Wild & Wellbeing Workshop for Young Women

A workshop to develop skills and strategies to alleviate anxiety and overwhelm, to develop confidence and self-esteem and access calm, control and joy; through an experiential and supportive environment using nature connection, creativity, yoga & mindfulness.

Saturday 2nd September 2023
10 am - 4 pm
National Trust Footprint, Windermere

Time to rest and reconnect in the Lake District

This exclusive workshop is for young people who identify as women, aged 11 to 14 years old. The day will offer experiential learning around ways to cope with anxiety and overwhelm and develop self-esteem, self-awareness, and confidence.

It is ideal for young women transitioning to a new school, class, those who find the transition back to school after the holidays difficult, or those who want to enter a new school year with increased self-confidence.

The day will be therapeutic and we shall draw on techniques and theories from neuroscience and psychotherapy and co-led by a psychotherapeutic counsellor. However, it is not group therapy. Our focus is on developing strategies through experiential learning rather than sharing or speaking in group about difficulties.

Our venue is the beautiful National Trust Footprint. A private woodland with a beautiful and cosy straw bale building, situated on the outskirts of Windermere in the South Lake District. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the building bring nature connection whilst indoors and the woodland is rich with a variety of native trees, plants, and animals.

Snacks and drinks included. Please bring a packed lunch.

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If you’d like to give a retreat as a gift, email us to let us know, and we’ll post or email a card that you can send to the recipient. Let us know in the booking if you’d prefer it emailed (if time is of the essence).

If you would like to add to the Mutual Aid pot to offer a reduced payment place to someone who would not otherwise be able to attend, please contribute here.

Workshop Host: Nes

Nes is an accredited UKCP child and adolescent psychotherapeutic counsellor, ecotherapist, well-being coach, yoga therapist, level 3 forest school leader, mountain leader, and is trained in somatic trauma therapy and outdoor first aid. Nes has also worked as a youth worker and primary school teacher. She has worked at CAMHS, in schools, for charities with young women with a variety of mental health challenges.

Nes has over 22 years experience of working with children and young people. She has vast experience of facilitating groups and workshops outdoors.

Nes is a co-author, with Babette Rothschild, of 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery Workbook and soon-to-be-released Wild and Wellbeing Card Deck.

Nes lives in the Lake District and enjoys walking, growing and eating veggies, dog cuddling, and cycling.

Workshop Host: Emily

Emily has over 15 years experience working with young people. She is a Forest School Leader, qualified teacher and mother of three who is passionate about engaging young people in the natural world for their well-being.

Where?

The National Trust Footprint is a beautiful secluded and spacious straw bale building with cosy wood burner, with accessible toilets and car park, and a beautiful woodland with covered spaces that are wonderful even in the rain.

You wouldn't know its only 20 minutes walk from Windermere and the train station that you can arrive to from London, Manchester etc and Windermere Town, bustling with cafes, galleries and shops.

What?

We will share practices grounded in neuroscience and ancient wisdom to offer an experiential day of learning ways to alleviate stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. It will be a practical approach, drawing on yoga, mindfulness, nature connection, play, and creativity.

Who?

This day retreat is open to all young people, identifying as female, aged 11 to 14.

You don’t need to have any prior knowledge, experience, or particular skills. You are welcome just as you are.

We will be a small group so that the space is inviting even for the introverted. All activities are an invitation, you are welcome to spend time alone or to adapt the suggested activities to best suit your needs on the day. We will offer suggestions for those adaptions too. We will ask that everyone is respectful of each other’s boundaries, including personal space, to maximise comfort.

We will move between being indoors, outdoors, and undercover outdoors. All activities will be gentle and accessible for those reasonably mobile, you don’t need to be particularly fit, and the site is wheelchair accessible. However please get in touch if you have questions or additional needs.

Practicalities

Cost

Early bird £65 (before 18th August)

Split payment plan: Initial deposit: £25; and two payments of £20 by 25th August

Full payment: £85 (booking after 18th August)
Split payment plan: Initial deposit: £50; and payment of £35 by 25th August

Additional siblings £65

Terms and conditions of booking here

If you would not be able to attend due to financial difficulties, please email us to see if there are any reduced places available from the Mutual Aid pot.

Food

Snacks and drinks are included. Please bring a packed lunch. Please let us know about any specific dietary requirements and any allergies when you complete the booking form.

What to bring

For all retreats, please bring layers of comfortable clothes, and sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy. Waterproof coat and trousers are handy, especially in the changeable weather of the Lakes. Slippers or cosy socks would be good to wear indoors, as we’ll ask you to remove your shoes.

It may be useful to bring a notebook and pencils or pens. It can be a great opportunity to take a break from screens, so we ask for phones to be switched off. We will provide a phone number when you book for people to be able to contact you if they need to.

Accommodation

We do not offer accommodation as part of the day retreat. There are many options in the locality. If you would like some suggestions, please email us.

Access

Access to the woodland and wider grounds is via steep steps or a medium slope.
Accessible toilets.
There is an accessible drop-off point at the front door of the Footprint building.
Level access to the Footprint building

Getting There

On foot
A 20-minute walk from Windermere train station, via the woods from the bottom of Orrest Head.

By train
Windermere Station 1.5 miles

By bus
Services from Windermere Station to Troutbeck Bridge.

By road
Off the A591 to Troutbeck.
Parking: There is a small car park that can park up to 12 cars. Parking is free and only for the use of those booked on to the retreat.
Sat Nav: Use: LA23 1NH

Please note, the group may not go ahead if the numbers are low or in high winds. We will try to give you as much notice as possible of this, but we recommend getting insurance to cover accommodation and travel expenses in case this happens.