"Shamrock" cabin, one of three we stay in.
I began these retreats in 2016 as a way to bring together the skills I've learned as a nature guide, personal trainer, and yoga teacher. They're now my favourite part of the year, and I'm delighted to share them with you!
No need to be an adventure or yoga pro here - beginners are very welcome. We'll teach you what you need to know, and we’ve taken care of the logistics so you can make the most of your time in this beautiful place. Hope you can join us!
-Meagan
Meagan Walker & Sarah Eby
8 of 8 spots open
Meagan Walker & Weronika Walker
8 of 8 spots open
Registration opens in January, but folks on the email list get first dibs!
Activities Included in All Retreats:
Specialized Workshops:
While all retreats share a focus on self-care, time in nature, and meaningful connections, how we do that will also be influenced by the unique skills of my co-guides! Here's a sample of what each guide brings (+ read their more detailed bios below):
About Our Meals:
Sample Itinerary:
The daily specifics are group and weather-dependent, but you can expect something like this:
6:30am Optional morning yoga class, meditation, or paddle
7:30am Breakfast
9:00am Go on a hike or paddle
1:00pm Lunch
2:00pm Afternoon workshop
5:00pm Free time or optional yoga
6:30pm Dinner
8:00pm Evening meditation or fire
9:30pm Move toward bed, reading, or stargazing
Thursday arrival time: between 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Sunday departure time: between 10:00 - 11:00 am
Where:
Avalon Eco Resort on Tyson Lake
476 Highway-637
Killarney, ON
Who:
This is a women's retreat.
No previous hiking, camping, paddling, or yoga skill needed.
Ability to navigate rocky and moderately hilly trails required for 2-hr hike.
How Much:
$1165/person, all fees & taxes included.
$300 deposit required to save your spot, balance of $865 due by June 1st.
Includes all meals, accommodation, & equipment. All rooms are shared.
Travel:
Getting there is up to you, but carpool can be organized.
Questions?
Registration opens in January, but you can join the email list to be the first to know!
In accordance with the provincial requirements set by the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), I have partnered with registered agent Coreen Doucett (#50021282) to handle payment logistics. Once you submit your registration to me, I will connect you with Coreen for payment.
Sarah and I met through our yoga teacher network, and I liked her from the get-go as we "nerded out" about how neat the body is! I count myself lucky to be both friend and physio patient to her. :)
Sarah's motto is “move, nature, nourish, sleep, connect" and it has served her well over the years. She began her journey into physiotherapy in 2006, and has since taught at the University of Toronto in the Master of Science in Physiotherapy Program, where she was once a student.
A true lover of learning, she has also completed courses in acupuncture, yoga, Pilates, and the "Integrated Systems Model" approach which looks at the entire body, not just the spot that hurts. She emphasizes patient empowerment, and I know you'll find her just as wonderful as I do.
Find Sarah at Root Physiotherapy
Weronika (Polish spelling of Veronica) and I met in 2016, and the happiness I felt at her "officially" becoming my sister-in-law in 2022 was eclipsed only by her moving to Cambridge in 2023. It's great to have her so close!
Wero is one of the most creative and caring individuals I know, and her culinary skills are legendary within our family. She has an incredible eye for walking in the forest and tends to point out little details that will enhance your appreciation of any space.
As a birth doula, Wero is especially passionate about women's health and our relationships to our bodies. She has a Masters in Public Health and has also begun the process of becoming an herbalist, cultivating a refreshingly balanced view of clinical and natural health practices.
Find Wero at Fern & Nettle Doula
Sign up for the retreats email list in case any spots open on full trips, and I'll give you first dibs on next year's retreats too!
You'll also receive my monthly-ish newsletter with tips, tutorials, and resources.
Shebahonaning means “canoe passage” in Anishinaabemowin, and refers to the sheltered channel created by George Island at the town of Killarney. (The name Shebahonaning was arbitrarily changed to “Killarney'' by the postal service in the 1850s.)
Many Indigenous peoples in this region descend from Anishinaabe ancestors, who have been residents and caretakers of this land for thousands of years. These ancestors include the Ojibwe (Chippewa), the Odawa (Ottawa), the Algonquians, and the Potawatomi. Many Métis families have also called Killarney home since the early 1800’s.
I would like to acknowledge that we are on the ancestral lands of these peoples, currently including the Wikwemikong Anishinabek, the Anishinabek of Whitefish River, the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, the Sagamok Anishnawbek, and the Mississauga First Nations of Blind River. This land is affected by the Robinson-Huron treaty of 1850.
Killarney Provincial Park was formed with help of the Ontario Society of Artists in 1964. Much work has been done to heal the environmental damage caused by resource extraction, including far-reaching acid rain from industrial smelting in Sudbury.
During this retreat we are indulging in the privileges of recreation and resource usage provided to us by colonial rule. I ask that everyone take time to consider the impact of our environmental footprints, and how we can balance the goals of conservation with the rights of Indigenous peoples as residents and stewards of the land.
I hope you will be inspired to take up the responsibility of reconciliation and environmental stewardship with me! If you have any questions or would like action and learning suggestions, I would be more than happy to chat. :)
I believe in reciprocity, and so 20% of each retreat's profits are split between The Friends of Killarney Park and Gwekwaadziwin Miikan.
No, as the Avalon is not that big and usually books up far in advance. Each cabin holds 4 people. There are private spaces in each cabin to change though!
Our cabins are the closest to the bathrooms, about 20 meters away. They're in a building with 5 rooms that have hot showers, flush toilets, and sinks. It's just the right amount of rustic!
Not many at the Avalon itself, sometimes more along certain portions of the hike or around dusk. As such, it's always a good idea to bring some bug spray if you're someone who tends to get eaten.
You'll need to be able to manage rocky and moderately hilly trails for the 2-hour hike, but we take it pretty easy so you don't have to be an athlete.
The yoga and paddling is also geared toward beginners so you don't need any experience. We'll teach you what you need to know and have plenty of modifications to share!
All activities are also optional, so if you'd like to do most of the trip but want to skip out on something, no problemo.
We provide all the equipment and food you'll need, so you just need to bring your personal belongings and some blankets/sleeping bag. If you have a kayak or other gear you'd like to bring, feel free!
We'll send you a comprehensive packing list before the trip, and we always bring a few extra things just in case.
I'm a very small operation and I want to keep these retreats affordable, so that means I don't have a lot of wiggle room!
If someone books a spot that means I pay for the supplies and accommodations for that person. If I turn someone else away and then the person who booked cancels, I can be left in a tight spot!
In Ontario, anyone providing accommodations or transportation must be registered with the Travel Insurance Council of Ontario (TICO). As I am not a travel agent and therefore cannot register with them myself, I am required by law to work with a registered agent.
But good news! I have the lovely Coreen Doucett to organize payment logistics, you'll find her friendly and efficient.
(TICO #5002 1282 - The Travel Agent Next Door, 1003-55 York St. Toronto, ON M5J 1R7)
Copyright © 2018 Meagan Walker, Resilience In Motion™ - All Rights Reserved.
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