Reconnect. Restore. Rediscover Wonder.

Our mission is to create thoughtfully designed outdoor experiences that help people reconnect—with nature, with loved ones, and with themselves.

After nearly three decades as an educator and educational psychologist, I had the privilege of listening to thousands of stories. I worked alongside children, teenagers, families, interns, teachers, and helping professionals as they navigated seasons of stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, and change.

Over the years after watching the pace of the world accelerate into full speed (especially after the Covid shutdown) , one question kept coming back to me:

In our ever changing fast paced world, it dawned on me, how am I ever going to help people regulate their nervous systems and feel like themselves again when their nervous systems are pressed to the metal on full speed in this ever changing information age daily.

As I explored the growing body of research on well-being, a clear pattern emerged. Time and again, studies pointed to many of the same restorative practices: spending time in nature, cultivating meaningful relationships, moving our bodies, practicing mindfulness, and expressing gratitude.

Being on the verge of burnout myself, I also began to appreciate the extraordinary healing found in life's simplest moments—the warmth of the morning sun, the rhythm of ocean waves, birds singing at sunrise, leaves rustling in the breeze, and the wonder of sleeping beneath a sky filled with stars.

These moments invite us to slow down and regulate our nervous system.

To breathe.

To reconnect.

Happy Tree Retreat was created to make those experiences easier to find.

Our goal isn't simply to provide beautiful places to stay. It's to create peaceful spaces where you can arrive, settle in, and immediately begin enjoying your retreat—without worrying about setting up tents, hauling equipment, or packing gear. We've thoughtfully prepared everything so you can focus on what matters most: reconnecting with yourself, the people you love, and the natural world around you.

As an educational psychologist, I spent my career helping people navigate difficult seasons while creating safe environments where they could learn, grow, and thrive. Happy Tree Retreat is a continuation of that work. It's a place where people can step away from the demands of everyday life, restore their spirit, and rediscover the joy, peace, and wonder that nature so generously offers.

Because Happy Tree Retreat isn't just about where you stay.

It's about how you feel when you leave.

Future Giving Mission – The Giving Grove (Helping the Helpers)

Every stay helps make a restorative nature experience possible for someone facing a difficult season of life. As Happy Tree Retreat grows, the vision is to partner with nonprofits and community organizations to provide restorative retreats for teachers, caregivers, veterans, first responders, and others who could benefit from time in nature.