LOCATION
Our retreat will be held at a small retreat center in Inverness, California, where John Muir Laws has held nature journaling retreats in years past. We will be the only group at the center during this time. Located very near Tomales Bay, the center is a beautiful, rustic, comfortable 3-story redwood house with views of Tomales Bay, a chapel, a large commercial kitchen and dining area, cozy gathering rooms, an outdoor amphitheater, and shared bathrooms and shower facilities.

SCHEDULE
Please plan to arrive at as early as 3pm and no later than 5pm on Tuesday, May 28, so that you can get situated in your accommodations, take a deep breath of ocean air, and be ready for dinner and our first evening’s gathering. The retreat will end after lunch on Sunday, June 2. Each day will be fun, full, and long, and participants may opt out of classes or field trips at their discretion. Our hikes will be gentle—most will be slow and less than 1 mile. Registered participants will receive a detailed schedule as well as a suggested packing list closer to the event.

ACCOMODATIONS
Located right next to Tomales Bay, the center is a beautiful, rustic, comfortable 3-story redwood house with views of Tomales Bay, a chapel, a large commercial kitchen and dining area on the first floor, cozy gathering rooms, an outdoor amphitheater, and shared bathrooms and shower facilities. (NOTE: There is no elevator.) Here, our catering team will take care of all the meal planning, cooking, and dishes, and you get to play in nature all day. You may choose to stay in a single room, a double room, a multiple room, or you can choose to stay in your own accommodations nearby (there are plenty of rentals in the area—search “Inverness, CA” on AirBnB or check out local hotels). NOTE: Regardless of which accommodation option you choose, all meals are included and there is not a registration option that does not include meals.

MEALS
All meals from dinner on Tuesday, May 28, through lunch on Sunday, June 2, are included no matter which housing option you choose. The catering team aims to source foods from the bounty of local farmers in the area, and they will accommodate your dietary restrictions—we will send registered participants a survey to gather that information. Meals will be served buffet style in a simple dining room. There will be a hot breakfast and dinner served each day, and lunch fixings will be set out with breakfast so you can make yourself a sandwich for the field. Coffee, tea, and water are available all day. You are also welcome to bring additional snacks for yourself.

TRANSPORTATION
The nearest airport is San Francisco. We do not offer airport transfers, but we are happy to help connect participants to share rides to/from the airport. We also encourage participants driving from similar geographic areas to carpool, and we will help participants connect about those options. NOTE: We will be taking field trips during the week that require driving, and participants will share rides with those who have cars.

COST
There are four registration options. (Please note that there are only 2 single rooms on the first floor; all other rooms require 1-2 flights of stairs. All rooms have a shared bath.):

• $2,000 single: a private room with a twin/full bed, linens, and all meals included from Tuesday dinner through Sunday lunch. SOLD OUT

• $1,750 double: to share a room with 1 other person of the same gender (or per person if a couple), twin bed, linens, and all meals included from Tuesday dinner through Sunday lunch. SOLD OUT

• $1,500 multiple: share a large room with 3-6 others, twin beds, linens, and all meals included from Tuesday dinner through Sunday lunch. SOLD OUT

• $1,250 offsite: stay in your own accommodations with all meals included from Tuesday dinner through Sunday lunch. There is a motel and many Airbnbs very nearby. Search on Inverness, California. SOLD OUT

SIGN UP FOR THE WAIT LIST: If your preferred option is sold out, sign up for the wait list here. If spots open up, we will notify those on the wait list in the order they signed up.

SCHOLARSHIPS
The Wild Wonder Foundation is committed to inclusiveness, respect, and equal opportunity for everyone as we nurture and celebrate a diverse, global community of nature journalers. We have a very limited number of partial scholarships available. Those who face economic barriers, underrepresentation, and/or historic marginalization are eligible for financial support, and we will give scholarship priority to those most in need of assistance. Learn more and apply here.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
We require all participants to purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation and medical evacuation. This is to ensure that you protect yourself financially if you experience illness before departure, cancelled flights, lost baggage, or a medical incident during the event OR if we have to cancel the event due to local emergencies such as wildfire, flood, or global health crises. We recommend Travelguard for this insurance, but you are free to choose the carrier that works best for you. Cost varies depending on your age, home state, and total travel costs, but it’s affordable and well worth the peace of mind it offers. 

REFUNDS
If you cancel on/before April 15, you will receive a refund minus a $200 cancellation fee. If you cancel after that date, there will be no refunds. If we are able to fill your spot with someone from the waiting list, we may be able to offer a partial refund, minus a cancellation fee of $500.

QUESTIONS?
Email us. But don’t delay—we anticipate a sold-out event!