100 acres of private property in North Saanich BC
Up to 12 in group
August 19 - 23, 2026
About this Retreat
Sarah Frizelle is a counselor in private practice in Victoria BC who offers wholistic counselling to individuals, couples and families. She has worked with individuals in roles of educator, psychotherapist and wilderness guide for over 25 years, sometimes combining all three roles in nature-based therapy or eco-psychology with individuals and groups.
Sarah works to support positive personal, family and cultural level changes. She embraces transformative learning and is dedicated to unleash the creative gifts and potential of people to heal and transform, in support of creativity, collaboration and innovation.
Dr. Stéphanie Marchal is a registered psychologist working in Victoria. Her practice focuses on relationships, attachment, trans-generational trauma and transitions/transformations. She is a wilderness personal guide, and studied with Animas Valley Institute and Francis Weller among others. She works with people toward recovering their wholeness, uncovering their gifts, and applying these in their lives and for the good of their community. She has experienced wilderness as a powerful ally in these tasks.
She is personally interested in supporting deep and courageous transformations driven by the participants. One of Stephanie's focus is to support the weaving of authentic experiences and visions with the person's embodied life. She's a firm supporter of people's authentic voices and helps them be heard. She uses dream images, guided journeys and somatic practices to help clarify the thread to deep experience, and support integration and manifestation.
Visit Stéphanie's page: SacredWeaving dot org
Details of this retreat
Led by Dr. Stéphanie Marchal, Licensed Psychologist in BC, and Sarah Frizelle, Registered Clinical Counsellor.
This 5 days fully catered course offers a supportive and enchanted diving into mindfulness meditation in the context of the natural world, with guides Stéphanie Marchal and Sarah Frizelle, both accredited Wild Mind Practitioners (Animas Valley Institute graduates), and long-time meditators. Together, we will explore how to be present with our breath, body, emotions, and thoughts with greater clarity and kindness, while becoming aware of our deeper motivation and support.
Each day will include guided practices, teachings, and time for questions and reflection. You’ll learn foundational skills such as:
coming into the present moment
seeing things as they are
working skillfully with emotions
cultivating compassion and a wise, steady heart
allowing yourself to be held by nature and the World
We also explore how mindfulness can support us in meeting the challenges of our lives—and the world—with greater awareness and care .
Some sessions will include time outdoors, inviting the natural world—sounds, sights, and quiet sitting—to support and deepen our practice as well as deeper explorations of our relationship with nature.
This is a fully catered retreat by the wonderful Magdalene Joly. We’ll oscillate between formal sitting practices, nature centred mindfulness experiences, some deeper invitation to connect to wilderness and there will be some mindful work times in the kitchen or garden (about 60 min a day).
This is a camping retreat (please bring your camping gear) that is fully catered. There are beautiful indoor spaces available for the practices as well as new bathrooms.
Please contact us for more information.
Stéphanie and Sarah
Please pay in full within 60 days as we reserve the space and pay staff. The fee is not refundable after that.
General schedule:
Monday evening:
Short introduction and dinner
First meditation
Tuesday-Thursday
8am: breakfast
9am: movement practice optional
9.30 – 11.30: mindfulness practices, sitting, walking, connecting with nature, teachings
12: lunch
1-3pm: dharma work (help in the garden, or kitchen) and rest / explore property
Optional 1:1 meetings with teachers for specific practice questions
3-5pm: mindfulness practices, sitting, walking, connecting with nature
5-6pm: questions and answers
6.30: dinner
8pm: teachings, guided journeys to support deeper rest
Friday:
8am breakfast
9-11: meditations and integration conversation
12: lunch
1pm: departure
Verified
