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The Forest: Your Companion for Health and Wellness
Up to 25 in group
November 7 - 9, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- Community.
- Meditation.
- Nature.
- Hiking.
About this Retreat
Emmie Brenzel has over thirty years of experience in holistic health and wellness as a Registered Nurse, Health Coach, Healing Touch Practitioner, Spiritual Director, and Forest Therapy Guide. She has developed and taught classes on Energy Health and Wellness and The Healing Power of Nature. Emmie graduated from the Osage Forest of Peace School of Spiritual Direction and has been Certified as a Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. She operates a local business,
Ozark Forest Therapy, providing Eco-Spiritual Direction, leading Forest Meditations, and Guiding Forest and Full Moon Walks.
Details of this retreat
Discover the power of nature and the forest to nurture and heal your body, mind, and soul…
We know intuitively that nature can nurture us and yet we fail to make time to
disconnect from our busy lives and immerse ourselves in nature. Studies have shown
that as little as 15 minutes in a forest can improve one’s mood and relieve stress and
anxiety. Research demonstrates physical, mental, and spiritual benefits are found in
nature and yet we rarely allow time for nature to nourish and restore our health and
well-being.
This weekend retreat will inspire and empower participants to connect with nature,
themselves, and the peace of The Osage Forest. Participants will be invited to slow
down, quiet their mind chatter, silence their inner critics, listen loudly, walk softly,
encourage their curiosity, and engage their senses to connect with nature.
The intention for our weekend in the forest will be to experience the natural world with a
childlike sense of awe, sacred wonderment, and a spirit of infinite possibility. Under the
gentle guidance of Certified Forest Therapy Guide and Eco-Spiritual Director Emmie
Brenzel, participants will learn how to connect more deeply with earth’s healing energies
and tune into the subtle rhythms of the symphony of life in the forest.
What kinds of experiences does this retreat offer?
This retreat will offer a variety of indoor and outdoor classroom options and activities,
group and solo experiential exercises in nature, along with quiet time for reflection,
introspection, and meditation. Our weekend adventures include Forest Bathing and
work with Nature Journaling, Haiku Writing, and Mandalas. Options will be available to
accommodate forest access, mobility concerns, and/or extreme weather conditions. The
Osage Forest grounds has hiking trails, a Zen Garden, and Labyrinth for your weekend
use and Spiritual Direction can be arranged if requested in advance.
Benefits of Nature and Forest immersion include:
Improved immune function
Lowered blood pressure and resting heart rate
Mood enhancement and reduced depression
Accommodation
Our guest cabins provide a cozy and simple spot in the Forest to focus on what truly matters during your retreat. Many guests comment that they experience deep peace upon arriving at the Forest. Staying in a guest cabin allows you to experience the serene rest that comes with sleeping in the woods.
STANDARD CABINS
Our standard cabins feature a full bathroom, heating and air conditioning, and WiFi access. They include:
Twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
GUEST HERMITAGE
Our guest hermitage cabin is located in a private spot with big picture windows for looking out at the forest. This cabin features two rooms and a larger bathroom. There is a microwave, small refrigerator, plates, mugs, and eating utensils. A private deck is perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude.
This cabin includes:
Twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Standard Cabin
Our standard cabins feature a full bathroom, heating and air conditioning, and WiFi access. They include:
Two twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Photos shown are for a typical cabin setup. Cabin layout and furnishings may vary.
Upgraded Cabin: Mary (#6)
Our Mary cabin (#6) is our most beloved standard cabin, located in a private spot with a private porch perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude.
This cabin includes:
Two twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Hot water kettle
Coffee pot
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Upgraded Cabin: Scholastica (#10)
Our Scholastica cabin (#10) has been freshly renovated!!!
It has new flooring, paint, and fixtures, along with gorgeous new curtains, bedspreads, and decorations. This space is light, bright, joyful, and colorfully soothing.
Scholastica is a standard cabin located in a private spot with a private porch perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude.
This cabin includes:
Two twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Hot water kettle
Coffee pot
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Hermitage: Subiaco (#11)
Our Subiaco hermitage cabin is located in a private spot with big picture windows for looking out at the forest. This cabin features two rooms and a larger bathroom. There is a microwave, small refrigerator, plates, mugs, and eating utensils. A private deck is perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude.
This cabin includes:
Three twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Single Occupancy (Private Cabin)
Includes overnight lodging for Friday night through Sunday afternoon, retreat sessions and meals from Friday evening through Sunday brunch, in a private cabin.
All cabins feature a full bathroom, heating and air conditioning, and WiFi access. They include:
Twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Photos shown are for a typical cabin setup. Cabin layout and furnishings may vary.
Double Occupancy (Shared Cabin with Roommate)
Includes overnight lodging for Friday and Saturday nights, all retreat sessions, all meals from Friday supper through Sunday brunch, in a shared cabin with a roommate. You can request a specific roommate. If no roommate is requested, you'll be matched with a roommate of the same gender.
All cabins feature a full bathroom, heating and air conditioning, and WiFi access. They include:
Twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Photos shown are for a typical cabin setup. Cabin layout and furnishings may vary.
Meals
Menu Types
Breakfasts are a self-serve buffet style with cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, toppings such as nuts and raisins, hard-boiled eggs, and a variety of milks from dairy to dairy free. On weekends, we additionally offer a variety of breads and toppings for toast.
Lunch is our main meal of the day and is eaten together in community. Before the meal, we all circle around the table for a blessing and to introduce ourselves. Food options typically include a meat, a variety of vegetables, tofu or other protein for vegetarians, salad bar, and a healthy dessert.
Supper is a light meal and is eaten together in community. Food options typically include a hearty soup, a meat, a variety of vegetables, crackers, salad bar, and a healthy dessert.
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