Return to the Forest: A Week of Solitude, Ceremony, and Remembering.
Step beyond the noise of everyday life and into the living wisdom of the forest. This week-long, guided immersion, inspired by the timeless spirit of the vision quest, invites you to prepare, fast, and spend one, two, or three nights alone in nature, supported by experienced guides.
Through solitude, ceremony, and deep relationship with the land, participants return to what is essential.
This inaugural Forest Immersion marks the beginning of a living tradition—one we envision returning year after year as a place of deep remembrance, transformation, and connection with the natural world.
There are several ways to participate.
If you are not called to the full forest solitude experience this year, you are warmly invited to join as a Supporter.
As part of the support team, you will help hold the container for participants while gaining firsthand experience of the process, preparing you to step more deeply into the journey in future years.
This vision is being brought to life through the collaboration of Stefanie Frank and Andrea Calderón Raincloud.
Andrea serves as our guide, ally, and wisdom keeper, carrying a long lineage of ceremonial tradition and having guided hundreds of people through Vision Quest and Sun Dance. Stefanie recently completed her own four-year Vision Quest commitment, and this offering is the fruition of a lifelong calling—a vision that has led her to create this experience for our community at The NEST.
Together, we welcome you to be part of the first generation of what we hope will become an enduring tradition of returning to the forest, to community, and to our true nature.
If this is for The NEST, I’d also suggest giving this first gathering a meaningful name, such as The First Nesting, Founding Circle, or First Generation, to create a sense of legacy that future participants can become part of.
What to Expect:
* A nourishing week-long immersion in a supportive community setting
* Wholesome, cleansing meals to prepare your body and mind for the forest experience
* A traditional Sweat Lodge ceremony for purification and intention setting
* Guidance in creating your personal forest solitude space with care and support
* Preparation teachings to help you enter your solo time with clarity, confidence, and purpose
* Supported forest solitude with your choice of one, two, or three nights in nature
* Experienced guidance throughout the journey, offering support while honoring the integrity of your solitude
* Integration practices and group sharing to help you embody the insights and gifts of your experience
* A held community container before, during, and after the immersion, fostering connection, reflection, and lasting transformation
Our Leaders:
Andrea Raincloud- Curandera, Mystic, and Guardian of Ancestral Medicines
With more than 25 years on the path of ancestral medicine, Andrea Raincloud serves as a guardian of ancient altars and a vital guide in the recovery of ancient wisdom across the Americas and Europe.
Her path is distinguished by a unique ceremonial responsibility: she held the leadership and headship as Woman Drum Chief of the Sun Dance, the only woman in the continent to hold this sacred role. Recognized for her Sacred Awakolla songs and the power of her prayers, Andrea dedicates her life to caring for and preserving the ancient rites of humanity, honoring our ancestors, and upholding the sacred knowledge of the unseen worlds. Her life’s purpose is consecrated to the knowledge of the Spirit and the preservation of the sacred rituality of our humanity.
Listen & Learn more about Andrea:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRiB5pXCVr9/?igsh=cW5pcjVzYzhuaHkx
Stefanie Frank is the founder and director of ESKFF Nest, a healing arts refuge and retreat center in Woodstock, NY. As a visionary retreat leader, she creates transformative experiences for spiritual and holistic well-being, weaving together music, sound healing, flute, dance, and breathwork. She is deeply passionate about designing nature-based, spiritually diverse ceremonies and rituals that open the door to profound personal growth and healing.
Beyond the retreat space, Stefanie is a master gardener, herbalist, and gourmet mushroom farmer, rooted in a deep relationship with nature and sustainable living. As an active member of the Hudson Valley Psychedelic Society, she helps advance the understanding and responsible use of psychedelics for healing and personal development. She also holds influential board positions, including with the Church of Sacred Mirrors (COSM), founded by visionary artists Alex and Allyson Grey.
A devoted single mother of three adult children, Stefanie holds her many roles — mother, community leader, healer, entrepreneur — with grace, leaving a lasting mark on everyone she touches through her work and vision.
Cost:
We are doing our best to offer programming that is accessible.
The N.E.S.T. utilizes the practice of the Green Bottle philosophy in order to make our programming accessible with a fair exchange:
Take a look at our Green Bottle comparison to help you identify yourself on the scale
Cost yet to be determined