While paddling, day hiking, and camping, we quietly mingle with the wild ones of the shore and forest~the moose, deer, squirrel, fox, great blue heron, the eagle, the hawk, the loon. Creation’s perfection brings awe & reverence. All the while, we find our spirit & power by learning at our own pace in the comradery of women. To bring you greater peace and freedom, we blend a balanced mix of holistic offerings, be it guided meditation, gentle yoga, or mindfulness practices. We connect circles of women in nature, finding community and support in a world crying out for more.

Our trip fees include all canoe and camping gear, professionally guided excursion, organic, home-cooked meals & artfully designed holistic nature retreat. Along the waterways that we visit, there is a privy, fire circle, and picnic tables for your comfort. Group rates are available for 4-12 guests. We personalize retreats to meet your needs & interests. Fee ranges are based upon your ability to pay through a self-assessed sliding scale. The NTN airport shuttle is available round trip from Portland, Maine, by request, for an additional $30. All returning NTN participants take 10% off trip fee.

Many women join retreats listed on the calendar page without knowing anyone else. Some bring friends, co-workers, or family along. Others have designed a personalized canoe retreat with their own circle of women.

Our retreats are geared for novice and experienced paddlers~outdoorswomen, alike. Many women have never been on a women's holistic retreat before joining us. It’s fine if you have never paddled, camped, or lit a fire outside before. We strive to bring everyone to a comfortable space close to nature & in community, gently opening your bodies, minds and hearts to all that is around and within you. You never have to worry that you are not strong enough, fit enough or experienced enough.

Many have little meditation or holistic programming exposure before joining us. Some have their own  practices  as part of their daily lives. It does not matter whether you have your own holistic practices or none at all; you are welcome here.

Most women drawn to NTN are in their 40's, 50's and 60's. The average participant's age is 47 and have ranged from 25-76. The median range of participant's age is mid-forty to mid-fifty. Age and fitness level is not a limiting factor in joining us and we welcome diversity in our gatherings. Feel free to bring along your mother, daughter, niece, grand daughter or any other woman or girl you would like to share in an enriching and fun experience with.

Many end up here with a challenging question they are facing, a fork in their path, a life transition, or a need to find their own inner strength again. Some wonder, "who am I, really, and why am I here?" Some come for community, laughter, and to do something different, just for themselves. Others want the silence, away from the world's demands and distractions. Many come to reclaim their connection to nature even if their husbands or partners have other interests. Some come because they are single and feel safer in joining  a group on an adventure rather than exploring alone.

Consider retreating with like-minded women seeking greater connection and exploration. We bet you will wonder why you haven't done this a long time ago!

Whatever path leads you to NTN, we are confident that you will depart as a close community of friends connecting in  a soulful, lasting way.

Trip Activities:

NTN will provide a combination of the following opportunities during your excursion, tailored to meet you and your group’s needs. Retreats may be from a day to over a week long. We design retreats to gently meet your level of comfort, fitness and skills in living and traveling  outdoors.  Take the time to:

Develop mind-body-spirit unity through: ~guided meditations ~breath work ~practicing chakra clearing ~gentle and restorative yoga ~journaling ~Reiki practice  ~solo vision time Explore inner and outer worlds through:  ~enhancing awareness & 6th sense ~developing  wilderness living skills ~philosophy teachings  ~solo reflective and sitting time        Experience group cohesiveness: ~live and play cooperatively ~develop trust in own abilities & others ~song, chants and shared stories ~build team & community

Recreational Activity Options: Canoeing or kayaking on crystal clear lakes and meandering rivers Scenic day hiking amidst the serenity of lakes and mountains Primitive camping in quiet forests, on secluded islands, and pristine beaches Snow shoeing traversing pure, snow-covered landscape in the crisp winter air

A Typical Day:
We offer an opportunity to live simply and connect closely to the earth. It is as if we are traveling back in time, when the basic elements of the earth, the air, the fire, and the water were an integral part of our existence. Distractions, obligations and responsibilities fade away as we travel along the pristine waterways in the way that native peoples did not so long ago. The canoe and paddle propelled by our bodies, naturally and rhythmically, sooth our senses into the oneness that is all around us.

On our wilderness retreats,  we connect with the natural rhythm and cycle of the planet by being present to the rising and setting of the sun and moon, the stars, the wind, the clouds, and the rain;  the elements that we are so buffered from in our day to day living in the structured world. Whenever possible, we set up a base camp that we settle into and then explore the landscape from a home base. Never is our traveling about how many miles we can cover or how long we can push ourselves.

Before we begin our journey, we come together reviewing canoe safety and  instruction,  and "how-to's" relating to your specific retreat to be sure everyone is comfortable and prepared for our journey. Often times, women have little or no experience in paddling and we take pride in helping everyone to feel comfortable and successful in their experience with us. Following instruction, we  load our gear as a group and travel the short distance to our first night's home. Whenever possible, we stay at this first location 2 consecutive nights to allow for a gentle entry into our experience.

Typically, on the mornings that we are not traveling on, we offer programming to help bring in peace and awareness. We circle for a guided meditation, awareness exercise, discussion, or group or partner activity, weaving mindfulness in all that we do. We then break for lunch and afternoon free time  to reflect, journal, play, explore the landscape, or whatever feels right at the time. We circle again later in the afternoon to progress along with our awareness skills. As we continue along the journey, the world starts to open and answers or direction to some of life's questions becomes more clear. Perhaps questions that were stirring deeply begin to become apparent. We may close our day with a meditation, song, reading, or some other sharing around the fire, depending upon the group's needs.

On the days when we travel on to the next destination of our adventure, we rise early and pack our clothing, break down camp, and head out to experience what nature has to teach us, paddling an appropriate amount for the group's ability. Upon arrival at our next remote campsite, we settle in again, feast and rest. When ready, we continue our retreat with more progression along the path of awareness and mindfulness.

A few of our retreats involve setting up a home base for the entire retreat and exploring the landscape on day excursions. Mingled with the exploration, we incorporate holistic programming to bring you closer to home. Please see the calendar page for full details on each retreat.

"Our true home is in the present moment. The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment. Peace is all around us ~in the world and in nature~ and within us~in our bodies and our spirits. Once we learn to touch this peace, we will be healed and transformed. It is not a matter of faith; it is a matter of practice. We need only to bring our body and mind into the present moment, and we will touch what is refreshing, healing, and wondrous." Thich Nhat Hanh