As youth make choices that will affect the rest of their lives, what support are we offering them?

Young people deserve help finding their authentic self and the courage to walk with purpose, resilience and love. Our 'Real Talk' Pre-Teen Summer Retreat holds a safe space to share honest conversations, make meaningful connections, and learn relevant skills to help girls* navigate the complexity of being teens in these times. Our weekend  is anchored with swim time in a warm salt water pool, and nature-based art and symbolic crafts to spark creativity and self-reflection. This is a space to bond with peers and mentors who value being real, together. We hope you'll join us!

} Pre-Teen Summer Retreat 2026 }

Retreat for pre-teens rising 6th-8th grade
Sunday August 9th
10am-3pm
Hosted outside at a beautiful private retreat in Berkeley, CA

- 2 awesome facilitators & sweet group of pre-teen peers
- Guided conversations in circle, small group and paired activities
- Nature-based art + symbolic crafts
- Solo time in nature
- Gorgeous retreat setting at private home in Berkeley Hills with seasonal creek and extensive gardens
- Heated salt water pool
- Participants bring lunch, snacks provided

$350 Tuition
$300 Early Bird Tuition Ends June 1st
$300 Tuition for enrolled families
(child currently enrolled in group or prepaid for Fall 2026)

This retreat is meant to be an exclusive, intimate, in-depth retreat for a limited number of participants. Teens rising 6th grade through 8th welcome to apply. If your child falls outside those grades and you feel this could be a good fit, please be in touch. Enrollment call is required for new families. Scroll down to apply.

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"If there's one thing that was made really clear to me it's that as a woman, I should honor myself. I will take on that advice with me for the rest of my life. I don't think anyone could have said it in a better way." - K.G.L.

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REAL TALK TOPICS...

- CONFIDENCE + SELF WORTH
- BODIES + BODY IMAGE
- HONORING OUR NATURAL CYCLES
- LGBTQ+, GENDER + SEXUALITY
- IDENTITY EXPLORATION (online + real time)
- SOCIAL MEDIA

- RELATIONSHIPS THAT TRULY SERVE
- COMMUNICATION + BOUNDARY SETTING
- SELF CARE + STRESS MANAGEMENT
- APPROPRIATE RISK TAKING
- EMBODIED LEADERSHIP
- SENSE OF JUSTICE + INTEGRITY

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Questions We Explore...

• How do I cultivate friendships and intimate relationships that are meaningful and supportive?
• How do we have experiences of joy without regret?
  
• How are we influenced by cultural forces of sex, gender, and media?
• What's the connection between how I treat myself and how others treat me?
• What does it really feel like to state my needs? How do I know what I want?
• Who am I behind all the masks, really?
• How do we cultivate intuition and learn to follow our instincts?

Learn more about our Philosophy, our Real Talk Curriculum or read our FAQ if you're wondering if this retreat is a good fit for your teen...

*We understand gender identity to be fluid and expressed in many ways. Our programs welcome teens along the gender spectrum who are assigned female at birth and/or socialized female. Please read our FAQ for more information. We welcome your questions or concerns.

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Retreat Guides

Emily Frost and Quetzal Francois are the heart of Love Your Nature and core facilitators of Real Talk Curriculum.

EMILY FROST is an artist, educator and contemporary rites of passage guide working with youth and families around the Bay Area. She is also a devoted mama, wife, sister and daughter. She is the Founding Director of LOVE YOUR NATURE, a movement devoted to girls and women awakening to their inherent wisdom, power, and purpose. Emily offers 1:1 sessions with teen girls, young women and parents in her private coaching practice in Berkeley, CA, and facilitates programs that develop social, emotional and spiritual intelligence, with a focus on girls coming of age.

Learn more about Emily...

QUETZAL FRANCOIS is an educator, mentor, and activist. She works with young people and adults, in groups and individually, all over the Bay Area. Quetzal Francois brings 10 years of experience designing curriculum and facilitating groups for teens and people who work with teens. Her focus is on social and emotional intelligence, communication skills, intimacy, gender, empowered sexual health education, self harm, developing self confidence, building healthy and nurturing relationships (romantic and platonic), and LGBTQ matters.

Learn more about Quetzal...

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In their own words...

"Looking back... I see how it has shaped who I have become. I found a voice I didn't know I had, and learned to stand in my own truth. I am worthy of love, and I belong here."

"You're never going to find a space or an energy like the space Emily and Quetzal create. Do it, I promise you'll love it."

"Thank you so much for this weekend. I met so many different girls with the same problems as me. It's just good to know I'm not the only one dealing with these problems." - K.S.

"I really appreciated having the time to reflect on such a faceted subject, especially the solitary time. Also, it was such a gorgeous setting! But more importantly, I feel more secure in knowing what I want in a relationship, and the kind of guy who I want that relationship to be with. Asking for what I want is still difficult, but I think that's something that takes time to learn. Thank you so much for creating this space for me, my friends, and other girls - I hope as many girls as possible get to have this experience!" - K.W.

"Do it! Trying doesn't hurt but if you don't, you're missing out! Changed my life!"

"I've taken away a lot of important things to remember that will help me in the future, and through the rest of my life." - G.W.

"I liked this retreat because I could feel comfortable with opening up and others could easily say anything they wanted to."

"Please do this! You will not regret it! It leaves you with so much life experience."

More praise...

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Tuition

$350 Tuition
$300 Early Bird Tuition Ends June 1st
$300 Tuition for enrolled families
(child currently enrolled in group or prepaid for Fall 2026)

We currently accept most forms of payment. Our preference is for Zelle, as it sends funds directly to Love Your Nature LLC.

OPTIONS:

• ZELLE®: [email protected]
• PAYPAL: "Friends & family" to paypal.me/emilyrosefrost
• VENMO: @mama-emily-rose
• We accept checks as needed, please email us.

* Please consider making a difference in a teen’s life through our “Pay It Forward” option, which includes gifting an additional amount towards families in need. We are committed to making our programs available to all families, including those for whom our rates are a financial barrier. In order to do that, we offer tuition assistance to as many teens as possible. In 2024, $40,000 in tuition assistance was given. We are an LLC receiving no grants or funding beyond tuition and individual contributions.

Cancellation Policy
Should you cancel at any time before August 1st you will be refunded all of what you have paid other than a $50 fee.
If you cancel after August 1st, you will be charged 50% the agreed rate for your family. You can also choose to donate your payment, which will go directly towards a scholarship.
If you simply don't show up to one or either day, you will be charged in full.

We manage enrollment and payment/tuition assistance individually with each family. We will contact you as soon as we have received your information. Please contact us if you have questions or to schedule a free intro call. We anticipate a wait list so please sign up!

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Please apply below & click 'Submit'

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Please click SUBMIT

Thank you!

We will contact you as soon as we have received your information.
Additional forms (including Health & Emergency Form & Financial Agreement) will be required.
Please contact us if you have questions.