Adventure Awaits Retreats Recap
Adventure Awaits…. four years in a row!
We’ve brought women to Birchwood Wilderness Camp and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness since August 2020.
We’ve pushed ourselves to our own personal edge, gotten quiet enough to listen to ourselves and the critters + natural world, laughed until we cried, fell in sync with the woods, and left with a sense of love and longing for the magic that is Birchwood Wilderness Camp.
Each retreat is unique. While the concept and planning is mostly the same, each group has a unique experience given the unique make-up of the leaders, group participants, weather, and more! Retreat one had a uniquely chilly and rainy adventurous experience. Retreat two brought sunshine and heat! Both groups had many similar adventures, but also completely unique-to-them outcomes.
Thank you so much to our retreaters in group one and two!!
Whether it was your first time or fourth time retreating with us at Birchwood, it was a special experience to share the wilderness with you. Thank you for adventuring with us.
Retreat Group One
Retreat Group Two
To be transparent…this blog is hard for me to write.
It feels really important. Because the retreat is so transformative, I don’t want to MISS anything! I want my words to jump off the page so you can really see how powerful the experience is. I also really want everyone involved to know how special they are, and how grateful I am for them. So it almost feels like there’s no way I can do that. But I’ll try.
We start with a welcome circle + yoga….
We are all about yoga at our retreats after all. Not only does a yoga class feel amazing before and after physically challenging canoe trips, it’s also the yoga sessions at Birchwood that brings all of us together. We travel every which way in the Boundary Waters during the day in small groups, and then come together to complete the experience.
We sprinkle in BWCA Day Trips….
This year we brought groups to Romance Lake and Seagull Lake again. They retreats offer unique and special experiences that never get old (in my opinion). I could go on both of these paddles day after day, year and year, and enjoy something different every time. I love them!
Romance boasts privacy, gorgeous landscapes, cliff jumping, swimming, and time to practice paddle and portaging techniques. Lunch on the high rock overlooking the quiet, serene lake is a highlight.
Seagull is a longer paddle, with more portaging and room for practice of technical paddling skills (particularly if it’s windy!). There is also a destination to the little palisades for lunch which offers stunning views for miles upon miles.
New this year, a small group ventured to the Quetico Provincial Park in Canada at each retreat!
Quetico Retreat Group One
A small group of returning Adventure Awaits retreaters were invited to apply for Remote Border Crossing Permits, 6-weeks in advance of our trip to Cache Bay to view Indigenous pictographs. The journey was quite the experiment and there was no shortage of fun and laughter.
Quetico Retreat Group Two
We got a tow from Stryde of Birchwood Wilderness Camp to “American Point”, the last place an American 25 horse motorboat can drop off canoe groups.
Then we paddled to the Quetico ranger station, where we got a riveting tutorial on all things Quetico. We marveled at the Canadian accent (as they did to us in return), and picked up some souvenirs from the island store. One of the most prized possessions we picked up was a trillium flower pin, that we found out later is a coveted “rare” pin that campers desire to earn at Birchwood.
After the ranger station, we paddled further into the Quetico to view the pictographs, paddle around to view the scenery, and search for a lunch spot. As we approached the pictograph cliffside we had a rapid-fire explosion of cool wildlife unfold in front of us: a loon nearby with an eagle right overhead….lovely! BUT THEN, two otters scurried up the cliff as we approached the pictograph cliff - wow even more lovely! Then… we witnessed the pictographs and marveled at the story, art, and work behind them so many years ago.
We learned from the Quetico ranger that the pictographs are a sacred site, and as such Indigenous elders have informed them that taking photos would be disrespectful. They did say that after viewing the pictographs one could draw what they recall seeing as this would represent effort put in, to respect the effort that was given to create the pictographs in the first place. Here we have some photos of us paddling toward the pictographs, but out of respect did not take photos of the cliffside with the pictographs.
Retreat One played in the rain!
We incorporated some rain day play on the first full day of retreat one. Our rain day included, a day canoe trip to Romance Lake with Shannon McGrath, archery at Birchwood with Nemo, meditation and journaling with Jessica Baumhofer Frank, map and compass workshop with Nora, and an art workshop by Duke at Birchwood. Everyone enjoyed sauna + dips in the Seagull River despite the rain and temps! Of course, everyone enjoyed either taking part in White Lightning sessions (200 ft waterslide) or viewing and cheering on the spectacle.
Throughout the weekend the retreaters enjoyed a mix of thoughtful yoga classes. Our “animal themed” yoga classes (that we now incorporate every year) were focused on fox and hummingbird! Here is a reading from Jessica Baumhofer Frank’s hummingbird yoga class:
The second full day, we started with rain in the morning and mostly got back on track with our day trips and schedule. Canoeing day trips to Romance, Seagull, and Cache Bay happened. A small group also canoed over to the rock climbing location and got a little climb in once the rocks were dry!
The last night concluded with a very relaxing yoga and sound bowls session with Jessica Baumhofer Frank.
Then after dinner, the group walked over to the legendary “Eagle’s Nest” rock for the best view of Seagull River and a good ole’ campfire. For our campfire tradition, we gather with Birchwood Wilderness Camp staff and our retreaters to enjoy Birchwood + Boreal Bliss campfire traditions. Story-telling, skits, awards, kudos, and songs around the campfire. The stars came out that night and the Perseid meteor shower gave a show.
Parting thoughts from Stacy Nightwine on Retreat One:
“ This was the first retreat I’ve ever led without Bry or Amanda being there. It was a great first time. I of course worry if everyone is having fun….does everyone like the way I teach? Of course at the closing circle all my insecurities were diminished because everyone had such a great time and thanked me for an awesome retreat. I can't wait to go back to Birchwood but also so happy and thankful I now have the confidence to do a BWCA trip of my own.
When things seem like they are not not going your way….float into your stillness and collect the days, weeks, months, of sweet moments. Remember you can always come back to your true North.”
In true Boreal Bliss tradition, Stacy will leave you with her haiku from the last morning….
Nature is the best
Floating into your stillness
Finding your true North
Retreat Two played in the sunshine!
We had gorgeous weather during the second retreat. Paddling and swimming the first day was a dream. We had the perfect weather to paddle to Romance and Cache Bay on the big like that is Saganaga.
The rock climbing groups also had great dry weather!
The second day, the paddle was a litttttlllee bit trickier as the wind picked up. It made for a challenging and powerful day, particularly for the Seagull Lake group as they traveled across larger water.
Our last night concluded with relaxing myofascial release + yoga and sound bowls on the deck. Our tired and sore bodies welcomed the relief a little tennis ball can offer! We used straps and blocks as well to ease into a juicy and gentle practice.
Parting thoughts from Bryana Cook on Retreat Two:
“I will never stop being in awe of what happens at Birchwood Wilderness Camp. Gather a bunch of adventurous yoga and outdoor enthusiasts in the woods and it all just comes together in a way that I am so inspired by.
Whether it’s rock climbing for the first time, paddling or portaging a canoe, singing a song at the campfire, zipping down the giant waterslide or embracing the dirt….I love witnessing it all. Everyone arrives one way and leaves sparkling (in a covered with dirt kind of way), fresh from novel experiences.
Thank you for trusting us to guide you. Four years later I’m still in awe.”
I’ll end my thoughts with the final poem I read in savasana on the last morning of the retreat. This was written by Emory Hall.
Final thoughts from Nora (Doc) Woodworth on retreat one AND two:
“For the 4th year running, I went up to the end of the gunflint trail to guide for the Adventure Awaits Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats hosted at Birchwood Wilderness Camp at the end of the gunflint. There is yoga in the morning/evening & a whole lot of adventuring inbetween. These ladies pushed themselves out of their comfort zones by leaving everyday comforts behind to paddle in all weather (some even completing a remote area border crossing into Canada!), rock climb, shoot out of a 200 ft water slide at alarmingly fast rates, portage a canoe, conquer land and water swings, use a map and compass, learn about the nature around the , & so much more. We give these women space to let go of daily responsibilities, to let their inner child out to play, & to redefine who they are & what's important. Most walk away surprised & proud of what they're capable of. It is an empowering experience to be a part of & I'm truly humbled.” - Nora
Nora has been at every single Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreat at Birchwood. That makes… 9 retreats!!
Nora is multi-talented and we are so grateful she joins us every year. She is an environmental educator with Happy Dancing Turtle - Driftless Region. She is also a 200hour certified yoga teacher through Boreal Bliss. Nora gave us everything from informative fox facts in yoga class, to bird and scat identification, to canoe paddling and portaging skills. Thank you Doc!!
As promised, here is Nora’s savasana reading during her fox yoga classs:
“Red fox have the largest distribution of any land predator on earth. They are mindful of their surroundings. Keen observers, quick adapters, able to thrive in an extremely wide variety of settings.
But scientists believe one of their keys to success is their internal compass. Fox are thought to have a ring of shadow on their retina caused by earth’s magnetic fields. This shadow allows them to consistently line up with prey at an exact distance, so their pounces are more accurate.
When aligned with their true north, fox successfully catch their prey 74% of the time. When not aligned, their success drops to 18%.
We, too, have an internal compass. When it is aligned with our morals and ethics, and to true north, we find success, just like the fox. But sometimes, it becomes misaligned.
Check your internal compass. Is it aligned to your true north?
Take time during this retreat to remind yourself of your values. What makes your soul hum and your heart sing? What brings joy and laughter? What courage can you find to take actions you are proud of and show kindness to others? To yourself?
Channel your inner fox - take note of the world around you and follow your true north on life’s greatest adventures.”
Special thank you to the staff at Birchwood:
Stryde, Birchwood Wilderness Camp lifer and Penny’s wonderful partner
Uncle Dan, Birchwood Wilderness Camp lifer and Penny’s wonderful dad
Nemo, camp rock climbing extraordinaire
Nova and Scooby, camp rockstar kitchen staff
The Hogs: Gatsby, Nacho, Ocho, Nairo, Duke, Hero - camp special project staff after the camp sessions have ended
Arlo and Moses…. the gentle giants (dog and cat) of Birchwood
Penny I’m including in the next session… she’s part of Boreal Bliss now too :)
Thank you for creating space for us to frolic in the woods. Creating a female-empowering environment where we felt like we had ownership of our journey in the wilderness. Thank you for keeping us well-fed and for washing our dishes!!! wow, there’s nothing lovelier than adventuring all day and not planning, preparing, or cleaning up after being fed.
EXTRA SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:
Stacy Nightwine, Retreat Leader + Yoga Teacher
Shannon McGrath, Wilderness Canoe Guide, Photographer
Jessica Baumhofer Frank, Yoga Teacher + Group Guide
Jessica Wiens, Wilderness Canoe Guide
Amal Karim, Yoga Teacher + Group Guide
Nora Woodworth, Wilderness Canoe Guide, Yoga Teacher, Retreat Leader
Ashley (Penny) Bredemus, Retreat Leader and Site Host at Birchwood Wilderness Camp, Photographer
All of these women are absolutely instrumental in empowering our group of yoga and outdoor enthusiasts. They come together to deliver an unforgettable experience. Thank you so much for sharing your talents with this group of retreaters. You are special!
