Click here to see the full details of the schedule

We will have full days of learning and relaxing on Sat. and Sun. Oct 25th & 26th, however we will also have some optional evening classes during the week on Thursday and Friday.

• Painting Lessons

• A Sound Bath!

• Vegan and Vegetarian Cooking Classes (there will be no meat at this retreat)

• Meditation

• Yoga

• Pilates

• Tai-Chi (Slow Movements based in Martial Arts)

• Professional Massages by a Licensed Massage Therapist! (additional $)

• Nature Walks

• Sketching Instruction

• Live Music, Singer-Songwriter to listen to while Painting

• Music Jamming if you have your own instrument

• Meet a mini-community and make friends

• Manicures by a licensed manicurist (additional $)

• Herbalism demo + Tea

• Short Lectures on mental health (while participating in another activity like art)

• Poetry Class, Reading and Sharing

• Guitar and/or Banjo lessons for those who are interested

• Fire circles

One of the main goals for this retreat is for it to be affordable and within the reach of the average person.

Our base price is $150 which is significantly lower than the average retreat. If you are in need of a partial scholarship, contact Matilda directly.

• $150 includes everything on Sat. and Sun.

• With add-on prices for Thurs. and Friday as low as $19.

• As well as an extra cost for massages and manicures. This allows those who can afford more to contribute more.

• There’s also an option to contribute an extra $30 for food if you choose, regardless the same amount of food is available to all. Again, this allows those who can afford more to contribute more.

The way we are able to keep this retreat affordable is by not making profit our priority.

Our main expenses are food, art supplies, and paying our instructors.

Furthermore, we're able to keep this retreat affordable by its location. This private residence is generously donated for the weekend and allows our costs to stay low. It is where Matilda grew up and was married. The location is beautiful but it is not perfect, it has its quirks and the landscaping is not pristine.

Plus, many retreats require travel expenses, but this one is marketed to our little hometown of Salem Virginia and the surrounding areas.

Since you’re nearby, you can either drive up to the retreat each day, or camp for free!

• There are two rooms available for rent.

• However, there is endless space, at no additional cost, if you'd like to stay the night in a tent.

• You are highly encouraged to stay the night. Camping is FREE! this not only gives you the most in-depth and true immersion into nature, but it also allows you to participate in our fire circles and gives you more down time get to know the other students and participate in massages and manicures.

Although the instructors are being paid their desired rate, tipping your instructors is highly encouraged (bring some cash with you)

Art is our main focus. Particularly visual art.

There will be an almost-equal emphasis on mental health and maintaining a healthy body through nutritional rich - plant based meals.

• Although some of our topics may seem spiritual (such as meditation, Yoga, and Tai-Chi) this retreat focuses on mental health and will not be delving into any spiritual topics, philosophies, or viewpoints. However, you are more than welcome to share your own thoughts on spiritual matters. And this is not to say our leaders and teachers will not do the same in non-formal conversations, such as around the fire. But it is to say, spirituality will not be a part of our curriculum.

Further information:

Our Psychological Topics:

• Breathing 

• Calmness 

• Focus

• Surrender 

• Humility 

• Gratitude 

• “Groundedness”

• Kindness 

• Love

Our Art Lessons:

• Sketching nature

• Watercolor and Wax Painting

• Drawing and Painting Mandalas

• Composition and Movement

• Gouache Painting

• Getting into the Flow

• Color-wheel, color-harmony, and color-schemes

• Value and Contrast

• Mixed Media and collage

Other:

• Tai-Chi (Slow movements based in Martial Arts)

• Cooking and preparing plant-based nutritionally rich meals

• Guitar and/or Banjo lessons for those who are interested

• The main thing for you to know is that you will most likely be parking on grass and turn around space will be tight.

• Phones are to be kept on silent 100% of the time. It is highly encouraged to keep your phone out of sight of other students at all times. As well as out of your own sight. Best left out of reach. (Matilda hopes to follow suite, although she may need to queue up music from time to time, regardless she plans on doing this privately out of sight.

• You are highly encouraged to stay the night. Camping is FREE! this not only gives you the most in-depth and true immersion into nature, but it also allows you to participate in our fire circles and gives you more down time get to know the other students and participate in massages and manicures.

• Please tip your instructors as some are either volunteering or partially volunteering with partial pay.

• This retreat location is beautiful but it is not perfect, it has its quirks and the landscaping is not pristine.

• Although we will have many instructors, all of the art classes will be taught by Matilda Wentzel.

• Although some of our topics may seem spiritual (such as meditation, Yoga, and Tai-Chi) this retreat focuses on mental health and will not be delving into any spiritual topics, philosophies, or viewpoints. However, you are more than welcome to share your own thoughts on spiritual matters. And this is not to say our leaders and teachers will not do the same in non-formal conversations, such as around the fire. But it is to say, spirituality will not be a part of our curriculum.

• If less than 7 students sign up by Oct 12th, those who have purchased a ticket will be fully refunded, and the retreat will be postponed. (There will also an option to transfer tickets to the postponed date). Therefore, tell your friends!

  Students will be notified when we have reached 7 students and the Retreat is “a Go!”

Many, if not all classes, will be held indoors. Altho weather permitting we will be able to sketch in nature. We will conduct out nature walks even if it is raining (assuming there’s no lightning) so bring raingear.

Furthermore, some classes may be held outdoors or on the porch, weather permitting (bring a jacket)

It’s not big at all, it’s small.

Make some friends in this tight knit gathering, as space is limited to about 20 students and no more than 30.

If less than 7 students sign up by Oct 12th, those who have purchased a ticket will be fully refunded, and the retreat will be postponed. (There will also an option to transfer tickets to the postponed date). Therefore, tell your friends!

Students will be notified when we have reached 7 students and the Retreat is “a Go!”

Only a few miles from Salem Mainstreet, you’ll find our retreat location tucked up in the holler of a mountain at a private residence. This is where Matilda grew up and was married.

Exact location to be disclosed to registered students. But we will tell you it’s on the Salem side of 12 O'clock Mountain (no worries, it’s low on the road, you won’t have to drive up that windy road)

Our Art Lessons:

• Sketching nature

• Watercolor and Wax Painting

• Drawing and Painting Mandalas

• Gouache Painting

• Composition and Movement

• Getting into the Flow

• Color-wheel, color-harmony, and color-schemes

• Value and Contrast

• Mixed Media and collage

Other:

• Tai-Chi (Slow Movements based in Martial Arts)

• Cooking and preparing nutritional rich meals

• Guitar and/or Banjo lessons for those who are interested

• You are highly encouraged to stay the night. Camping is FREE! this not only gives you the most in-depth and true immersion into nature, but it also allows you to participate in our fire circles and gives you more down time get to know the other students and participate in massages and manicures.

• This multi-day “day-retreat” is only a few miles from Salem Mainstreet, and yet it’s tucked up in the holler of a mountain at a private residence. This is where Matilda grew up and was married.

• Since this is a day retreat, you can arrive each day without having to sleep over as well.

• There are 2 rooms available (with a shared bathroom and shared kitchen) for a few nights stay.

• If you choose, there will be Free primitive camping available with access to a shared bathroom, shower, and kitchen.

Food and art supplies will be provided for our art and cooking classes. And most everything else will already be taken care of for you.

However you will want to bring:

• Snacks (Although some will be provided, we highly encourage you to bring your own too)

• A sketchbook or clipboard (Mandatory to be able to participate in sketching classes)

• An easel (suggested, yet optional) Better yet a table easel or slanted-drafting-“table-top desk”

• If you join us Thursday, pack dinner or eat prior to arrival.

• Everything you need to camp. Check out this “Camping Checklist” by clicking here.

• Local Firewood (must be locally sourced)(optional)

• Bring Friends! (They do need to register)

• Instrument (optional)

• A Jacket

• Raingear (such as rain jacket or umbrella)

• We are welcoming all genders at this co-ed retreat!

• Welcoming Beginners and Advanced Artists of all Skill Levels

• We are welcoming Adults and Teens. Respectful Children may come with full supervision - one on one (i.e. one Child per one Adult). Specific Children’s activities are not provided or programed but they are welcome to participate in class along side the adults.