BECOMING KIN
retreat for Adults
Are you looking for a weekend getaway with classic camp activities like paddling, archery and whittling by a campfire?
Are you curious about land based spiritually?
NEW!
BECOMING KIN
Retreat for Adults
DATE:
Friday, May 30 - Sunday, June 1, 2025
FOR:
Adults 19+
Maximum 12 participants
Facilitated By:
Claire MacDonald
We are very excited that Claire is returning to Camp Fircom! See below for her bio.
What….
This weekend retreat offers an immersion in nature and community to deepen our relation with the land and each other.
We will explore themes of reciprocity and renewal with the living world.
Why….
Practices that foster connection with the land and its non-human inhabitants in the plant and animal world will DEEPEN OUR EXPERIENCE OF PLACE.
More…
We will explore themes of reciprocity and renewal with the living world. There will be opportunities to canoe (10 person voyageur), practice archery, and whittle by the campfire.
There will be an introduction to the ‘Wheel of the Year’, an ancient Celtic tradition of marking and celebrating the turning of the seasons. This is a tool for tracking ourselves in relationship to the cycles and rhythms of nature.
This will be a special weekend of kinship for all, whether you're new or returning to Fircom.
Retreat Outline - Friday:
Upon the group’s arrival we'll settle into our accommodations, then meet for a walkabout of the land - from Upper Lookout to Canoe Cove and Campfire Rock. This will allow us to find a sense of place, and explore some history of the land.
After a nourishing dinner, there will be an opportunity to pick up a whittling project. We will orient to the tools, and learn techniques and safety. The group will gather at Campfire Rock or in the covered Breezeway in the case of heavy weather. We can whittle by the fire, share songs and stories or simply relax.
Saturday:
Morning Session - A practice of discovering and getting acquainted with the land and its inhabitants. A solo process to connect with the unique ecology will be followed by an opportunity to share with the group.
Afternoon: Paddling in the Voyageur Canoe (10 person canoe) - An introduction to the canoe, and practicing paddling skills in Canoe Cove. If we are feeling strong as a group, we can venture into Halkett Bay or westward toward Hope Point. The local waters are an area of high biological diversity. Humpbacks, Greys, and Orcas can be sighted on occasion. Pods of Pacific white-sided dolphins can also be seen.
Evening: Claire will facilitate a group exploration of the Celtic Wheel of the Year from her ancestry. This ancient practice connects us with the cycles and rhythms of nature. Following this, the group will gather around the campfire.
Sunday:
Morning Session: After breakfast there will be an introduction to Archery and an opportunity to practice will be on offer. For those who are interested, there will also be the option of a hike to the Bluffs, which provides an epic view of Halkett Bay and the coastal mountains.
Afternoon Session: After lunch will be a Closing Circle at 1:30pm. This will be an opportunity to share gratitude, insights and celebrate relations with the land and each other.
Details:
Program fees include return water taxi from Horseshoe Bay, all meals and snacks, accommodation, whittling tools/supplies and all programming.
Price: $495.00
Maximum 12 participants for this unique experience.
Accommodation: Craigcroft, Single Occupancy
For more information: Accommodation photos.
Cancellation Policy:
Once payment has been made, there is a $100 cancellation fee up until 30 days prior to the start of the retreat. With fewer than 30 days notice, there are no refunds. If there is a medical emergency, a positive COVID-19 test, or illness with a doctor’s note with less than 30 days notice, then a camp credit minus a $100 cancellation fee will be applied to the account, to be used within one year.
Retreat Facilitator:
Claire MacDonald
Claire has been involved with Fircom for over three decades as a camper, volunteer and staff member. Her love of Fircom, and the kinship that it fosters with the land, ecology and community has been foundational in her personhood. She partakes in an Indo-European mythology club as a way of understanding her ancestral roots and spirituality. She is also involved in Snuneymuxw First Nation events in her hometown.
Claire is a Somatic Therapist, Death Doula and yoga teacher in her professional life. She finds fulfillment working on her mini-farm on Snuneymuxw Territory (Gabriola Island) with her partner, rescue dogs and chickens.
More info about Claire’s work can be found at: clairemacdonaldsomatics.ca and deepwater.info
"Claire fostered an environment of inclusion, ease and playfulness. I had chances to try new things in a relaxed way, and discovered some gifts and talents that I didn't know I possessed. It was an empowering and wonderful experience."
Craig M, Session Participant, 2023
Getting Here:
CHECK IN: Friday, May 30th, 2025 at approximately 5:00pm
DEPARTURE: Sunday, June 1, 2025 at approximately 3:00pm
CHECK IN will take place at the Public Dock in Horseshoe Bay (pictured here). Please arrive early to find parking and meet the group at least 15 minutes prior to departure.
