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 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. This is a space to bond IN PERSON with peers and mentors who value being real, together. Our aim is to offer a light in the darkness, and uncover some wisdom, joy and community amidst uncertain times. We hope you'll join us!
Young people deserve help finding their authentic self and the courage to walk with purpose, resilience and love. Our Real Talk 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. This is a space to bond IN PERSON with peers and mentors who value being real, together. Our aim is to offer a light in the darkness, and uncover some wisdom, joy and community amidst uncertain times. We hope you'll join us!
} Real Talk Summer Retreat 2023 }
Weekend deep dive for teens rising 9th-12th grade
July 8th + 9th
Saturday & Sunday 10am - 5pm
2 Daylong Workshops back-to-back
Hosted outside at a beautiful private retreat in Berkeley, CA
July 8th + 9th
Saturday & Sunday 10am - 5pm
2 Daylong Workshops back-to-back
Hosted outside at a beautiful private retreat in Berkeley, CA
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- 2 awesome facilitators & sweet group of teen peers
- Rad young adult assistants (who were raised in our program) - Guided conversations in circle, small group and paired activities + solo time in nature - Gorgeous retreat setting at private home in Berkeley Hills with seasonal creek and extensive gardens - Heated salt water pool - Teens bring lunch, snacks provided Full Weekend Tuition Cost $650 Early Bird Discounts (End May 1st) Teens not participating in year long program $575 Teens participating in year long program $550 |
This retreat is meant to be an exclusive, intimate, in-depth weekend for a limited number of participants. Teens graduating 8th grade through graduating 12th welcome. Enrollment call is required for new families. Please note, this is not an overnight. Scroll down to Sign Up Form.
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REAL TALK TOPICS...
- CONFIDENCE + SELF WORTH
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- RELATIONSHIPS THAT TRULY SERVE
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Questions We Explore...
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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.
Retreat Guides
Emily Frost and Quetzal Francois are the heart of Love Your Nature and core facilitators of Real Talk Curriculum.
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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 mother, 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 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... |
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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... |
Assistant Guides
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CARMEN MCNEIL, As a Facilitator, Educator, and Period of Empowerment™ Guide, Dr. Carmen McNeil is committed to helping girls and women understand how impressive they really are. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, is a tenured professor, as well as a graduate of the California Black Women’s Health Project Advocacy Training Program.
Dr. Carmen has been a featured speaker for conferences, women’s organizations, and educational institutions. She pours her 25+ years of teaching, counseling, and training into supporting Power Parents and Community Influencers raising black girls; facilitating empowerment camps and workshops; and helping to lead the culture-shift around menstruation via her Power to the Period™, Rock with Your Menstrual Rhythm™, and Daring Daddies of Daughters™ workshops. Carmen is also a proud mama of a teenage son. Learn more about Carmen... |
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CORALIE BORDER is a college graduate, writer and creative. She received B.A.s in Sociology and English (creative writing) at UC Davis in 2023, where she also worked as an academic advisor and journalist. She has been a part of the Love Your Nature community since she joined a group in her youth, and has helped mentor teens at Summer Retreat for years. Some of her passions include mental health, queer empowerment, visual arts, poetry, and music. She hopes to foster spaces where young women and queer people are free to express themselves and find their places in the world. Coralie is the core facilitator of our Real Talk Davis Pre-Teen Circle.
Learn more about Coralie... |
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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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Scholarships
Learn more & fill out request
Learn more & fill out request
Payment & Cancellation Policy:
We anticipate a wait list so please sign up!
$650 Standard Tuition.
$675 "Pay it Forward" option donates $25 directly to the scholarship fund to make this event more accessible.
$575 Early Bird Tuition ends May 1st.
$550 Early Bird Tuition for teens currently enrolled in school-year program September 2022-June 2023.
Please click the Scholarship button to learn more about tuition assistance.
Should you cancel at any time before July 1st you will be refunded all of what you have paid other than a $50 fee.
If you cancel after July 1st, you will be charged 50% the agreed rate for your family.
If you simply don't show up to one or either day, you will be charged in full.
You can also choose to donate your payment, which will go directly towards a scholarship.
Thank you!
Thank you!
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.
