connect with your group!
your interests.
This nature based immersion space is appealing to a variety of small groups with an average size between 6 and 12 with a maximum of about 20 (a few more if people are pitching tents or you bring an RV for one hookup).
Previous groups include:
- graduate level class on a field trip from Chicago for research at the Elephant Sanctuary
- a summer study program (Design Camp) with MTSU students during University mandatory masks & social distancing
- several book clubs (between 6 and 12 people, including one group with a tween)
- a friend reunion group of about 15 spread out between lodging and camping
- a group of friends from Memphis who visit almost annually for the lodge and Buffalo River access
- homeschool moms and kids
- Girl Scout troop who worked on several badges including animal care and even setting up/taking down tents
Nature & Art
No experience necessary if your group is interested in any of the arts workshops. Or maybe you have a group of artist friends who are looking for a spot to stay for a creative practice from plein air to photography or even a collaborative plan.
Books
This is a venue ideal for bibliophiles and book club groups. If you are interested in an add-on workshop just ask about book-binding or even book cover design, book history, or a list of books about books.
Natural Sciences
Tennessee is a bio-diverse region with many species especially those that inhabit the Buffalo River and riparian zone. From insects to amphibian among other wildlife, this is a great area to do research.
Rural experience
Maybe you want to experience local foraging or visit nearby farm markets. Maybe your group is eager to stargaze. Maybe you want to have a nourishing, enrichment of just experiencing nature.
star-gazing in one of the LAST LIGHT POLLUTION FREE ZONES in the state of Tennessee
TEAM BUILDING & friendship bonding
customize
an art/nature experience
Hug Donkeys!
engage the senses with
Forest Therapy
HUMANS TO HUMANS!
Human beings experiencing human interactions with each other and the natural world is one of the most important things to do right now. As technology rapidly changes everything in our personal and professional lives, many people are feeling the need to #touchgrass to reconnect to humanity.
This retreat space was envisioned in late 2014 (and opened 2019) with the goal of providing a space for that type of connection - to each other, to ourselves, and to the planet in a small morsel of a special place that is this particular area called the Western Highland Rim - the foothills of Appalachia. The time we are living in now is urging us to embrace the analog - handcraft and other ways of being that are slow.
Whether you are seeking an opportunity for team building or team bonding, an opportunity to build new memories with friends, or a reason to shut off screens so that you can all focus on handcraft even as novices, this retreat space is for you.
There are several types of workshops for those looking for something unique for your team if you are driving from Nashville, Memphis, Florence, Birmingham, or even Atlanta or St. Louis. Please scroll down the page or click here to go faster to the list.
benefits
Intuitively you know the benefits of taking a break or vacation, of getting into nature, and of breaking your routine for a unique reboot. Click on the nature immersion tab to learn more about the guided Forest Therapy walk which may either boost your creative flow as a sensory experience in the surroundings or provide you with a completely new way of experiencing that natural world if you have a more science and reasoning brain or tend to hike with a destination goal while missing some of the details on the route.
If you are part of a team that all works remotely and you want a chance to get together in person with maybe only a little bit of work in the mix, this retreat space is for you.
If you are part of a team of hybrid schedules, this would be a great opportunity to get off the screens and connect.
Maybe you've said goodbye to the work world and you want to reconnect with a friend group in a unique way that is different than a resort with lots of amenities, schedules, and people around, then this is a great option.
There's also research you can take to the admins that may need to approve this group outing such as the Harvard Business Review article mentioned below which was published well before pandemic and artificial intelligence invasion in our lives.
"Why you should tell your team
to take a break and go outside"
- Harvard Business Review
by Emma Seppälä and Johann Berli, June 26, 2017
"Greenery isn’t just an air-freshener that’s pleasant to look at, it can actually significantly boost employee well-being, reduce stress, enhance innovative potential, and boost a sense of connection. Yet most of us don’t spend much time in nature. Richard Louv, author of the Nature Principal, argues that we’re collectively suffering from “nature-deficit disorder,” which hurts us mentally, physically, and even spiritually. Adding a little wilderness to your corporate offices may just be the smartest move you can do this year."
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"Exposure to nature may therefore foster boost superior decision-making which includes better foresight. Exposure to natural environments also strengthens attention and may even help strengthen memory."
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"Finally, we know that the #1 trait leaders look for in incoming employees is creativity, and exposure to natural environments dramatically improves our ability to think expansively and make superior decisions."
PLANNING STEPS & DETAILS
BEFORE COMPLETING THE INQUIRY FORM BELOW
CRUNCH THE NUMBERS OF YOUR GROUP:
How many people minimum and maximum?
Does everyone need a separate bed or do you have partners in the mix?
How many private rooms do you need, with doors that shut?
The two lodging options have two bathrooms each - will that be enough?
AT-a-glance sleeping options:
Lemon Lodge - private room ensuite king bed, private room full bed, multi-purpose room with 2 or 3 twins, loft with 7 twins, 3 season porch - 1 twin, the hall bath as a shower.
Raspberry Residency House - private room ensuite with full and twin bunk, two private rooms with twin beds and a hall bath.
There are two additional bedrooms located at the back of the property with one as an ensuite kitchenette and the other the last option for overflow with a queen bed. (There are cats that live inside the communal space here)
TIMING/DATES:
What are your ideal dates or time of year? Can you spend more than 2 nights?
This is not a resort or rental where you can just look for a vacancy on a booking calendar. Here you'll have human interaction to customize the best option for your group within the calendar availability.
Peak season where the heat and humidity will not affect the options to be outside would be spring (Mar/Apr) or fall (Oct/Nov). You may also want to do some research as to the moon cycle for stargazing or studies, or figure out how much daylight you need to have for any outside activities.
FOOD PLANS:
For small groups of about 8, a menu can be coordinated for group family-style meals prepared for you in the Lemon Lodge kitchen or a combination of options of 1 or more meals or a grocery pick-up.
Larger groups in the past have brought their own food and prepared for the group, potentially using both kitchens if necessary.
The closest town is Hohenwald so you may find several restaurants to visit for your meals or for take-out.
There is no catering option on site.
ACTIVITIES:
Are you interested in any workshops or the guided Forest Therapy walk? Or will you take control of your schedule?
A simple option would be an ice-breaker activity that Val often used for her design classes, especially for those who are on a team that doesn't get to interact in person very often. Paper crafts such as collage or origami are great for flexing creative muscles and understanding instructions for those who may feel a bit rusty.
BUDGET:
If you have a budget in mind (per person is helpful), please include that information so that an estimate can be included in the retreat proposal. If the budget you propose will not cover the basics, you'll receive a shorter message than a more detailed proposal.
COMPLETE THE INQUIRY FORM BELOW
& make sure that you double check your spam folder for a message from mail@campwonderwander.org usually within 24 to 48 hours confirming receipt of the form and then a little bit longer for a proposal to review.
customizable Workshops Available:
EXPLORER
Unleash your inner creative monster!
Learn how to embrace happy accidents as a creative tool.
Break through the creative monster blocks with lateral thinking.
Take a walk on the wild side to boost the brain flow.
Experimental prototyping: sketch, tinker, draft, play.
GLAMPING AND THE ARTS
Escape the urban life to discover the value in slowing down.
Glimpse the farm side of farm to table walking amongst the organic free range hens and in the garden.
Discover the value in being outside, off grid and relishing in slowing down to immerse in nature.
Practice camping skills before you strike out on your own.
Adult camp creativity with drawing, concept development, and image-making in a no tech zone.
URBAN SURVIVAL
Bring the camping menu into the urban kitchen survival for busy people.
Integrate hiking snack philosophy into daily routine for energy morning to night.
Escape the urban life to discover the value in slowing down.
Glimpse the farm side of farm to table walking amongst the organic free range hens and into the garden.
Discover and discuss cooking for one, eating healthy, adulting tips and tricks of household tasks as meditative and creative thinking tools.
WONDER 101
Instill a sense of wonder in daily life.
Evaluate basic design elements thru discovery of the natural world and observations of printed material.
Embrace happy accidents with hand crafted version of cut & paste.
Learn to slow down and examine with curiosity.
Examine graphic design elements by a critique of experimental work that reinforces there is no right answer.
Become a stronger advocate for your ideation and concepts by learning to explain and defend visual solutions.
BOOKWORM
A deep dive into the art of the book.
Get a list of books about books from fiction to auto-biographies.
Transform your sketches or writing into an artist book.
Learn how to create a one-of-a-kind object including book-binding.
Learn about the history of the book and book cover design.