For those doing climate, environmental & social betterment work who are ready to put it down for a weekend and go play outside.
Many of us were called to our work through a deep love of community and the natural world. Somewhere along the way, between the busyness, the data, and the weight of it all, that love got a little buried under a pile of emails.
This retreat is an invitation to abandon the inbox for a few days. To get your feet muddy, eat really good food, laugh until you're embarrassing yourself, and remember that the person who fell in love with this planet is still in there.
Warning: may result in staying up too late talking, getting unreasonably excited about a bird, and remembering why you started.
Through forest therapy, nature-based activities, group conversation, creativity and play — together we'll remember what it means to deeply love our world, and how that love can sustain us in our work.
Important Details
When: Friday May 22nd – Sunday May 24th, 2026 (Not the Victoria Day long weekend)
RSVP: by April 30th
Where: The Dharma Centre of Canada, Kinmount Approx. 2hrs 45min from downtown Toronto Simple accommodations (byo bedding), 400 acres of woods & fields, delicious homemade vegetarian food
Cost: $550 Bursaries available, don't let cost be a barrier.
Payment: E-transfer to retreats@dharmacentre.org Please include the retreat name in the note section
Your Hosts: Ruth Silver & Anna Côté
Questions?: ruthjeansilver@gmail.com or anna.m.cote@gmail.com
Activities & About Your Hosts
Each day will have group meals, free time, and coordinated activities, including*:
Forest therapy
Playful games and initiations
Guided morning reflection & movement
Getting your hands dirty in the garden
Herbal tea blending & brewing
Council of All Beings ritual to reconnect
Native plant walk to learn about our more-than-human friends on the land
Collective art creation with natural materials
Evening bonfire & celebration
Invitations to reflect, share and engage in heartfelt conversation
*Activities are subject to change.
Arrival: between 3-5pm on Day 1
Departure: after lunch on Day 3
Ruth Silver is out to make the world a brighter, happier place, starting with the people in it. With a Masters of Landscape Architecture from Harvard and as the founder of Groundswell, Ruth provides human-centred design support for clients. In addition, she’s a certified Forest Therapy Guide, providing the people of Toronto regular opportunities to connect with urban nature. Ruth believes in the power of love and play as essential tools to facing the challenges of our time.
Anna Côté is a lifelong lover of the natural world, and the principal of Solstice Environmental Consultancy & Law. With over 2 decades in the environmental sector and through her experience with burnout and renewal, she believes in the importance of being human first, the gifts of community and inspiration, and the power of nature to help us remember our place. Anna’s a long-time practitioner of yoga, meditation, and more recently, herbalism.
We can’t wait for you to join us!
Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to hold your space upon registration.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations are subject to a $100 fee, which will support other low-income practitioners through our Practitioner Support Fund.
If cancellation occurs within 14 days of the retreat start date, 50% of the deposit (equivalent to 25% of the total retreat cost) will be forfeited. These funds will be directed to the Uplifted Property Fund to support the Renewal Project.