An invitation to a personal retreat weekend - come enjoy the spaces, connect with the land, be nourished by the food, find space for yourself.

Hope Springs has held sacred space for transformative experiences for 29 years perched atop Peach Mountain in Appalachian Ohio. Home to 30 acres of biodiverse woodlands, meadows and ponds, and surrounded by protected forest, the land calls us to slow down, listen deeply, and build connection.

July 18-21 we open our doors for a personal retreat weekend (3 nights). An invitation for respite, rest, and reflection, join us for a few days of nurturing care and space for whatever needs space.

Bring:

The project you’ve been working on, the book you’ve been wanting to read, the curiosity you’ve been stoking, the song you’ve been singing, the thought you’ve been wanting to think or the feeling you’ve been waiting to feel.

Come as you are.

Be supported by:

Nourishing meals, community practice, space to wander, space to wonder, time in nature.

Loosely held, this personal retreat weekend offers ample time for individual explorations and a few anchors of community based practices that you are welcome to attend or not attend based on your interest and needs. Feel welcome to seclude yourself for the weekend in our cottage, or seek out connection around the fire.

Guided offerings include:

• Daily meditation and fire in the Spirit House
• Land teaching, eco-therapy experience / forest bathing
• Sound bath
• Community Breathwork
• Yin Yoga practice

Self-Guided offerings include:

• 11 circuit labyrinth
• Outdoor fire pit
• Walking and hiking trails
• Hot tub
• Rocking chairs, hammocks, and places to sprawl out
• Art supplies for creative projects
• Yoga mats and props
• Local excursions including hikes at nearby Arc of Appalachia trails and Serpent Mound

Hosted by: Co-Operations Director Gwendolyn Ren, a guide and a gatherer holding space for both personal growth and community based healing with support from community members Stacey Pickering and Libby Smith. 

Sample Schedule:

Quiet Hours daily 10pm - 7am

All Meals are served in our dining hall and a silent table will be available. Join us there or make yourself a plate to enjoy elsewhere!

Thursday

3-5pm Arrival

6pm Dinner & Welcome

7:30pm Sound Bath

Friday

8am Breakfast

10am Spirit House Meditation & Fire

12:30pm Lunch

6pm Dinner

7:30pm Golden Hour nature walk

9:30pm Quiet Hours

Saturday

8am Breakfast

10am Spirit House Meditation & Fire

12:30pm Lunch

6pm Dinner

7:30pm Breathwork

9:30pm Quiet Hours

Sunday

9am Yin Yoga Practice

10am Brunch

12pm Departure

Registration 

Each of the 13 guest rooms on property is booked per room with a sliding scale price, with options for single, double, or triple occupancy. If you would like to be matched with a roommate please book a "shared room, matched roommate" (limited spaces available). Pricing is for a 4 day / 3 night retreat and includes lodging, all meals, and optional programming.

Sliding Scale

Committed to accessibility for guests and stability for the organization and its employees, Hope Springs Institute sets its fees and rates to reflect reciprocal exchange and mutual support.

The sliding scale model represented here relies on honest reflection and trust. Before claiming your rate on a sliding scale, we ask that you consider your economic privilege. A helpful resource to do so has been created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk: Sliding Scale as a tool for Economic Justice. The standard rate represents the full cost of this program, while the “supporting community” rate offers a “pay it forward” model to off-set the “supported community” rate, which aims to make these gatherings more possible for a broader range of folks with different circumstances and resources. Get stretchy, but stay safe, and please consider the reminder that sliding scale is not a sale, or a pay-what-you-want structure. Making your share of an equitable contribution might mean that you are still making sacrifices, or prioritizing this experience over something else. Consider payment plans as ways to balance the cost (you can register with a deposit with the balance due before the retreat begins).

Fees for this Hope Springs led program go toward room & board, credit card processing fee, operational costs, facilitator stipends, and future scholarships/program support.

May we rejoice in a system of our creation offering support to us both. And if any questions arise, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Cottages: separate entrance to private room with two twin beds & small kitchenette. Shared bathroom with identical room, housed in the same cottage and connected by a Jack & Jill style bathroom. 2 available.

Studio: separate entrance to private room with a private bathroom, please note: the central studio space will be used for evening gatherings, which will conclude by 9pm. 3 available.

Farmhouse: a room in our historic farmhouse with a shared bathroom. Each room has two separate beds (varying sizes), 5 available:

Pricing:

• single occupancy, $800 (supporting rate: $1000, supported rate: $600)
• double occupancy (price is the total for 2 people), $1400 (supporting rate: $1900, supported rate: $1100)
• triple occupancy (price is the total for 3 people), $1950 (supporting rate: $2700, supported rate: $1500)
• shared room, matched roommate, $700 (supporting rate: $800, supported rate: $500)

Camping: bring your tent and all your gear and set up on the lawn or tucked into the trees! You'll have access to showers/bathrooms and all meals are provided.

• camping rate, per person, $500 (supporting rate: $600, supported rate: $400)

Questions?: reach out to gwen@hopespringsinstitute.org