2026 Retreats

General Information

These details pertain to all Tenderfoot retreats regardless of theme or date.

Meals

Food is the center of any Tenderfoot experience. All meals will be prepared for you and served family-style at our hand-made dining table. We use ingredients from our own organic garden and local farms as much as possible, eating the freshest flavors of the season. We believe food is a great entry point to sustainable living, and you’re welcome to hang out in the kitchen to ask questions or share your own wisdom.

Classes & Workshops

You might choose to spend the full weekend relaxing by the pond, in a hammock, or strolling the trails – sounds wonderful. But if you’re looking to give your outdoor & sustainability knowledge a boost, we’ve got options for that, too. A selection of the below sessions are available at every retreat; additional sessions specific to each retreat’s theme are also offered.

Bonding with Bikes. Whether for transportation or recreation, bicycles are a great feature of a sustainable life. New to bikes? Learn our top 10 reasons to fall in love with them and get an overview of the mechanical basics. Already bonded with your bike? Wax poetic with us for a while, then join us for a ride around the – country – block (5 miles). Limited bikes available for borrow; feel free to bring your own.

Fire Building. Learn various techniques to build fires, whether for heat or cooking. Discuss natural and DIY fire starters, choosing types of wood as fuel, maintaining coals and flame, and safe extinguishing.

Food Dehydration. Learn the basics of dehydration as a food preservation method. Give your bananas longer life, delight your kids with homemade fruit leather, learn to make gourmet camping meals, or add some easy healthy foods to your packed lunches.

Home Compost. Tired of food waste stinking up your trash? Make soil instead! Learn how to keep food scraps out of the waste stream – and why it makes a difference. There’s something in this workshop for all types of living environments – urban or rural, rent or own, apartment or suburb.

Sustainable Living Tour. On this interactive tour, take a deeper look at Tenderfoot’s facilities to explore the ways we incorporate sustainability into our daily lives. Get ideas for your own home life or work life.

Guided Hikes. Explore on foot through ravines, across creeks, and along ridgelines. Observe native and non-native species that have helped to reclaim this land.

Reflective Journaling. Take advantage of life’s slower pace this weekend and make time for your own thoughts. Respond to a few prompts, try out a variety of reflection techniques, then write or illustrate on your own for a while.

Downtime & Recreation

Students and guests consistently tell us that Tenderfoot feels like a retreat, that they feel rejuvenated after being here. It comes from a combination of time outdoors, time spent using our hands to create things, nourishing food, less screen time, and purposeful downtime. So, while we offer some structured activities, we also encourage you to embrace play and pure relaxation — without technology. We have lots of options for tech-free fun: board games, card games, puzzles, pond floaties, floating dock, hammocks, instruments, and books galore.

Lodging

With both indoor and outdoor options, there’s something for all comfort levels. Indoor guests stay in doubles or quads. If you’re coming with a friend, you can name your roommate during registration. All linens, both bed and bath, are provided. All rooms are furnished with bunk beds, and guests share two bathrooms. Total indoor capacity is 8 people.

Outdoor guests bring your own tent or hammock and stay in one of three designated camping areas. Water is provided at an outdoor spigot, and an outdoor shower and privy are available. Outdoor guests are welcome to use indoor bathroom facilities at non-peak times and charge devices at the lodge. Camping capacity is limited to 8 people.

Transportation

Transportation is not included, but if you’re coming from an Ohio town along the GO Bus route, we encourage you to consider reducing your carbon footprint by taking advantage of this affordable public transportation. Choose the Athens – Ohio University stop as your destination, and we’ll happily pick you up to bring you the final few miles to Tenderfoot. Carpooling with other attendees from your area is also a great option.

Packing List

What to Bring

• Clothing for 3-4 days plus a few extras in case of wet or cold
• Medications or special food items you require
• Closed-toed shoes suited to the outdoors
• Rain coat if you have one
• Sunscreen
• Toiletries
• Electricity-free fun: puzzles, card games, board games, books, musical instruments
• Outdoor guests: tent/hammock, rain fly, bedding, towel, biodegradable soap

What to Leave at Home

• Indoor guests: bedding & towels
• Contagious illnesses – If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. We’ll be sad to miss out on the unique contributions you could make to the group, but we want memories and skills to be the weekend’s souvenirs, not germs.

Questions? Email hello@tenderfootlearninglab.org or call us at (740) 664-7116.