Thursday, April 25th, 2024

Arrival/ Check-In 4:00-8:00 pm

When you arrive at Johnston Woods Retreat Center on Thursday evening, the communal fire will welcome you to our forest. The Woodsong team will warmly greet you and point you in the direction of your cabin. You will have time and space to get settled in and explore. There are many trails located near the lodge and cabins. You can leisurely wander down to the main lake and find a peaceful nook to soak in the surrounding beauty.

Massage TherapY

Each person’s mental wellbeing is deeply connected to their embodied wellbeing. When you register for Wholly Wild, you may choose to schedule a massage throughout the weekend. Openings will be made available starting on Thursday evening. We invite you to show kindness to your body in this way through the powerful, healing touch of a caring massage therapist. Woodsong is proud to partner with the Massage Institute of Cleveland, and other local massage therapists, for the bodywork offered at Wholly Wild.

Dinner 6:30 PM

Meals will be time of life-giving fellowship throughout Wholly Wild.

All lodging and meals are included in the retreat. Meals are catered by Johnston Woods Retreat Center and all dietary restrictions and preferences can be met.

Welcome Fire

Enjoy a quiet evening around a communal fire outside of Johnston Woods’ beautiful lodge.

Friday, April 26th, 2024

Breakfast and Nature Journaling 7:00-9:00 AM

From the time you wake, you are encouraged to engage your senses at Wholly Wild. We invite you to start your morning with a mindful walk, a sit spot, and some nature journaling—wander down to the lake, watch the fish rise to eat their breakfast, sit beneath the fiery pink azaleas, and munch on a lovely bite of wood sorrel as you make your way back to the lodge.

Morning Circle 9:00 am

We will connect in the lodge with a morning poem, Woodsong’s morning song, and take time to review all of the special rhythms of the day.

Hike to Woodsong Forest School: Session, tour and Observation 9:15 am-1:00 pm

Woodsong is located 1 mile from Johnston Wood’s lodge. The retreat participants will make their way to Woodsong after the morning circle. They will journey together on a hike through the glorious, old growth forest of Johnston Woods. The joyful sound of children playing in the forest will greet the ears of those who draw near to our forest kindergarten site. We will make our way to Woodsong’s pavilion space, overlooking the lake, and connect with Woodsong’s founder and director, Bonnie Elliott Cretton. Bonnie will offer inspiration and intention as she introduces the forest school model, tells Woodsong’s beautiful story of growth, and describes how her team has taken the concept of forest kindergarten and expanded it to create a full-time K-5th grade nature-based school. The group will be separated into smaller groups for observation purposes and will receive a tour of all of Woodsong’s programs/classes. Snacks and teas will be made available at the pavilion.

Lunch 1:15-2:00 pm

After an engaging and joyful experience at Woodsong, we will hike back to the lodge for lunch.

Wild Exploration 2:00-5:00 pm

The morning will be a wonderful inhale of information and inspiration, and the afternoon will provide an exhale for life-giving exploration. You can choose to find life and rest in whatever way serves your heart, mind, and body best. There are miles of open trails offered at Johnston Woods to explore while trail running, biking, or hiking. Feel free to take a good book and rest in a hammock by the lake, or explore the lake on one of the watercraft offered. You can also sign up for a massage during this time as well.

Guided Group Meditation 5:00-5:30 pm

Everything offered at Wholly Wild is simply an invitation without expectation. Before dinner, if you would like to join Bonnie for a guided group meditation in the meadow by the lake, you are welcome to soak in this sweet time of soul nourishment.

Dinner 5:30-7:00 pm

Dinner will be a lovely time of feasting and connection, gathering around the table—eye to eye—and breaking bread with one another. We will take time to intentionally reflect on the day with some guided small group questions. At Woodsong, we believe in the power of healthy dialogue and we hope to engage our new friends in this thoughtful way. We will also highlight a panel of our session leaders.

Fireside Bluegrass Concert with Water Oak Ramblers & Fawley

After dinner, we will go on an adventurous night hike to a secret location. In this place, a magical fire will be burning—one that is fueled by the sound of bluegrass and earthy folk music. In southeast Appalachia, our culture is shaped by music that is deeply connected to the earth’s rhythms and the story of what it means to be human. Two local bands, Fawley and Water Oak Ramblers, will be playing in this evening’s Wholly Wild secret show. We invite you to gather ‘round the fire, enjoy the music, make a new friend, and dance under the night sky. After the concert, there will most likely be an open jam session—a good old fashioned pickin’ circle. The best part about pickin’ circles is that if you play an instrument, you are welcome to join. Feel free to bring an instrument to the fire if you play one!

Saturday April 27th, 2024

Sunrise Yoga 7:00-8:00 am

On Saturday, we will rise in the threshold of twilight to greet the sun with gratitude.  This morning’s glowing fire in the hearth will mirror the light in our hearts as we unify our minds, bodies, and spirits through cultivating a deep connection with our breath in this beautiful flow yoga practice. Yoga is a life-giving way to start the day, and this practice will nourish your whole self as you deeply center and cultivate presence. All levels are welcome. Extra mats can be made available.

Breakfast and Nature Journaling 8:00-9:00 am

After breakfast, we invite you to take your journal and coffee/tea out on the porch of the lodge, sit in a rocking chair and quietly soak in the spring birdsongs of our flying friends as they joyfully sing the world awake. Or, perhaps you wander into the forest and nestle against Grandma Oak, as you rest in stillness and observe the morning rhythms of the natural world. The practice of nature journaling allows one to commune with nature in a creative way, expressing your inner thoughts through sketching, poetry, and reflection.

Morning Circle 9:00-9:30 AM

We will pause this morning to connect over a morning poem and song, and we will take a moment to review the flow and rhythms of the day. There will be space to gather all that you need for the morning as you make your way to your first session.

Session 1 9:30-10:30 am

Each session offered at Wholly Wild is intentionally designed to fully engage your mind, body, and heart. These experiential and inspirational sessions will act as a powerful catalyst for the growth and nourishment of your vocation. You may choose to participate in four of the sessions.

Sessions will be offered on topics such as:

Science of Awe

Herbalism and Plant Walk

Appalachian Reptile Encounter

Wilderness Survivalist Skills

Montessori in the Forest

The Importance of Risky Play

Wild Edibles

Mindful Discipline

Power of Storytelling

Ephemeral Nature-Based Art

Developing Standards-Based Nature Rooted Curriculum

Creek Exploration

Meaningful Handwork with Children

Pond Study

Intentional Qualitative Student Assessment

Session 2 10:45-11:45 am

Lunch Noon-1:00 pm

Session 3 1:15-2:15 PM

Session 4 2:30-3:30 pm

Wild Exploration 3:30-5:30 Pm

At Wholly Wild, we will flow through our days following the rhythm of the breath. Our morning will be delightfully engaging, with so much to learn, and our afternoon will be an adventurous exhale. During Saturday’s wild exploration, you can sign-up to participate in a guided trail run, hike, or bike ride. If you are feeling brave, you can sign-up to have a blast in a SUP yoga class that will be offered on the lake this afternoon. We invite you to be present and to offer your body the restoration that it needs—whether through rest or adventure!

Dinner 5:30-6:30 pm

We will gather together around the table to connect over a delicious meal, and savor the sweet fellowship of new friends.

Evening Gathering 6:30-8:00 PM

After dinner, we will make our way outside to the communal fire circle for intentional reflection, storytelling, and a drum circle.

Outdoor Dance Party 8:00-10:00 pm

This magical experience will be one of the highlights of Wholly Wild! Have you ever been to a dance party in the woods, beside a beautiful lake, under the stars? DJ Corbin creates a whimsical experience for everyone; the trees are subtly illuminated with colorful lights, a piece of art is woven together with the music he chooses to play, and a feeling of collective effervescence will permeate your being. We invite you to step outside of your comfort zone, to feel the music flow through your body in the same way that the wind will flow through the trees around you, and to freely allow the rhythm of life to nourish your heart. Dancing beckons us to be fully alive, present, and fully embodied—as our wholly wild selves.

Stargazing 10:00 PM

As the music fades, we will leave the vibrancy of the lake to walk through the forest to a wide open field at Johnston Woods. The night song of the babbling brook and its frogs will serenade us on our journey, and the half moon will light our path. When we get to the field, blankets will be made available for you to stretch out under the night sky and bask in the expanse of the stars. If you would like to commune with the night sky in a more intimate way, you can use one of the telescopes that will be made available. A local astronomer will be joining us this evening to point out and share the stories of our spring constellations. This lovely experience will saturate our whole beings with awe.