Bend, Oregon: A Deep Dive into Purpose, Connection & the Life You Want

DAILY ITINERARY

DAY 1 (OCTOBER 3, 2027)– ARRIVAL AND GROUNDING: SETTLING INTO PEACE AND PRESENCE IN BEND, OREGON

Welcome to Bend, Oregon, your home for the week.  Set against the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains and surrounded by ponderosa pine forests, volcanic landscapes, rivers, and high desert, Bend offers an extraordinary setting to slow down, reconnect, and rediscover what brings you alive.  Arrive prior to 3pm today and take some time to settle in, explore downtown Bend, walk along the Deschutes River, or simply relax at the hotel.  The retreat formally begins at 3:30 PM with introductions, our opening educational session, and time to begin connecting with one another.  We’ll conclude our first evening together with dinner and an opportunity to settle into the week ahead.  We will be spending the week at The Element Bend by Westin.

DAY 2 – TUNING IN: UNDERSTANDING AND TRUSTING YOUR INTUITION

Our first morning session will focus on Understanding Intuition: breaking down the elements of listening, recognizing, and trusting your inner signals, and exploring how stress may have affected your awareness.  After lunch, we’ll head to Tumalo Falls, one of Central Oregon’s signature natural landmarks.  The 97-foot waterfall is only about 30 minutes from Bend, but our experience will take us beyond the main overlook as we hike along Tumalo Creek through ponderosa forest and past a series of beautiful waterfalls.  Our primary hiking route will be approximately 4–5 miles, with shorter options available for those wanting a gentler afternoon.  Along the way, there will be opportunities to slow down, notice what surrounds you, and participate in optional nature therapy experiences with our guides.  Breakfast included.

Hiking Distance: approximately 4–5 miles. 

DAY 3 – INTENTIONAL LIVING: CREATING YOUR LIFE WITH PURPOSE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Morning sessions include Creating the Life You Want, where we explore how to intentionally align your life with your goals and values, and Taking Full Responsibility, focusing on owning your choices and the role of self-forgiveness in growth.  This afternoon we’ll travel to spectacular Smith Rock State Park, where towering volcanic cliffs rise dramatically above the winding Crooked River.  Our primary hiking option will be the approximately 4-mile Misery Ridge and River Trail Loop, climbing roughly 800 feet to expansive views across the high desert before descending toward the river.  For those wanting something less strenuous, the River Trail offers an opportunity to experience the same remarkable landscape without the steep climb up Misery Ridge.  This will be one of our more adventurous afternoons and quite possibly one of the most memorable. Breakfast included.

Hiking Distance: approximately 4 miles, with easier options available.   

DAY 4 – FLOW & RENEWAL: IMMERSION IN NATURE AND FOCUSED ENGAGEMENT

We begin with sessions on Finding and Maintaining Flow, identifying moments of deep focus and engagement and learning how to create more of them in our daily lives.  Today’s adventure takes us south of Bend into the remarkable volcanic landscape of Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  Rather than one long hike, we’ll spend the afternoon exploring several distinctly different environments.  We’ll visit Paulina Falls, an impressive double waterfall; experience the beauty of Paulina Lake; and walk through the extraordinary Big Obsidian Flow, Oregon’s youngest lava flow, surrounded by black obsidian and pumice.  It’s an afternoon built around curiosity, exploration, and experiencing a landscape quite unlike anything else we’ll encounter during the week.  Breakfast included.

Hiking Distance: approximately 1.5–2 miles, mostly easy to moderate, with multiple stops.

DAY 5 – MEANING & VALUES: DEFINING WHAT MATTERS MOST

Morning sessions focus on Defining Personal Meaning; how to create authentic and sustainable purpose and Clarifying Core Values to help guide the choices we make and the lives we create.  This afternoon we return to the water as we explore the Deschutes River Trail and Benham Falls.  The trail winds through ponderosa forest and volcanic rock alongside one of Central Oregon’s defining waterways, where calm stretches of river give way to powerful rapids and falls.  We’ll create a roughly 4–6 mile hiking experience, with opportunities for intentional solo walking, reflection, and simply being present along the river.  Reflection time and optional wellness experiences will also be available as we begin bringing together the lessons of the week.  Breakfast included.

Hiking Distance: approximately 4–6 miles.  

DAY 6 – MANIFESTATION & CONNECTION: ALIGNING GOALS AND EXPLORING DEEPER BONDS

Our final educational sessions include Principles of Effective Creation, focusing on the mindset and habits needed to consistently move toward the life you want, and Connecting Beyond the Physical, exploring the deeper connections between ourselves, one another, and the world around us.  For our final afternoon together, we’ll journey along the spectacular Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway toward Sparks Lake, traveling through forests and mountain landscapes beneath the towering Cascades.  At Sparks Lake, we’ll enjoy views toward South Sister and Broken Top, explore short trails along the lake, and intentionally leave this afternoon a little less structured.  There will be time for quiet reflection, journaling, photography, and simply taking in the landscape. After a week of waterfalls, volcanic cliffs, rivers, forests, and high desert, this final experience gives us space to slow down and consider what we want to carry home with us.  Breakfast included.

Hiking Distance: approximately 2–3 miles, easy, with additional short walks and scenic stops

DAY 7 – CLOSURE & CONTINUATION: INTEGRATION AND NEXT STEPS

Our final morning is about integration; bringing together the experiences, insights, and connections of the week and considering how to carry them into everyday life.  The retreat concludes by 11:00 AM. You may choose to begin your journey home or extend your stay and continue exploring Bend and Central Oregon.  Breakfast included.