Part I: Headwaters > May 13-15, 2025

Part II: Confluence > May 16-18, 2025

Selway River: Johnson Bar Campground > Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest, Idaho

If you're a purpose-driven woman who is ready to leave behind all the stress and reconnect with your authentic power in the wild beauty of Idaho’s Bitterroot Mountains, then join us for a retreat where you'll come away with unshakeable confidence, practical mindfulness tools for conscious leadership, and a powerful sisterhood of support to help you create the impact you were meant to make.

Pillars of W.I.L.D.

The emerald waters of the Selway River dance over smooth stones, their gentle rhythm matching your deepened breath. Surrounded by towering ponderosa pines and wild mountains, you sink your toes into the warm, golden sand of this pristine beach. The late afternoon sun filters through the canopy, creating shifting patterns on your journal pages as you write with a clarity and purpose you haven't felt in months. The weight of constant decisions and endless obligations has melted away like morning mist, replaced by a profound sense of possibility.

Around you, the quiet conversations and supportive laughter of your fellow W.I.L.D. women drift on the breeze – women who, just days ago, were strangers but now feel like sisters on this journey. As an eagle circles overhead, you feel a surge of wild confidence coursing through you.

Here, away from the digital noise and endless demands, your next steps are finally coming into focus. Your vision for the future feels both grounded and limitless, like the magnificent wilderness that surrounds you. You recognize that this moment, this place, this circle of powerful women, has awakened something that was always within you – an unshakeable knowing of exactly who you are and what you're capable of achieving.

Imagine

On Your Retreat

  • through daily mindfulness practices and supportive group work, you will develop unshakeable inner confidence so you can lead from a place of authentic power.

  • with complete digital detox and immersion in the pristine Selway River wilderness, you will experience true mental clarity and spaciousness so you can finally see your path forward with crystal clarity.

  • during intimate fireside conversations and shared wilderness experiences, you will forge deep bonds with like-minded women so you can build a lasting support network that extends far beyond our time together.

  • by immersing into guided meditation and solo reflection time in nature, you will reconnect with your authentic self so you can make clear decisions and lead from a place of genuine purpose and joy.

  • with practical leadership skills training and mindfulness techniques, you will learn effective tools for managing stress and overwhelm so you can maximize your impact while maintaining balance.

The Wild & Scenic Selway River

The Wild and Scenic Selway River, untamed and pure, carves its path through the ancient Bitterroot Mountains just as you are carving your authentic path as a leader. This is no ordinary river – it's one of America's original Wild and Scenic Rivers, protected for generations precisely because of its pristine, undammed, and free-flowing nature. Like the remarkable women who gather on its shores, it represents the perfect balance of power and grace, of courage and flow. The crystal-clear waters mirror the clarity you'll find here, while the river's ability to shape the landscape over millennia reflects your own power to create lasting, meaningful change in your world.

The remote wilderness of the Bitterroots offers more than just stunning beauty – it provides the rare gift of true disconnection from the modern world's constant demands. Here, where cell phones fall silent and nature speaks boldly, you'll find yourself embraced by fragrant cedar and ponderosa pine, their steadfast presence reminiscent of the unwavering support you'll receive from your fellow leaders. Just as these mountains have stood strong through countless seasons of change, you'll discover your own inner resilience and wisdom. In this sacred space, where eagles soar overhead and otters leave tracks along the riverbank, you'll tap into something primal and powerful – the natural leadership that already exists within you, waiting to be unleashed like the untamed waters of the Selway itself.

As night falls and the campfire's glow illuminates confident smiles, you'll discover a profound sense of capability that comes from living simply and deliberately in this wild place. Each morning, as you open your tent doors, awakening to birdsong and mountain mist, you'll feel your self-reliance growing stronger. This return to basics strips away artificial constraints, allowing your natural leadership abilities to emerge organically. Like the women who crossed these mountains before us, you'll uncover a deep well of resilience and self-sufficiency that transforms how you see yourself – not just as a leader in the home or a boardroom, but as a capable, confident woman who can thrive in any environment.

Prerequisites & Flow: 

Just as you can't reach a confluence without first beginning at the headwaters, Part I is an essential prerequisite for Part II. This intentional progression ensures that every woman entering the Confluence gathering brings with her the clear, grounded self-awareness developed in Headwaters. This creates an environment where authentic collaboration can flourish, built on a foundation of individual clarity and purpose.

Women new to W.I.L.D. Together are invited to join for just Part I, or for both Part I & II.

Returning W.I.L.D. women are invited to join for just Part II or for both Part I & II.

Part I: Headwaters > May 13-15, 2025

Finding Your Source

Like the pristine springs high in the Bitterroot Mountains that give birth to the Selway River, every powerful journey begins at its source. In Headwaters, you'll trace back to your own beginnings as a leader, discovering the pure essence of your vision and values. Just as a single droplet joins with others to create an unstoppable force of nature, you'll explore how your individual gifts and motivations can flow into something greater.

Through guided meditation, solo reflection time, and intimate group work in nature, you'll clarify your authentic voice and understand your unique spheres of influence. Like water finding its natural path down the mountain, you'll learn to distinguish between when to harness the power of healthy competition and when to embrace the wisdom of collaboration.

These first three days lay the essential foundation for your leadership journey, creating a clear and powerful source from which all future growth will flow.

Part II: Confluence > May 16-18, 2025

Combining Our Forces

In the same way that mountain streams converge to create the mighty Selway River, Confluence brings together women who have done the vital inner work of Headwaters. In these next three days, we explore the powerful dynamics of coming together while maintaining our distinct channels. Like the clear boundaries between merging waterways, you'll learn to define healthy limits while supporting and strengthening each other.

Through mastermind-style leadership challenges and team exercises, you'll experience firsthand how individual streams of talent can merge to create something more powerful than any single force. You'll develop practical skills in conflict resolution, understanding that like the turbulent but beautiful mixing of waters at a confluence, combining different perspectives and approaches creates dynamic energy for positive change.

This advanced segment builds upon the self-awareness gained in Headwaters to create lasting networks of support and collaboration.

Rediscover Your Power

  • Experience the confidence that comes from mastering wilderness skills and navigating challenges in nature

  • Unlock your authentic leadership voice through guided self-discovery practices

  • Learn practical mindfulness tools that translate directly to your professional life

  • Develop sustainable leadership practices that prevent burnout and foster long-term success

Build Meaningful Connections

  • Join a carefully curated group of purpose-driven women leaders

  • Create deep bonds through shared adventures and fireside conversations

  • Develop a lasting support network that extends far beyond the retreat

  • Learn the art of conscious leadership in a judgment-free space

Restore and Rejuvenate

  • Break free from digital overwhelm with a complete technology detox

  • Practice stress-reducing techniques including yoga, meditation, and breathwork

  • Experience the proven healing benefits of time spent in nature

  • Return home with renewed energy and clear purpose

Practical Leadership Enhancement

  • Master conflict resolution skills through real-world scenarios

  • Learn to balance competition and collaboration effectively

  • Develop stronger decision-making abilities through wilderness challenges

  • Gain tools for setting healthy boundaries while maintaining connections

Beyond the Retreat

  • Take home a practical toolkit for conscious leadership

  • Maintain connection with your cohort through our alumni network

  • Access ongoing support for implementing your vision

  • Join a community of women creating positive change in the world

The Cuisine: Nourishment for Body, Soul, and Planet With Harmony Now

At the heart of our transformative wilderness experience lies an equally transformative culinary journey. Chef Harmony, a two-time W.I.L.D. Together alumna and Cornell University certified plant-based nutrition expert, brings her unique blend of mindful eating philosophy and culinary mastery to our riverside kitchen.

Understanding that true leadership begins with mindful choices, Chef Harmony creates extraordinary plant-based meals that reflect our retreat's core values of sustainability, consciousness, and connection. Each meal is thoughtfully prepared using locally sourced ingredients, demonstrating how everyday choices can align with environmental stewardship while nurturing our bodies and spirits.

Your Culinary Experience

Drawing from her deep understanding of both nutritional science and sacred food preparation, Chef Harmony crafts meals that do more than simply sustain – they become moments of profound connection and community. Imagine starting your day with nourishing breakfast bowls by the river, sharing wholesome lunches during leadership exercises, and gathering around the campfire for evening meals that comfort and inspire.

As part of our commitment to zero-waste practices, Chef Harmony integrates sustainable food preparation and storage methods that participants can carry into their own lives and organizations. Her approachable style makes plant-based eating feel accessible and exciting, offering practical wisdom for incorporating more conscious food choices into busy leadership lifestyles.

Beyond the Plate

More than a chef, Harmony is a guide in mindful eating practices and conscious living. Her presence adds another layer of expertise to our leadership journey, showing how the simple act of sharing thoughtfully prepared food can create powerful bonds and spark meaningful conversations about sustainability, wellness, and community.

This Journey is Totally for You if...

- You're a purpose-driven woman ready to elevate your impact

- You sense there's a more authentic way to lead but need space to discover it

- You're craving meaningful connection with other conscious women

- You're willing to step outside your comfort zone for profound growth

- You're ready to break free from digital overwhelm and reconnect with what matters

- You trust that nature has powerful lessons to teach about leadership

- You're open to both giving and receiving support from other women

- You're prepared to do deep inner work to create outer change

- You're excited about camping and spending time in wilderness

- You're ready to invest in yourself and your leadership journey

- You believe in the importance of work-life balance and want to model it for others

This Journey is NOT for You if...

- You're looking for a luxury spa retreat with all the amenities

- You're uncomfortable with disconnecting from technology for several days

- You're uncomfortable with self-reflection and emotional vulnerability

- You're not willing to participate in group activities and sharing circles

- You need constant cell phone access

- You have no interest in outdoor activities or sleeping in tents

- You're looking for a passive learning experience rather than active participation

- You believe leadership is solely about authority and control

- You're not interested in mindfulness or conscious leadership practices

- You prefer traditional conference-style professional development

- You're not comfortable with physical activities like hiking or yoga

What is Included on Your Retreat:

What is NOT included on Your Retreat:

Camping Gear: Please bring your own tent, sleeping gear, and camping accessories for your campsite (except for those booking with the VIP Traveler Package)

Hiking Gear: Pack comfortable shoes, clothes, and small backpack appropriate for hiking.

Transportation: transportation to or from Johnson Bar Campground is not provided

Additional Activities: Any extra activities or exploration you would like to do before, during, or after the retreat not covered in the activities listed under “Your Journey Each Day” section.

Meet Your Facilitators

  • Cynthia Valle

    Cynthia Valle is a life-long naturalist and creative, inspired by her Puerto Rican heritage and international upbringing. Her multi-cultural background, global travels, and dedication to humanitarian and environmental work have shaped her passion for discovery and the interconnectedness of cultures, landscapes, and ways of being.

    With a Master of Science in Hydrogeology and over 18 years of experience in natural resource management, Cynthia has gained valuable insight into our world’s intricate interconnections and interdependencies. Her role as the Grand Canyon’s Park Hydrologist offered her an intimate backcountry experience of nature’s grounding and healing power, reinforcing her belief that through nature, we discover ourselves and the power of vulnerability. How in being in nature we can better see we are of a universe indefinitely working towards harmony.

    Cynthia is appreciated for her inspirational and transformational leadership style. Guided by her core values of Curiosity, Compassion, and Creativity, and inspired by Charles Darwin's principle that "competitors cannot coexist," she emphasizes collaboration as a path to happiness and survival. Cynthia is dedicated to connecting the "me" to "we," and the "we" back to nature.

    Drawn to Idaho’s breathtaking landscapes and rivers, Cynthia worked as the Forest Hydrologist for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, where she fell in love with the Selway River— one of America’s first designated Wild and Scenic Rivers and home to the W.I.L.D. Together nature leadership retreat.

    Now working with USDA’s Office of International Programs on global collaborations beneficial for the conservation of biodiversity, environmental protection, youth education, or socioeconomic development, Cynthia continues to champion harmony between people and the planet. In her own town, she enjoys promoting community and environmental/cultural awareness through the arts as co-Director and member of a local non-profit, River Arts Kamiah Inc.

    At W.I.L.D. Together, Cynthia will lead sessions on mindfulness, leadership, and feminine empowerment, using nature—and science—as tools to inspire creativity and connection.

  • Christina Stalnaker

    Christina's leadership journey bridges the depths of military service with the wisdom of mindful practices, uniquely positioning her to guide women leaders toward authentic, conscious leadership. As one of the early female graduates of Virginia Military Institute's prestigious "leadership laboratory," she intimately understands both the challenges women face in leadership roles and the transformative power of women supporting women.

    Her military career provided intensive hands-on leadership experience, from commanding large platoons as a U.S. Army Officer to graduating from the elite Airborne Paratrooper School. During her deployment to Afghanistan, she served in NATO Training Mission Headquarters in Kabul, where she advised government officials in the Ministry of Interior and mentored Afghan National Police Women nationwide. She was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service in a combat zone for recognition of her work training and advocating for these women. This experience not only honed her ability to lead in high-pressure environments but also deepened her commitment to women's advocacy and the profound importance of creating supportive networks for women in leadership.

    After serving as a military officer, Christina earned her Master’s degree in Environmental Studies, redirecting her passion for empowering others toward environmental and community leadership. She has founded successful initiatives including the Wild Idaho Yoga Festival, implemented environmental literacy programs within the Washington Department of Corrections, and completed over 1,000 hours of advanced yoga and meditation training in Rishikesh, India. This unique combination of military leadership experience and mindfulness expertise allows her to create powerful spaces where women leaders can discover their authentic voice and develop sustainable leadership practices.

    In W.I.L.D. Together, Christina combines her extensive leadership background with her expertise in facilitating women's circles and nature-based retreats. Her approach weaves together practical leadership tools with mindfulness practices, helping participants develop both the inner clarity and outer skills needed to lead with purpose, compassion, and impact in today's complex world.

What Women are saying about W.I.L.D. Together

In essence it’s something simple; it’s a weekend, right? But yet, how profound…how profound that change can be. It can be that push that somebody needs.
A lot of inspiring, inspiring... wisdom coming through!

So grateful, so thankful for the container- for the space. It really brought me home to being OK with the authenticity of.. not feeling really prepared, but still having the courage to really come through. You modeled that for me so perfectly because sometimes I really want things to be so perfect before putting my face out there.
Thank you for being part of that journey to help me get to where I am now.
Thank you for showing us all to find our ‘zero point of today.’ And it doesn’t matter where I was before, but from today if I find this zero point I can go forward. And knowing that, I can do that every day or every second…
I hadn’t realized how eroded I had become. It’s been a long time since I practiced the pause and stopped to reflect on my own self...I’ve been very outward focused. The last two years of being a nurse, I feel that I’ve been on fight and flight mode so [when I was asked to look at myself] I didn’t recognize myself. But to have that mirror held up by all of you on that weekend, just really helped me to see and get in touch with who I am, who I’ve become, and where I want to go.

 FAQs

*This event is operated under a Special Use Permit with the Nez Perce Clearwater National Forests. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.*