5 Reasons to Love our Family Yoga + Nature Retreat
April 4-6, 2025! We are hosting a family yoga + nature retreat at Whitewater State Park. This is in the stunning driftless region of southeast Minnesota!
Important Retreat Notes:
This retreat is nearly full! We have space for only TWO more families!
We have availability for families with kiddos in the range of 5-10 years old and/or 11-15 years old.
We are FULL in our 4-year-old & younger programming. However we highly encourage adding your information to our application, and we will contact you if a waitlist spot for your family becomes available!
QUESTION: Does the following combination excite you, as much as it does me?
FLY FISHING
YOGA
NATURE CLUB
HIKING
If so, I think you’re going to want to learn more about this family opportunity. I am highlighting 5 REASONS TO LOVE OUR UPCOMING FAMILY YOGA + NATURE RETREAT! But I didn’t even mention the major affordability of this experience?!
It’s nearly unheard of to get the experience of a fishing guide + gear rental, specialty yoga, childcare + nature club, and reserved coveted State Park lodging all at this price?!
We do our best to keep all of our retreats affordable and accessible. That said, our first time at a brand-new venue is always the best opportunity for the deal of a lifetime. So let me present to you an amazing deal for a family getaway!
Without further ado ……
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
This retreat location at Whitewater State Park is COVETED. When I tell you the reservation process was cut throat…. I’m not even exaggerating! To secure a weekend, a year in advance, for this special experience is truly unique!
When we visited last Spring, it’s not hard to see why it’s so popular. The group center at this Minnesota State Park is spectacular. It’s ideal for a family experience.
Amenities and features include:
Quaint, clean, and nice heated camper cabins. (note: my photos of the bunkbeds below are dated as they’ve recently upgraded all bunks to new wooden beds)
A short walk to the dining hall/group center/commercial kitchen.
A short walk to the spacious showerhouse.
An easy stroll to the campfire ring and picnic tables that are riverside!
And last, but not least - the RIVER! The Whitewater River is a stunning, shallow and gentle river, with a backdrop of iconic driftless region bluffs, adorned with hiking trails. (*chef’s kiss*) This is a dream location. The river alone will provide hours of entertainment for kids and adults alike. Give my sons a stick + a stream and they’re in literal heaven.
FUN FACT! I do believe the unofficial motto of this park is, “There are no mosquitoes!” Due to the moving water in the Whitewater River, the mosquitoes do not find a happy home here as they do in Minnesota’s beautifully still lakes and ponds.
2. TOP NOTCH STAFF
The team at this retreat is truly talented. Decades of experience with both working with kids, particularly in nature & outdoor environments, and with yoga + fishing. Your entire family is in amazing and capable hands!
Nora Woodworth: Nature Club Specialist & Yoga Teacher
Nora is an outdoor educator, with a Master’s degree in education, and a trained 200-hour yoga teacher. She is Happy Dancing Turtle’s - Driftless Region program manager, which entails designing and implementing nature educational programs for youth and adults.
Alayna Sobieniak: Nature Club Specialist & Yoga Teacher
Alayna has a degree in Early Childhood Development and has taught in various settings including forest schools, Waldorf schools, nature preschools, and Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) for the last 15 years. She is a 2nd generation owner of her family business, Root River Rod Co, Fly Shop and Guide Service in Lanesboro, Minnesota with her partner Lance Prado.
Lance Prado: Fly Fishing Guide
Lance is Head Guide and owner at Root River Rod Co in Lanesboro MN, with his partner Alayna. Lance spends most of his days rowing a drift boat and putting people on Trout and Small Mouth bass in the driftless area.
Dan Ryan: Nature Club Specialist & Fishing Guide
Dan is the owner of Dan Ryan Guide Service located in Longville, MN. He specializes in Walleye fishing, but loves any and all varieties of fishing. He spent his younger years fly fishing in Southern Minnesota.
Dan has a Master’s degree in Environmental Education. He enjoys teaching through experiential learning. In the off-season, he works at Deep Portage Learning Center in Hackensack, MN.
Bryana Cook: Retreat Director & Yoga Teacher
Bryana lives in Longville, MN with her husband Dan Ryan and their 2 boys (3 & 5). She specializes in creating meaningful yoga and outdoor experiences. She co-owns Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats. She’s been teaching yoga and leading outdoor adventures for over a decade. Incorporating children & family yoga, mindfulness, and intentional outdoor excursions is a passion!
This is sincerely a dream combination of educators and leaders for my kiddos to get to spend their weekend with. I’m excited for YOURS to have this experience with us!
3. FAMILY TIME (yet space for an intentional breather)
I’m thrilled to be able to provide both quality and intentional family activities, as well as adult-only and kid-only activities. Want to practice yoga without your kiddo for an hour? We’ve got you covered. Want to fly fish peacefully? You can!
We will be providing nature club activities, as well as kid’s yoga & mindfulness activities.
4. VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES
Blending fly fishing (did we mention gear is included?), hiking, nature activities, yoga & mindfulness is sincerely a dream for me. To intentionally bring these elements together for my own two boys (3 & 5 years old), and to invite other families who also find this combination exciting, is such a treat for me!
The opportunity to fly fish so easily, nice and close to the rest of the activities, is truly unbelievable!
The hiking is also stunning. Gentle and flat hiking trails loop around the group center. Looking for more stunning views and heights? Well Whitewater State Park has that! There are more challenging hikes that loop around the tops of the bluffs. Views for days + interesting rock formations galore!
5. KICK-OFF SPRING MINDFULLY
Living in Northern Minnesota, my family LOVES to “chase Spring down South”. We’vemade it an annual tradition for many years. We head down to the uniquely beautiful driftless region in Minnesota, hike the bluffs, and admire the signs of Spring. Birds, wildlife, and plants begin to burst with life. It’s inspiring to observe. I can’t wait to do this at Whitewater State Park with other yoga & outdoor-loving families this year!
