There's a reason this retreat is women-only, and it's not just about comfort. It's about creating the conditions for real transformation.

When women travel in a space without the social dynamics, safety calculations, or self-consciousness that often come with mixed-gender group travel, something shifts.

You're not managing how you're perceived or bracing for unwanted attention; you're simply present. That safety isn't just physical, it's emotional: the freedom to try something new, paddle badly at first, cry during a sunset, or sit with a paintbrush and not know what you're doing, without an audience that makes you feel like you need to perform.

In that space, something else tends to happen: women discover they're more capable than they gave themselves credit for. Learning to read the water, navigate a crossing, or simply survive six days outside your comfort zone builds a quiet, durable kind of confidence - the kind that comes from proving something to yourself, not to anyone else. Most women don't leave this trip just with new skills or a sketchbook full of coastline; they leave trusting themselves a little more. The world filled with women trusting is a world that changes for the better.

Katherine Homes primarily works with watercolor and gouache on watercolor paper, and this is what she will focus on.

You'll build a real, portable art practice - not just a vacation hobby you leave behind. She cover the fundamentals: color theory, line drawing, and color charting, alongside a meditative approach that uses your six senses to help you tune into the sounds, colors, and rhythms of the natural world around you.

You'll work in a travel-sized sketchbook while in the field, but everything here is designed to travel with you - literally. Take that same practice into the train commute to work, in the garden when you have a moment to yourself, or a few quiet minutes in the boardroom before a big presentation.

These are small, tangible skills, but they add up to something bigger: a way to pause, notice, and center yourself anywhere, and a renewed trust in your own hands, your own heart, and your own eyes to capture the beauty in front of you, wherever you find it.

Each trip is different and we will provide an extensive list for each program so you feel well equipped!

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your trip. Because our adventures include sea kayaking, camping, and remote travel, please make sure any plan you choose specifically covers adventure sports and activities - many budget plans exclude these by default.

A few reputable providers to consider:

World Nomads - covers 250+ adventure sports and activities, including kayaking, and allows you to purchase or extend coverage even after you've started traveling.

Arch RoamRight - Arch RoamRight is a highly-rated, reliable provider known for excellent customer service, though it's better suited for domestic or nearby international trips due to its lower medical coverage limits.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection - known for affordable, comprehensive coverage.

We recommend purchasing insurance as soon as you book your trip, as this typically maximizes your coverage options and eligibility for benefits like pre-existing condition waivers.

This is general guidance, not a specific recommendation. Please review each plan's details to make sure it fits your needs.