Do you have chapters of your book tucked away in a box? Are there ten new paintings dancing around in your head? Do you have stacks of napkins with genius ideas written on the back? 

The impulse to create is what makes you an artist. And we all know it can be tricky to carve out time and find the space to do what we love. We somehow find hours tucked next to midnight and minutes hiding between daily tasks, but when was the last time your creativity was your number one priority?


We would like to give the gift of an opportunity to do just that!


The Dreamweaver Bus is looking for a team of adventurers who are ready to commit to their vision and spend some dedicated time engaging their art in the wild. Do you love to paint, write, photograph, sketch, video, or make popsicle stick figures? We welcome any and all of it! Participants must be willing to embrace a quiet, technology-free environment in the woods (exception made for digital mediums) for five days and four nights. This creative sabbatical will surround you with other artists as we co-create the space for you to deep dive into your flow. This collective container will serve to amplify focus and inspiration in our individual projects. If the woods speak to you, this will be an ideal environment to listen to the silence within and hear the dreams that are calling you to create. With devoted space and time away from city life and daily obligations, you will finally have the opportunity to kick-start an idea or vision in mind, move deeper into a current project, find resolutions to creative blocks, or contemplate a completely new direction to go. 

If you are feeling called to get messy, get inspired, get collaborative, and get back to your roots, Wild Creativity: Unplugged will provide the fertile soil to nurture the next steps toward receiving and giving the gift that you are.

“Wild Creativity unplugged was an incredible experience shared with a warm and inspiring group of creatives. The retreat left me brimming with gratitude and heightened faith. Unneeded layers of the past were set to the wind and seeds of dream intentions were tucked into the earth, bolstered by the envisioned strength of the collective. A journey of story telling, crafting, game playing, deep reflecting, river romping, forest frolicking , collective contemplating , and knowledge sharing. Guided by the care and inspiration of our Captain Skye Dreamer and the Dreamweaver bus.”

— Holly L. (participant from the 2019 retreat)


Read on to absorb the full details and grab a seat on this epic quest!


The Quest

Traveling to a secluded region of Kananaskis AB, this retreat will be an opportunity to connect deeply with nature and to allow your creative practice to blossom, without the everyday distractions of city life. The bulk of the five day quest will be devoted to the free flow of inspiration and spontaneous creativity; however, there will also be opportunities for collaboration, conversation, gift giving, and adventure. We respect each individual’s creative process and personal freedom to participate only as you feel inclined. 


“Science is demonstrating what we intuitively know: Nature makes us happy” and we are wired to be outside!

The Quick Glance

WhatA five-day, four-night adventure into nature for camping, connecting, and space to focus on creative outlets and reflection. 

When: Wednesday July 1st, 2020 (morning departure) to Sunday July 5th, 2020 (late afternoon return)

Where: Departure and return are in Calgary, AB and the retreat destination will be off-grid in the Kananaskis area.

Who: Room for 8 creative artists, ready to dive into their process and flow as part of a mini tribe

WhyTo create a space for creativity to emerge through the inspiration of wild nature; a chance to unplug from the digital world and root into the wisdom of the outdoors

How: By signing up and supporting the Dreamweaver Bus with a deposit of $100. Full details below!


“There’s moments when the digital speed of the world hypnotizes us into a forgetful state of disconnection from The Earth, from ourselves, from community and from our creative inner spirit. This retreat offered me the opportunity to wake up from that state and remember what’s important to me. Wild Creativity: Unplugged was a special experience I hope to relive every season! Support your local artists!”

— Heather Morigeau


The Dirty Details

What you will receive from Wild Creativity: Unplugged
  • Transportation from/to Calgary on a spacious, cozy, veggie fueled bus with solar power and travel tunes
  • A road trip and five days of great company, engaging conversations, time to catch up on z’s, and space for arting, adventuring, communing with nature, or doing nothing – whatever you are in the mood for
  • A 22 foot, bamboo geodesic dome shelter for a creative container or a little R&R
  • A full kitchen with stove, water, dishes, and refrigerator on the bus
  • Bathroom with outdoor shower, rainwater harvesting, and compost toilet
  • Indoor desk space to create, with power to charge any necessary devices needed for creativity
  • Three meals per day with breakfast and lunch provided and shared dinners (full details below)
  • Campfire’s and group feedback/idea bouncing sessions to amplify the inspiration
  • Workshops, Learning Labs, and Adventure Time sessions sprinkled throughout the duration to mix things up

Sleeping
  • The four bunk beds and double private room at the back of the bus will be offered to the first to register. Beds include sleeping space on the bus with decorative curtains, personal storage cubbies for belongings, warm LED lighting, outlets to charge devices, and a cooling fan for hot mornings.
  • The remaining participants will need to bring camping gear for outside (also an option to choose if you prefer this arrangement to being on the bus) sleeping. If you need any camping gear we do have some extras.
  • It will be an intimate trip on the bus but you will be surprised how easily you can find personal space when you have the entire outdoors at your doorstep. It’s all part of the communal experience!

Meals
  • As part of your retreat, breakfasts (4) and lunches (4) will be provided each day so you have the freedom to dive into your creative process.
  • Dinners will be coordinated as part of a meal share. Each participant will be asked to plan, provide, and cook one dinner during the retreat for the rest of the group. You will pair up with someone before the quest to make a team. The meal share is intended to be an opportunity to share our edible creativity and to build a more communal experience.
  • Part of the application includes any dietary restrictions for us to include in planning.

Reciprocation

The Dreamweaver Bus is all about the spirit of the gift. This means that we believe everyone has something of value to offer and the dream weaving happens when we invite people to be a part of the vision.

In order to balance operating costs for the bus and to offer an accessible adventure to artists, we are asking for a personal contribution of $250 to join the five day retreat. A deposit of $100 is required to reserve your seat and the remaining is due before departure. You can either etransfer or paypal the deposit to iamskyedreamer@gmail.com – make sure you include contact information!

In the spirit of the gift we also acknowledge and welcome alternative contributions. All money received goes back into the Dreamweaver Bus, ensuring it is able to continue creating value, but that is not the only way to give back and support the mission.

Here are a few ways you can offset the $246 request:

  • Offer to facilitate a learning lab, workshop, or adventure time quest of your choice with the tribe. Ideally 1-2 hours, and apply a $44 credit
  • Refer a friend, and if they join you can apply a $44 credit
  • Help with the bus preparations during the months leading up to make it awesome for our journey with time or materials. Or assist with the planning and preparation of this retreat. Please contact us to discuss this option, or join the Dreamweaver Bus Facebook Group for updates. Time is ‘paid’ with $20/hr credit towards any Dreamweaver Quest.
  • Request a scholarship (based on need and commitment to the retreat)
  • Give more than $250 to help support the participants with greater financial need.

Registration is open on March 14, 2020 and closes on July 15th (or when spots are full).  For more information or to register, please contact iamskyedreamer@gmail.com

“Living the simple life, with the sound of the river flow as the background, collecting firewood, sharing delicious food, sharing ideas, theories and life stories. Seven wonderful people sharing raw and vulnerable moments, and witnessing one of the brightest rainbows I have seen, to close a life changing camping experience. Wild Creativity: Unplugged taught me so much about myself and my creative capabilities, and that it has no comparison being creative collaboratively and connected to each other as creatives through our innate connection to nature. Thank you Dreamweaver bus for this amazing adventure!”

— Thais

“The creative nature retreat was a beautiful experience. I loved being immersed in the forest, right beside the river, with the dome and the bus to call as a home base. Even though we were secluded with just a few of us, I couldn’t help but feel a stronger sense of connection than I do in the city, even though I’m usually surrounded by so many people, places and things. I can still hear the crackling of the fire, the sound of the river flowing in the background, the rain gently falling on the earth, smell the earth and the rain, feel the relief of being free. For a short time, the forest was our home, the trees watched over us and I felt a sense of safety and freedom, being able to spend my time as I pleased, with no responsibility and no schedule. Even though we were only together for 5 days, by the time I left, I felt closer to the people who I was with than I have with people I’ve known for years, after sharing many great conversations, walks exploring the forest, time sitting by the fire, hanging out in the dome and being creative together. It was lovely to have the chance to meet like minded, creative, interesting and passionate people and have the chance to connect with people over being creative. I’m so glad I went and feel lucky to have had the experience. I can’t wait to go back next year, to my real home in the forest, with people I would like to call kindred spirits.”

— Meredith B.