Healing Inner Child: A Playful Retreat at Nordhaus Dunes
July 25, 2025
July 27, 2025
Rediscover the joy and wonder of your inner child at Nordhaus Dunes. This retreat is for those who wish to reconnect with the playful, carefree aspects of themselves, healing wounds from the past through laughter, creativity, and nature's embrace.
Reconnecting with Your Inner Child at Nordhouse Dunes
The wounds of our childhood often linger into adulthood, shaping our behaviors, beliefs, and relationships. The inner child, a symbol of your true self, carries both the joy and the pain of your earliest experiences. Healing the inner child is a journey of rediscovery, compassion, and nurturing. At this retreat, we’ll return to the playful, innocent, and pure part of ourselves that may have been buried under years of life’s challenges.
Beach Play:
Remember the joy of playing on the beach as a child? We’ll begin by simply having fun—building sandcastles, splashing in the water, and letting go of adult responsibilities for a while. This time of play isn’t just about fun; it’s about reconnecting with the carefree, creative spirit within you. Allow yourself to laugh, explore, and experience the world with childlike wonder.
Reparenting Meditation:
In a safe, supportive environment, we’ll guide you through a reparenting meditation. This powerful practice allows you to meet your inner child, offering the love, validation, and safety that may have been lacking in your early years. By visualizing and connecting with this vulnerable part of yourself, you’ll start to heal the deep-seated wounds that have impacted your life.
Campfire Storytelling:
Gathered around the warmth of the fire, we’ll share stories—both personal and mythical—about childhood, growth, and transformation. The fire represents both the light and warmth that we crave as children and the fierce power of transformation. As you listen and share, you’ll find that your experiences are woven into the larger tapestry of human existence, helping you feel less alone in your journey.
Living on the Beach:
Spending the weekend living on the beach, with the sky as your ceiling and the sand as your floor, will reconnect you with the simplicity and joy of being in nature. The sights and sounds of the water, the feel of the sand beneath your feet, and the peace of the natural world will serve as a gentle reminder of the simple pleasures that brought you joy as a child.
Healing through Nature:
The natural world is the perfect setting for this deep inner work. Nature, in its purest form, is both a playground and a sanctuary. As we explore the dunes and the shoreline, you’ll be encouraged to engage with your surroundings in a way that feels playful and liberating, allowing your inner child to come out and explore.
Guidance and Support:
You don’t need any prior experience to join this retreat. We’ll guide you through every step, from setting up your tent to preparing meals. The focus is on your healing journey, and we’ll take care of the rest, ensuring that you can fully engage with the process of reconnecting with your inner child.
Join us at Nordhouse Dunes to rediscover the joy, innocence, and wonder that lives within you. By healing your inner child, you’ll unlock a deeper sense of peace, happiness, and self-compassion that will resonate through every part of your life.
Itinerary
Your guide will take care of all the details regarding planning, packing, what to expect and what gear to bring through a pre-trip zoom call.
(full, detailed itinerary sent upon registration)
Day 1:
Arrival & Camp Setup: Meet at the trailhead of the National Forest. We'll work together to set up camp, with expert tips to ensure you're comfortable and confident in the wilderness.
Dinner & Evening Meditation: Enjoy a delicious meal together, followed by the start of our healing journey. We'll gather around the fire for adult smores followed by a guided meditation and time for reflection, creating a safe space for our Inner Childs.
Starlit Slumber: Drift off to sleep under a blanket of stars, lulled by the gentle sound of waves, allowing nature to cradle you into rest. How many shooting stars did you count?
Day 2:
Morning Rituals: Start your day with hot beverages and a hearty breakfast. Invigorate yourself with a refreshing morning swim in Lake Michigan.
Guided Exploration: Embark on a guided hike, exploring the unique beauty of the area. The afternoon is yours for wild exploration, with guided activities designed to cultivate a deeper connection with your inner child through nature.
Fire Ceremony: After dinner, we'll gather for a transformative fire ceremony, symbolizing the burning away of the old to make way for the new.
Day 3:
Final Morning: Begin with hot beverages and breakfast.
Pack Up & Hike Back: After packing up camp, we'll hike back, pausing for lunch along the way. Our journey concludes with a final gratitude circle, where we’ll express our thanks for the experience, nature, and the new paths we’re ready to walk. Say your goodbyes, stepping forward with a fresh perspective and a heart full of peace.
Meet your leader
For centuries, sailors needed a lodestar to guide them through the darkness of night. Now more than ever, people are searching for a brighter way—a different way.
Without a map, it’s too easy to get lost, deluded, confused, and discouraged along the way. You need a guide who can give you the right direction, offer necessary encouragement, and help you avoid the clutches of the ego. Someone who has already traveled the paths, learned the byroads, and blazed trails that have never been walked before.
As an outdoor guide, backpacker, nature-based mentor, and storytelling goddess, I offer guidance for finding your true, authentic path through life. My mission is to open minds to new discoveries and inspire others to live their truest, most authentic lives. In doing so, I create a strong, compassionate, and loving environment that facilitates deep healing and sacred connection to Nature. Every person can open up, be real, and reimagine themselves while finding a new community of friends.
I humbly share my inspiring collection of ancient wisdom, personal stories, and the sage advice I’ve gained through my experience and reflection as an explorer, writer, coach, and facilitator. Sharing my deeply personal experience of how I overcame obstacles to accomplish my dreams, I’m here to guide you through your own bold adventure, ensuring that you feel safe, supported, and truly connected to the natural world around you.
As a seasoned nature mentor and international tour guide, I bring decades of hands-on experience in leading individuals through some of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes. Whether you’re new to the wilderness or a seasoned adventurer, I’m here to ensure you feel empowered and ready to take the first steps on your own quest for greater understanding and deep transformation.
This is an invitation to step out from your ordinary life and take the first steps on your own guided journey.
Heather Zigler
As you journeyed through the retreat, you began to reconnect with the innocent, vibrant essence that lies within you—the inner child who has been waiting to be seen, heard, and embraced. Through the sacred practices of nature immersion, heartfelt sharing, and transformative exercises, you've started to heal the wounds of the past, releasing the pain and rediscovering the joy, creativity, and wonder that is your birthright.
This retreat has opened a door—a door to deeper self-love, acceptance, and a life filled with authenticity and freedom. But this is just the beginning. The journey to fully integrate your inner child into your everyday life is ongoing, and it’s one that you don’t have to walk alone.
Now is the time to commit to your continued healing and transformation. Take the first step by securing your place in this life-changing retreat. Your inner child deserves the love, attention, and healing that awaits you.
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