Reclaiming Wonder: A Renewal Retreat for Women Who Lead

About this event

An immersive weekend of creativity, curiosity, connection & renewal

When was the last time you became completely absorbed in something simply because it delighted you?

Before productivity became a measure of worth. Before your calendar filled with responsibilities. Before you learned to dismiss play as frivolous and creativity as something reserved for “creative people.”

Reclaiming Wonder is an invitation to remember.

Set against the extraordinary beauty of the Inn at Irwin Gardens in Columbus, Indiana , this intimate retreat explores what happens when we intentionally create the conditions for wonder: when we slow down enough to notice, make things with our hands, follow our curiosity, move and play, spend time in beauty, and allow ourselves to create without worrying about whether we're “good” at it.

Throughout the weekend, we’ll weave together creative experiences, reflective practices, play, movement, nature, beautiful meals, meaningful conversation, and spacious time to simply wander and wonder.

This isn't about becoming more productive.

It's about becoming more present, curious, creative and alive —and discovering what becomes possible when you bring those qualities back into your work, relationships, leadership and everyday life.

What to Expect

Reclaiming Wonder is intentionally designed to feel different from a conference, workshop—or even a typical wellness retreat.

Expect a weekend that moves between guided experiences and spaciousness , giving you opportunities to engage deeply without feeling overscheduled.

You might find yourself:

• Experimenting with art, writing, music, movement and other forms of creative play—with absolutely no experience required

• Exploring the science of wonder, creativity, stress and the nervous system in accessible, surprising ways

• Wandering through the gardens and noticing things you normally move too quickly to see

• Making something simply because you want to make it

• Laughing, playing and connecting with other curious humans

• Journaling or reflecting on the parts of yourself that have gotten quieter beneath responsibility and routine

• Sharing beautiful meals and conversations

• Resting when you need rest

• Following a spark of curiosity just to see where it leads

There is no expectation that you arrive feeling creative, inspired or particularly “wonder-filled.”

That's what we're creating the conditions for.

Creative Health: Professional Development That Feels Nothing Like Work

What if professional development didn't always mean acquiring another skill, strategy or certification?

What if sometimes the most valuable thing we could do for our work was to restore the human capacities that chronic stress, responsibility and constant productivity tend to diminish?

Curiosity. Imagination. Play. Connection. Attention. Creativity. Wonder.

Reclaiming Wonder sits at the intersection of personal renewal and professional development .

Through evidence-informed learning and immersive experience, we'll explore how creativity and wonder can support stress resilience, flexible thinking, problem-solving, connection and our ability to see beyond familiar patterns.

But we won't just talk about creativity.

We'll practice it.

And there may be no better place to explore that idea than Columbus, Indiana.

The Place Is Part of the Practice

Columbus itself invites us to consider a fascinating question:

What happens when we intentionally design environments that invite people to think, feel, connect and create differently?

For generations, this small Midwestern city has been shaped by an unusual commitment to architecture, art, design and the belief that the spaces we inhabit matter. During Reclaiming Wonder, that larger story becomes part of our own exploration.

Our home for the weekend—the historic Inn at Irwin Gardens —offers an especially beautiful setting for that inquiry. Architecture, gardens, art, history and nature become more than a backdrop. They become invitations to pay attention.

This retreat is especially meaningful for educators, leaders, caregivers, facilitators, helping professionals, entrepreneurs and other humans whose work requires them to continually give, solve, create, lead or care.

You don't need another weekend of trying to improve yourself.

You may simply need the space to remember the parts of yourself that make growth possible.

Come for the retreat. Leave with a renewed creative practice—and a different understanding of what wellbeing can look like.

Choose Your Stay

( All tickets include 2 nights lodging, gourmet hot breakfast with coffee and tea, Friday night charcuterie, Saturday evening cooking class and meal at My Whole Kitchen , as well as all retreat activities. Saturday lunch and optional bodywork not included. )

Historic Inn Private Guest Room

Make the place part of the experience.

The Inn at Irwin Gardens isn't simply where Reclaiming Wonder happens—its historic architecture, artful details and extraordinary surroundings are part of the invitation to slow down and notice beauty.

Our Historic Inn Room category reserves one of the Inn's most distinctive accommodations for guests who want their room itself to become part of the retreat experience.

Perfect for someone who wants to make this weekend feel like a true creative getaway.

Retreat Price: $1295

Signature Room Selection Upgrade - SOLD OUT

Want first choice?

Add Signature Room Selection to your ticket for priority access to available rooms before standard room assignments are made. Select from the Inn's four distinct private guest suites:

• W.G. Irwin Suite: This third floor queen suite is finished with ornately detailed quarter-sawn white oak paneling with tapestry above. This room has the best view of the gardens from the house. The private bathroom has a tub and separate 1910 rib-cage shower with skylight above.

• Clementine Tangeman Suite: This second story suite is our largest and includes a large sitting room, private bath with shower, king bedroom, mini kitchenette, and a small Sun room with writing desk.

• Joseph Irwin Room: This large corner room on the second floor has ample space for a comfortable seating area as well as a burl walnut empire style bedroom set with king bed. The large double windows overlook Fifth Street. The private bathroom has a vintage bath/shower combination.

• Elsie Sweeney Room: This second-floor corner room has a full mahogany bedroom set with king bed and writing desk. The large double windows overlook Fifth Street. The private bathroom has a vintage bath/shower combination.

Signature Room Selection is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note: the upgrade provides priority selection rather than guaranteeing a specific room, as choices depend upon availability at the time selections are made. Only three available.

Historic Inn Shared Suite - SOLD OUT

J.I. Miller Room and Xenia Miller Room each have a private sleeping room and a shared bath. Ideal for 2 friends coming together. Retreat Price $1195 per person

Garden Cottage Private Room

Enjoy a little extra privacy and a cozy, home-away-from-home feel in the Garden Cottage, tucked just behind the Inn . Choose from a first-floor king room or a second-story queen room, each offering your own private bedroom while sharing the cottage's comfortable living room and kitchen with a small number of fellow retreat guests.

A lovely choice if you want your own space to recharge while still enjoying the warmth and connection of a shared retreat home.

King or queen room assignments are based on availability and room-selection priority.

Retreat Price: $1145

Garden Cottage Shared Room

Come with a friend—or make a new one.

Located in the historic Cottage House behind the Inn, this is a second floor shared bedroom with shared bathroom. The cottage guests also have access to a shared kitchen, laundry, and common room. (Ideal for 2 friends coming together)

This is our most accessible way to experience the full retreat and a lovely choice if you enjoy the connection and camaraderie of sharing your space.

If you're attending with someone you'd like to room with, you can indicate your roommate preference during registration.

Retreat Price: $995 per person