Come to the Waters | 29 May 2027
Join us on Saturday, May 29 for a day of connection, creativity, and renewal. Co-hosted by Allison El Koubi and Miwa Kamras, this women’s retreat invites you to slow down, listen, and reconnect with yourself, one another, and the natural world.
As spring ripens into summer, we gather at Idyllwood to rest beside still waters and welcome the season ahead. Through reflection, conversation, and time by the pond and creek, we’ll explore the restorative power of water and make space for whatever in us is ready to soften, flow, and be replenished.
Come thirsty; leave replenished and alive.
Why Come to the Waters?
Our health in body, mind, spirit, and heart, and our connections to ourselves, one another, and the land, are essential to our well-being.
Water is always moving, changing, finding its way. It can be still or rushing, gentle or powerful. It nourishes. It cleanses. It carries. It reflects.
For one day, we'll pay attention to the waters around us and consider what they might teach us about the waters within us.
We'll notice what feels stuck and what wants to flow. What we're carrying and what we might release. Where we feel depleted and what might replenish us.
We'll sit beside still water. We'll listen to the creek. We'll make room to soften.
And we'll let ourselves be restored.
Come to the Waters at a Glance
WHEN
Saturday, May 29, 2027
TIME
10 AM–6 PM
Come as early as 9 AM for coffee + pastries. Stay after 6 and linger around the fire.
WHO
An intimate gathering of approximately 30 women
WHAT
A full-day retreat designed to foster connection and renewal in body, mind, spirit, and heart.
HOW
Through intentional experiences beside the water, in the woods, around the fire, in circle, and over delicious food and drink.
What the Day Might Hold
Throughout our day together, we'll move between gathering and spaciousness, shared experiences and time to simply be. You can expect a thoughtful mix of:
waterside wandering • mindful movement • community circle • creative reflection • time by the creek • nourishing food • fika • fireside connection • quiet • laughter • space
Everything is an invitation. There is nothing to accomplish.
Meet Your Co-Hosts
Allison El Koubi is the founder of Idyllwood Mountain Retreat and Home From Away, where she creates experiences rooted in connection, renewal, and belonging. A lifelong educator and former public school principal, she has spent more than 25 years creating spaces where people and communities can pause, reflect, connect, and grow.
Allison has a longstanding love of gathering women beside water, where reflection seems to flow more easily and renewal feels close at hand. She delights in creating meaningful rituals, inviting unhurried conversation, and spending time on the trails in and around Shenandoah National Park. She believes that, like water, we can learn to move, soften, and begin again.
Miwa Kamras is a leadership coach, community builder, and co-founder of Illuminate Collective. She brings more than 25 years of experience as a teacher, nonprofit executive, and HR leader to her work as a coach and facilitator, creating spaces where people feel welcomed, seen, and connected to one another.
A writer, Enneagram enthusiast, and enthusiastic children's book recommender, Miwa finds a deep sense of peace beside the water, especially the marshes and beaches of her hometown. She brings warmth, curiosity, and a gift for thoughtful questions that invite people to listen more deeply to themselves and one another.
Gather Around the Table
Food is part of how we gather at Idyllwood. Our shared meals create their own kind of spaciousness, inviting us to slow down, linger, and connect around the table.
Come as early as 9 AM for coffee, tea, and a light breakfast before our retreat begins at 10. Throughout the day, we’ll gather for brunch, fika, and dinner, with drinks and snacks available along the way.
Fika is a Swedish ritual of pausing for a hot drink and something sweet, enjoyed in the company of others.
We’ll do our best to accommodate dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free.
Choose the Contribution that Fits Your Season
At Idyllwood, whether we gather around a fire, in a circle, or at a shared table, each presence strengthens the whole. Our sliding scale is rooted in trust and reciprocity, an invitation to choose the contribution that feels right for your season.
$397 | Sustaining Contribution
Covers your place and helps set another seat at the table, keeping the circle wide and welcoming.
$197 | Shared Contribution
Reflects the true cost of creating this experience and sharing in the food, space, and care that nourish our gathering.
$97 | Supported Contribution
Makes participation more accessible when a lower contribution is helpful.
No matter which contribution you choose, the welcome is the same. Your presence completes our gathering.
A Few Things You Might Be Wondering
Can I stay overnight?
Yes! You're welcome to camp at Idyllwood on Friday and/or Saturday night at no additional cost. Campers have access to the half-bathrooms at Idyllwood Barn, and we'll provide plenty of firewood. Meals outside of Saturday's retreat are on your own. Prefer a bed? We can also point you toward nearby places to stay.
Can my family come for the weekend?
The retreat itself is for women ages 18+, but Idyllwood is surrounded by wonderful places for families to explore. Some participants choose to stay nearby with their families, enjoying Friday evening and Sunday together while reserving Saturday for the retreat.
What if it rains?
For a retreat called Come to the Waters, a little rain feels right at home! We'll spend time by the pond, creek, and in the woods as conditions allow. If the rain sends us inside, Idyllwood Barn gives us a cozy place to gather, listen to the rain, and adapt our plans to whatever the day brings.
How active is the retreat?
We'll wander in the woods and along the water, enjoy gentle movement, and spend time outdoors, but this isn't a fitness retreat. Activities are invitational, and we'll make space for different bodies, abilities, and energy levels. Come exactly as you are.
Still wondering about something?
Visit our Retreat FAQs.
Ready to Come to the Waters?
We'd love to make space for you in the circle.
