Step away from the busyness of everyday life and reconnect with what matters most: time together.

The Family Nature Retreat at Seven Springs

The Family Nature Retreat at Seven Springs invites families to slow down, explore the outdoors, and learn through play and creativity. Over the course of the weekend, children and adults participate in engaging workshops, shared experiences, and nature-based activities designed to inspire curiosity and connection.

This retreat includes programming for kids, adults, and the whole family together, offering space for both personal exploration and meaningful family bonding.

Eat together, learn together, and enjoy a weekend immersed in the beauty of the Smoky Mountains.

Play together. Explore nature. Create memories that last a lifetime.

Throughout the weekend, families will experience a variety of creative, educational, and nature-based activities designed to inspire movement, curiosity, and connection.

Activities include:

Family yoga and partner yoga
Capoeira movement workshops
BrainDance creative movement sessions
HealthRhythms community drum circles
Arts and crafts using natural materials
Scavenger hunts and nature exploration
Song circles and music experiences
Movement and emotional intelligence workshops
Thai partner stretching and body awareness
Sound bath relaxation sessions
Evening campfires under the stars

Workshops are designed for all ages and abilities, creating an environment where every family member can participate and learn.

Retreat Highlights

"We had a wonderful time at Seven Springs. The land is remote enough to feel secluded, but still accessible. The yurts are solid, well appointed with comfortable beds, bedding, and even mattress heaters for chilly nights. The property is beautiful and very well kept up. I went with my two boys, we spent every day in Smoky Mountain National Park which is only about a 20 minute drive from Seven Springs. I plan to go back in the future with my wife and take in more of the peaceful and beautiful views and serene atmosphere. Loved it!" -Andrew

Featured Experiences

BrainDance

BrainDance is a creative movement practice developed by renowned dance educator Anne Green Gilbert. The movements reflect patterns experienced in the womb and early childhood, supporting sensory-motor development and lifelong learning.

Through playful exploration, BrainDance helps children and adults develop coordination, focus, and creativity while strengthening the connection between body and mind.

HealthRhythms Drum Circle

Drumming has brought communities together for centuries. The HealthRhythms Drum Circle builds on this tradition using rhythm-based activities that support emotional well-being, communication, and social connection.

Families experience drumming together as a powerful way to express creativity, discover rhythm, and strengthen relationships.

Sound Bath

Sound baths use musical harmonics and gentle vibration to support relaxation and nervous system balance. Tibetan singing bowls, voice, and hand percussion create a deeply calming experience for children and adults alike.

These sessions offer a peaceful space to unwind and integrate the experiences of the day.

Schedule

Friday
2:00 PM | Arrival and Check-in
Afternoon | Opening activities and family connection time
Evening | Community dinner and campfire gathering

Saturday
Morning | Family yoga and movement practices
Midday | Creative workshops, nature exploration, and group activities
Afternoon | Drum circles, crafts, and interactive learning sessions
Evening | Sound bath and fireside gathering

Sunday
Morning | Yoga and family activities
Late Morning | Closing circle
11:00 AM | Departure

Accommodations

Each family receives a private yurt for the duration of the retreat.

Register Now!

All packages include:
Private yurt lodging per family
Three nourishing meals daily
All workshops and activities
Access to nature trails and retreat spaces
Evening campfires and community gatherings

Retreat Add-Ons

Enhance your retreat experience with optional add-ons. Prices listed are per person.
60-Minute Massage — $135 (gratuity included)
90-Minute Massage — $185 (gratuity included)
Additional Night Stay — $125 (lodging only, meals not included)

*Choose from traditional table massage or Thai yoga massage.

Meet Your Facilitators

Jessi Townesmith

Jessi was born and raised on the land of Seven Springs. She completed her first YTT200 in 2007 and her YTT300 in 2012. She co-founded Kula Collective Yoga School and Seven Springs in 2015. Jessi has always loved to combine elements of dance and natural movement with traditional yogic sequencing. She incorporates attention to rhythm of the breath, and allows for organic movement to flow in each pose. She is passionate about anatomy and physiology and especially women's health.

Her first son was born in 2018, and since that time, Jessi has dedicated herself to learning more about birth and birth keeping, as well as focused on creating support circles for women. She has trained as a Birth Doula and Post-partum Doula, and she is passionate about Pre and Post Natal Yoga.

Most of all, Jessi believes yoga is a holistic practice that can benefit every woman, and while the asana practice may have brought her into the yoga path, Jessi now enjoys exploring the subtler aspects of the yoga journey through ceremony and circle.

Maria Simeone

Maria is the Creator/Founder of Voice Your Resilience (and formerly, MusicMovestheBrain). She is a teaching artist and musician with over 30 years of experience. She has served as a Teaching Artist with numerous national and international organizations such as Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Pacific Symphony, Remo, Inc. and Opera Pacific. Maria has served as a guest presenter in the US, Australia, Mexico, Haiti, and Ireland. Maria has extensive training and professional certifications in the areas of neuropsychology, rhythmic movement, neuro-reflex repatterning, vocal pedagogy and opera performance, piano, flute, and sound therapy. She holds a BA in research psychology (cognition and neurolinguistics) with published pioneering research in Pragmatics of International and Intercultural Communication, Belgium.

Following the adoption of her daughter Katya from a Kazakhstani orphanage in 2005, Maria discovered the transformative power of brain centered movement, music, and voice work for holistic healing. Since then, Maria has created and led 100s of movement music experiences with major arts organizations inspiring healthy neurological functioning, memory, and social-emotional learning. Her specialty is the application of brain-centered movement and music to support struggling learners and those with emotional trauma. She is currently partnering with BioSpiritual Institute in Dublin, Ireland creating a new training module for the inclusion of the primal voice in BioSpiritual Focusing, a form of whole-body contemplative meditation. Her current program, Voice Your Resilience, supports women on the path of emotional resilience and spiritual renewal through somatic vocal work, movement, sound therapy, and contemplative prayer/meditation. Her website is

Zach Townesmith

Zachary Townesmith brings a thoughtful, grounded presence to his work as a facilitator, educator, and retreat host. With a background in community organizing and organizational development, he has spent over a decade supporting teams, leaders, and communities in clarifying vision, strengthening collaboration, and creating meaningful, values-aligned impact.

A graduate of Harvard, Zachary's work has taken him across the Americas, engaging with diverse groups in fields including education, public health, entrepreneurship, and social innovation. His approach blends strategic thinking with deep listening, helping groups move forward with clarity, cohesion, and purpose.

As a steward of Seven Springs Retreat Center, Zachary is passionate about creating spaces where individuals and teams can step out of their daily routines, reconnect with what matters most, and engage in thoughtful reflection within the support of nature and community.

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