Cameron's Staff Pick
Women+ in Climate: Leading with Light
Cortes Island, Strathcona, BC, Canada
July 16 - 20, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- Explore the invisible dimensions of reality that coexist with our physical world, where you connect with your helping spirits
- Open the subtle pathways of perception that enable you to sense, see, hear, touch, smell, taste, and feel while journeying throughout the invisible realms
- Use those subtle pathways of perception to cultivate a shared language with your helping spirits that generates mutual understanding and clarity
- Refine the inquiries you present to your helping spirits in order to optimize the guidance you receive
- Journey to receive accurate guidance and potent healing for yourself and on behalf of others
- Practice the art of telling a healing story, relaying guidance to others when you journey on their behalf
- Meet the benevolent helping spirits who co-exist alongside you in the place where you live and learn how to create harmony together
- Learn how to navigate safely, purposefully, and effectively in the invisible spectrums of reality
About this Retreat
Hollyhock's renowned events help to resolve the leadership deficits of the modern world. These cross-sectoral and multi-generational gatherings work to support and catalyze progressive leaders through strengthening skills, expanding capacity, and building peer-to-peer networks and knowledge.
Tackling the largest issues of our time and promoting social and environmental justice requires that we come together to not only learn hard skills and share lessons, but also to rejuvenate our passions and recharge. Joining our conferences opens up access to like-minded networks and community that support one another throughout the year.
Past events include: Social Venture Institute, Activate: Digital Leadership, Creating a Climate for Change, and Run for Office
Details of this retreat
When women come together, there is an innate, unspeakable energy. It is a form of resistance, transformation, and healing from the patriarchy. Around the world women are both disproportionately impacted by climate change and leading the call to organize for climate justice.
The path forward requires both resilience and community. Women+ in Climate is a gathering for women and gender-diverse leaders in climate and nature to align to their deepest wisdom in a heart-centered space, guided by love, connection, and justice.
Our Vision
We envision a world where women are the light in the darkness, guiding humanity toward a future of belonging, equity, and care for the Earth. This gathering will create a nurturing space for connection, reflection, and collaboration among climate scientists, poets, artists, Indigenous leaders, policy-makers, philanthropists, and activists.
The Invitation
This is more than a meeting. It is a sanctuary for those who labor for a just and sustainable world—a place to return to the womb of collective wisdom, to inhale deeply, and to find strength to stay in the work.
About the Gathering
The Women+ in Climate gathering is an invitation to women and gender diverse climate and nature leaders to come together to learn from each other, lift each other up, share, rest, dance, play, and weave together our connections, work and collective efforts to weave a way forward.
Hosted at Hollyhock, the gathering centers on a vision of joy, rejuvenation and connection for women and gender diverse climate & nature leaders, supported through programming to feed our head, heart, body and soul.
Anchored by practices including meditation, dance, yoga, ritual, and land-based practices, the gathering aims to offer a sanctuary for women in the climate movement to reconnect with themselves, each other, and the Earth. The emphasis is on nurturing resilience and solidarity to face climate and biodiversity challenges together, and tapping into a collective energy and creativity that emerges when women gather.
The goal is to share and learn from each other, dream together, and look into energizing a movement to protect and restore the earth.
Through sharing space across diverse perspectives, the emergent agenda facilitates fresh perspectives and deepened relationships, opening the door to the strategies we need to address our planet's crisis.
Our Commitments
Heart-centred Leadership: Moving beyond strategy to center care, compassion, connection, and vulnerability as powerful tools for change.
Community as Strength: We cultivate a lasting network of mutual support, inspiration, and courage.
Justice and Liberation: Ensuring representation from racialized frontline leaders and honoring the interconnected struggles for equity, biodiversity, and climate justice.
Program Outcomes
Key outcomes focus on personal rejuvenation, strategic recalibration, and community building within the climate space. The program provides a platform for women and gender diverse leaders to:
Engage in practices of healing, grieving, and self-care, nurturing both individual and collective well-being
Share strategies, skills, and tools to advance climate work across diverse perspectives.
Foster cross-sector collaboration, encouraging participants to step beyond their silos and weave together insights, surfacing core challenges and core solutions across fields.
Plant seeds for united strategies and coalitions, bolstered by mutual support and resource-sharing
This gathering is ultimately intended to inspire and equip women and gender diverse leaders to return to their climate work with renewed vision, strength, and an interconnected approach that goes beyond conventional strategy, embracing collective wisdom and action.
Planning Team
Co-hosts:
Tzeporah Berman, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative
Zainab Salbi, Daughters for Earth
Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN
Pat Mitchell and Hafsat Abiola, Project Dandelion
Presented by Hollyhock Leadership Institute
Accommodation
A variety of accommodations are located throughout our lush campus, ranging in price to suit most budgets. Choose from private, beachfront or ocean facing rooms, dorm-style lodging or cabins that nestle in the quiet seclusion of the forest. Our beautiful campsites are also available, with a cedar bath house conveniently located for your use.
Room fees include all Hollyhock basics, like stimulating presenter evenings, delicious, organic meals, morning yoga/meditation classes, guided naturalist walks and tours of the garden, as well as luxurious soaks in our ocean-view hot-tubs. Telephones and wireless Internet are centrally located.
Room Options Include:
Single: 1 Person
Twin: Couple or Friends, 2 beds.
Couple: Couples or Friends sharing 1 bed.
Family/Friends: 3 or more adult friends or family /2 beds
Dorm: Up to 6 people/bunk beds
Tenting with full-service bath house (bring your own tent and bedding)
Roommates can be assigned, upon request, in twin and dorm rooms only.
Private Cabin Oceanfront
This prized cabin includes one queen bedroom, a common area with fireplace and couch, mini-kitchen, private bathroom, and deck overlooking the ocean. Located on our water's edge with a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding Desolation Sound.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi.
Single w/ensuite Oceanfront
Located on our water's edge with a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding Desolation Sound. These rooms include a queen bed and your own private bathroom. The building has a shared kitchen and living space, with a large deck on the ocean side.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
Single w/ensuite
Spacious rooms with a queen bed and private bathroom. Enjoy your own space immersed in nature and the surrounding views.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
Single w/shared bathroom
These cozy private rooms have a shared bathroom, and some rooms have a small desk.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
Couple w/ensuite Oceanfront
Located on our water’s edge with a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding Desolation Sound. These luxurious rooms include your own private bathroom. The building has a shared kitchen and living space, with a large deck on the ocean side.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
*For couples attending separate programs, please advise in the comment section. Your reservation will be adjusted and you will receive an updated confirmation.
Couple w/ensuite
These spacious rooms have a queen bed with a private bathroom. Enjoy your own space immersed in nature and the surrounding views.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
*For couples attending separate programs, please advise in the comment section. Your reservation will be adjusted and you will receive an updated confirmation.
Couple w/shared bathroom
These cozy private rooms have a queen or double bed and a shared bathroom. Some rooms have a small desk.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
*For couples attending separate programs, please advise in the comment section. Your reservation will be adjusted and you will receive an updated confirmation.
Twin w/ensuite oceanfront
This room has two double beds and will be shared by two people. Your room mate will be chosen at random based on gender, or you can request to share with someone you know. The room is located on our water’s edge with a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding Desolation Sound, and includes a private bathroom. The building has access to a kitchen and living space with a large deck on the ocean side.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
Twin w/ensuite
These rooms have two beds and will be shared by two people. You can share with someone you know or your room mate will be chosen at random based on gender. They are spacious and modern with a queen bed, twin bed, or sofa pull out, and include a private bathroom.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
Twin w/shared bathroom
These rooms have two beds and will be shared by two people. You can share with someone you know or your room mate will be chosen at random based on gender. Nested in ferns and blackberry bushes, these cozy and rustic rooms have a shared bathroom. Please be advised some have an external bathhouse.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
Three-share w/shared bathroom
These rooms have three beds and will be shared by three people. Your room mates will be chosen at random based on gender, or you can request to share with someone you know.
This comfortable room surrounded by lush green forest has one double bed and two twin beds. A small kitchenette with a small fridge is available. The bathroom is shared with another room.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
Women Dorm
Rustic and cozy, our dorms are our most economical room option. This dorm can accommodate up to 6 people and has its own washroom. This option is for female-identified people only.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
All dorm beds are assigned, please ask the reception desk first if you would like to switch beds.
In consideration of other participants in your dorm, if you require an alarm clock, please bring a battery-powered one with no audible noise.
If sound may keep you awake, we recommend bringing ear-plugs with you to ensure a good-night’s rest. If you are a loud snorer, the dorms may not be suitable for you.
Men's Dorm
Rustic and cozy, our dorms are our most economical room option. This dorm can accommodate up to 4 people and has its own washroom. This option is for male-identified people only.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
All dorm beds are assigned, please ask the reception desk first if you would like to switch beds.
In consideration of other participants in your dorm, if you require an alarm clock, please bring a battery-powered one with no audible noise.
If sound may keep you awake, we recommend bringing ear-plugs with you to ensure a good-night’s rest. If you are a loud snorer, the dorms may not be suitable for you.
Mixed Dorm
Open to all! Rustic and cozy, our dorms are our most economical room option. This dorm can accommodate up to 6 people and has its own washroom.
We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.
All dorm beds are assigned, please ask the reception desk first if you would like to switch beds.
In consideration of other participants in your dorm, if you require an alarm clock, please bring a battery-powered one with no audible noise.
If sound may keep you awake, we recommend bringing ear-plugs with you to ensure a good-night’s rest. If you are a loud snorer, the dorms may not be suitable for you.
Tent Site Single
For nature lovers, set up your tent near cedars and reconnect with nature.
Bathhouse nearby with showers and toilets. Bring your own tent, towels, and all appropriate camping gear. Due to fire safety, cooking on campsites is not permitted. Three meals a day from the Hollyhock kitchen are included in your total cost.
Please be aware that this area is accessed by walking paths only. There may be uneven terrain in the forest.
Stoves, campfires, and recreational vehicles are not allowed on campus.
Tent Site Couple
For nature lovers, set up your tent near cedars and reconnect with nature.
Bathhouse nearby with showers and toilets. Bring your own tent, towels, and all appropriate camping gear. Due to fire safety, cooking on campsites is not permitted. Three meals a day from the Hollyhock kitchen are included in your total cost.
Please be aware that this area is accessed by walking paths only. There may be uneven terrain in the forest.
Stoves, campfires, and recreational vehicles are not allowed on campus.
*For couples attending separate programs, please advise in the comment section. Your reservation will be adjusted and you will receive an updated confirmation.
Commuter
Staying off-site. Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and unlimited use of the property’s facilities. If you prefer to have no breakfast or only lunch, please check the appropriate box in your registration form under the commuter question. Lunch is $31 and Dinner is $63 per day, plus tax. Your package and pricing will be updated manually and you will get a second confirmation when we have updated your package. Please call us if you have any questions or would like a different meal arrangement: 1.800.933.6339