Ecology of Connection
April 24 - 28, 2024
in Boonvillle, CA, traditional homeland of the Tabahtea people
Guided by Kerry Brady and Kristin Rothballer
with guest teacher, Brock Dolman
Ecology of Connection is our cornerstone course. This five day journey is foundational to all of our programs and includes core processes and practices that make up our unique theory of change. Each Ecology of Connection program is one-of-a-kind, informed by the uniqueness of each particular group, place and moment in time.
Please read our Mission and Foundations pages for a more complete description of our theory of change and what we will engage in during our time together.
The April 2024 Ecology of Connection takes place at Whispertree Retreat Center (formerly Bell Valley Retreat) in the Navarro River Watershed of Mendocino County—the traditional homeland of the Tabahtea people who are part of the more widely known Pomo tribe. The Tabahtea were largely responsible for Northern California's legacy of biodiversity, actively engaging in the diverse ecosystem made up of perennial native grasslands, Fir forests, Oak woodlands and abundant wildlife. Whispertree includes 650 acres of rolling grasslands, expansive views and extensive trails amidst a rich and bio-diverse ecosystem which includes Pacific Madrone trees, Bobcats, California quail and Columbian Black-Tailed Deer.
The journey takes place beyond the everyday mind and involves all of our senses. As we live on the land together, waking with the dawn chorus of birds, meandering through creek corridors and watching stars emerge in twilight skies, we return to our innate rhythm, and renew our minds, bodies and spirits in support of all that we each serve. By coming together in community and engaging in mutually reflective encounters with the land and with each other, we will create a vibrant ecology that invites us to embody our true inheritance—intimately connected to ourselves, each other, the Earth and the greater mystery. We will weave between didactic talks, community dialogue, reflection, experiential process and solo time on the land, to support active engagement with Nature—within and without.
Join us to:
Awaken from personal and cultural conditioning & divisions
Re-member and embody our deepest identity and place within the larger unfolding web of Life
Honor the personal and collective impact of these times
Increase our sensitivity to the myriad ways that Life continually informs us
Discover your unique way of being in relationship with the living Earth
Immerse in deep ecology and living systems to increase our ability to think and act like an ecosystem
Explore somatic resiliency skills to increase our innate vibrancy, strengthen our ability to navigate change and build our capacity to stay present and available, to ourselves and each other
Shift from feeling burned-out and disconnected to being renewed, recharged and restored
Experience the power of ritual and how ritual lives within you
Connect with like-minded souls dedicated to protecting and serving all Life
Be nourished by local, seasonal and organic meals, in community
Guide team note: While Ecology of Awakening was founded by a white, cis-gendered female, the makeup of our teaching teams has varied over the years. For this upcoming Ecology of Connection retreat, we want to name up front that we are a team of two white humans, one queer/non-binary. Regardless of our identities, we welcome and encourage all kinds of humans who are called to join us. We are excited to collaborate with a greater diversity of people who are in kinship with the Earth to broaden our reach and strengthen the gifts we all have as medicine for this moment. As we shift Ecology of Awakening into a vibrant collective, we are actively exploring new collaborations, some of whom are joining us for this April Ecology of Connection retreat.
Who this is for?
Ecology of Awakening programs are for those who:
Recognize that underlying the current social and ecological crisis is the predominant worldview where humans are separate from each other and Nature - the natural world and our own deepest nature.
Are, in their unique way, working towards a resilient, thriving Earth community for current and future generations.
Are on the frontlines of change who are ready to renew and restore by connecting with a larger story that supports us in tending to the challenges of the current polycrisis.
Have the capacity to move fluidly between inner/personal and outer/collective experience rather than for those who may, at this moment, be primarily focused on their own personal/trauma healing.
We encourage and hold space for both grief and joy, contemplation and irreverence as well as rigor and play! Deep connection, clarity and healing are often natural outcomes of the process.
Dates & Location
Wednesday, April 24, 4:00 PM - Sunday, April 28, 11:00 AM 2024;
Whispertree Retreat Center, Boonville, CA
Group Size
Maximum Number: 12
Note: In order to support greater intimacy and connection with the Earth, we will sleep in comfortable Bell Tents and cabins, replete with beds, electricity and ample room to move around, and in close proximity to shared facilities with private showers and toilets. This is an opportunity to re-connect with our innate rhythm and re-discover our deepest belonging, beyond the human realm. Many who have never or seldom camped are deeply fed by the discovery of their love of being immersed on the land.
We do our best to make this retreat available to all who are called: please note that you do not need to be in top physical shape to attend; yet we require that each person be in good physical, mental and emotional health. Other than one leisurely group walk, you are not required to hike/walk far, unless you want to, but we will be camping on the land, which includes uneven terrain, and are therefore not wheelchair accessible. We will provide a packing list upon enrollment.
Tuition
Sliding Scale $2,000 - $1,400 * limited scholarship support available, see below
We aim to balance the actual cost of running programs with our commitment to make our offerings as accessible as possible to those who are called. Please know that our pricing greatly underestimates the number of hours that our team spends preparing, organizing and facilitating. Additionally, we keep our programs to a maximum of 12 in order to facilitate optimum engagement between guides, participants and what emerges while living in community on the land.
For Ecology of Connection we have put together a powerful curriculum, with guides who have dedicated their lives to creating resilient and thriving human and Earth communities in their own unique ways. Tuition includes guide support and facilitation, beautiful accommodations and local, organic meals prepared by our fabulous chef, Nora, who puts her whole heart into each meal. It does not include transportation costs to or from Boonville.
We have a fund intended to support participants at all income and resource levels. The sliding scale structure helps to make retreats more affordable for those who would not be able to attend otherwise. We encourage you to choose generously!
$2,000: This tier covers our basic costs and makes this opportunity available to others.
$1,700: This tier is below our basic costs.
$1,400: This tier is designed to create more access.
Like many of our colleagues, we draw inspiration from Hammerstone School’s articulation of Why Use a Sliding Scale. We encourage you to look at their guidelines to help you identify how much is the right amount for you to pay.
Financial Support:
We aim to price our programs to balance inclusivity and access with real costs of labor. We are blessed to be able to offer assistance to those who are called to Ecology of Connection and are currently limited in their finances. If you are called to the program yet unable to pay the above fees, we encourage you to apply for support, as we want to work with you.
We take into account each individual circumstance and do our best to support each person’s needs. To request financial support, please fill out both the program application as well as the scholarship application. Applications are due by March 15.
And please note that we are always fundraising for our scholarship fund. If you or anyone you know would like to invest in our ability to offer these programs to others, you can donate to our fund.