53 Mill St, Westfield, MA 01085, USA
June 8 - 13, 2027
About this Retreat
Colleen Mollica M.A.A.T. is a level 1 Kripalu Certified Mindful Outdoor Guide, Certified MIEA Mindfulness Instructor, Co-director of the Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith Center at Westfield State University, campus minister, and educator with a lifelong love of learning. Colleen is passionate about protecting the more-than-human world and nurturing the human spirit. Colleen is open to the wisdom of the earth’s spiritual traditions and believes that transcendent experiences in nature enable us to encounter agape, or unconditional Love. Time in nature awakens us to our purpose, establishes our sense of well-being, nourishes our spirit, and connects us to all. Operating from an integrative framework of spirit, mind, and body, Colleen is dedicated to healing our fractured relationship with Mother Earth and, ultimately, with one another.
Joe's spiritual journey unfolds as a rich tapestry, interwoven with threads of faith, love, and a deep connection to all of creation. As a self-described ragamuffin, Secular Franciscan, and beloved child of God, he embraces life's mysteries with an open heart and a contemplative spirit. His path has led him to experience the Divine as an infinite wellspring of love, shaped by personal encounters, the teachings of Jesus, and the wisdom of cherished mentors and companions.
Central to Joe's philosophy is the recognition of the profound interconnectedness of all beings and the natural world. This eco-spiritual perspective informs his approach to life, fostering a deep reverence for the Earth and all its inhabitants. Through contemplative practices, he cultivates a heightened awareness of this universal bond, finding the sacred in the ordinary and the extraordinary alike.
With a deep-seated passion for accompanying others on their spiritual quests, Joe believes in the power of shared experiences and mutual learning. He finds profound beauty in creation and human connection, emphasizing the transformative potential of being fully present in each moment. This mindful approach allows him to discover joy and freedom even amidst life's challenges, embodying the spirit of companionship Living the Way.
Joe's journey towards spiritual wholeness is an ongoing process of integration, bringing together mind, body, and spirit in harmony with the natural world. He invites others to join him in this exploration, recognizing that each person's path to wholeness is unique yet interconnected with all others. Through this lens, he sees every encounter as an opportunity for growth, healing, and the expansion of love in the world.
Details of this retreat
Step into the forest as if entering a sacred conversation—one that listens as much as it speaks.
Enter a sacred space of silence and wonder, where the forest becomes a mirror of your inner life and a source of renewal. This week-long Nature Immersion Experience retreat invites you into a deep communion with the natural world and one another—through forest bathing (shinrin yoku), community practices, outdoor spiritual rituals, and nature-inspired creativity. Together, we’ll sink into the rhythms of the forest, wandering at a gentle pace, guided by slow and playful encounters with the forest that foster reciprocal relationships. Along the way, we’ll explore how nature stirs creativity and discernment, gather for evening vespers of birdsong and poetry, engage in dialogue around eco-emancipation and earth-healing, and rest in a circle of trust, care, and curiosity.
The retreat offers a rhythm of contemplation held in community—with ourselves, with one another, and with the living earth. Mornings begin with guided meditation, inviting presence and grounding; evenings close with reflection and shared attunement.
At the heart of the retreat is the practice of forest bathing, a series of gentle invitations that awaken our senses and remind us of the aliveness in all things. Moving with intention and mindfulness, we deepen our awareness of and connection with both living and non-living beings, cultivating appreciation for their quiet intelligence. Forest bathing reflects humanity’s timeless relationship with the more-than-human world and the well-being we draw from it.
Tuesday
3:00–5:00 pm Arrival
6:00–7:00 Dinner
7:00–8:30 Welcome and introductions
Wednesday – Saturday*
7:00 am (optional) Morning contemplative practice – meditation, outdoor sit
8:00–9:00 Breakfast
9:00–12:00 Nature companionship experience/forest bathing**
12:00–1:00 Lunch
1:15–3:00 Nature-informed creativity (Wed + Fri)
3:00–5:00 Siesta (nap), intentional community building, outdoor sit, hike
5:00–5:40 Evening Prayer in the Garden
6:00–6:45 Dinner
7:00–8:00 Community building through reflective practices, evening ritual, dedication/commitment
Sunday
7:00 am:(optional) Morning contemplative practice – meditation, outdoor sit
8:00–9:00 Breakfast
9:00–10:15 Nature companionship experience/forest bathing
10:30–11:30 Prayer in the Garden and closing
11:30 Checkout
Payment Plan:
Deposit: $100 due at registration,
Balance: $725 due May 1,2027
*This schedule may change because we want to be open to what might be emerging within our group. We will also be on forest time, so please hold the schedule loosely.
**During the morning nature companionship experiences, we will meet rain or shine. It may make sense to do this in the afternoon, in which case we will make the announcement the day before.
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