat was that all of the returning Adventure Awaits retreaters reported trying new things that they hadn’t the year before. Whether it was trying out rock climbing, steering the canoe, portaging, jumping off a BWCA rock into the lake, waking up early for a sunrise hike, sliding down White Lightning, or taking a night time dip in the river…yoga retreat alum came hungry for more. There’s always something new to experience when you open yourself up to possibilities.
Whether they were new, or returning, we had a very special group experience all together on the edge of the BWCA.
Third Retreat: A Growing Wilderness Fire + Pre-Evacuation of the Gunflint Trail
Our third and final retreat group unfortunately had less than 24 hours at Birchwood Wilderness Camp, yet we definitely made the most of it. This group was so incredibly fun and understanding. I only wish we had had more time!.
After their arrival to our retreat on Monday, conditions to a nearby fire in the BWCA changed drastically due to heat, dryness, and high winds all day. The remote John Ek fire had been keeping its distance and not significantly growing until that day. This fire doubled in size quickly (from 800 acres to just over 1,500 acres) by Monday evening and the end of the Gunflint Trail went into pre-evacuation status. Which means, you do not have to evacuate but gather your belongings and be ready in case you do.
Our group was never in danger. We made the difficult decision to soak in the beauty and magic of Birchwood as much as we could and then make a calm, mindful, and planned early departure. We felt it important to respect our hosts and staff that live at Birchwood and call the sacred space home. We wanted to give them ample time to prepare. It was a tough call that no one wanted to make, yet it felt like the right decision.
Our Nora and Stacy insisted on staying behind to help the camp button up what they to needed in order to be ready for evacuation. These two are truly ALWAYS the best, in any and every situation. Get yourself a Nora and Stacy.
Birchwood has been in the Bredemus family for three generations. It is a special place that is very much felt the moment you step on the beloved property.
This group of women will be back. Meanwhile it gave us all the warm fuzzies as we listened to mere strangers 24 hours earlier make plans to keep their adventure alive and stay at local Airbnb’s and homes together near Grand Marais. They started a list of phone numbers to keep in touch.
Birchwood Wilderness Camp + Fairytale Wedding Ending
We keep in contact with our friends at Birchwood. All is well. Thankfully the fire and evacuation preparation was never needed. Fire conditions improved dramatically after a week and luckily our friends Ashley and Victor were able to have their planned dream wedding onsite at Birchwood Wilderness Camp with their closest friends and family present. They flew off to Paris and Italy for their honeymoon. We are SO HAPPY for the newlyweds!! Congratulations lovebirds! P.S. Check out photos of their beautiful day on Ashley’s instagram: @ashleybredemus!
