June 7th–28th, Saturdays (plus one weekend)
HOSTEL ART EVENTS: Painting, Play & Creative ExpressionJoin us in the forest this June for a series of art experiences led by our Artist in Residence, Alexa Berrong—a self-taught oil painter whose symbolic, nature-infused work explores connection and oneness. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just curious to try something new, Alexa invites all levels to engage with art as a practice of presence, play, and expression.
Saturday, June 28th: Art Party (After Dinner!)
Bring your own art supplies or blank canvas and join us for a laid-back evening of collaborative creation. This is an open space to make, share, and connect—no instruction, just flow. All are welcome.
To reserve your spot, call 912-264-9738.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are included with overnight Hostel stays. Donations are welcome but not required.
The Hostel in the Forest Turns 50!!!
July 4th Weekend Celebration | July 4–7, 2025
Join us for a once-in-a-generation gathering as we celebrate 50 years of the Hostel in the Forest—half a century of nature, community, creativity, and magic.
We’re throwing it back to the old days with a playful, open-ended weekend full of connection, celebration, and spontaneity. Programming will be light and flexible, with plenty of space for former staff, alumni, and longtime guests to bring their own spark.
Weekend Themes:
Fancy Friday
Superhero Saturday
Dirt Church Sunday
One More Day Game Monday
As part of the celebration, we’re honored to host a special Tea Time with Tom—an intimate gathering with Hostel founder Tom Dennard. Come listen, reflect, and share in stories of how this magical place came to be."
Accommodations (3-night minimum):
$180 – Private Hut
$150 – Dorm Lodging
$120 – Tent or Car Camping
We understand that not everyone will be able to stay all three nights—and that’s completely okay. However, in order to support the expanded scale of this special event, we are asking all guests to pay the full weekend rate regardless of length of stay. We’re so grateful for your understanding and contribution to making this celebration possible.
Tent and car camping will be sprinkled throughout the forest. Camping must be fully self-sufficient—please bring your own tent, sleeping gear, towel, and anything else you’ll need to be comfortable. There are no power hookups, and no bedding or towels provided for camping.
To help support the Hostel’s limited kitchen capacity, we encourage everyone to:
Bring a food donation to share with the community kitchen
Limit refrigerated items or bring your own cooler
Bring your own plate, bowl, cup, and utensils for meals
Communal Amenities:
Nightly vegetarian dinners (included and prepared with love)
Composting toilets
Hot outdoor showers under the canopy
A spring-fed lake for swimming and reflection
Local Community Welcome:
We’re opening the forest gates to the local community on Saturday, July 5, from 12–4 PM. Come enjoy the forest, swim in the lake, walk the trails, and soak in the magic of this special place. This is a beautiful opportunity to connect with the spirit of the Hostel—no overnight stay required.
Want to help out?
This event is being created in the true spirit of the Hostel: collaboratively, creatively, and from the heart. If you’re a former staff member, manager, or longtime community member looking to reconnect, we’d love your help over the weekend. Reach out and let us know—there will be many opportunities to support the land, the kitchen, and each other.
Whether you’re returning to reconnect with old friends or experiencing the Hostel for the first time, this weekend is your chance to be part of something historic.
Space is limited to 75 guests.
To Reserve Your Spot:
Reservations must be made by phone, (912) 264-9738, through the Hostel.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Saturday, July 5th after dinner, around 8:00pm
EVENING CONCERT: Heavyn Leigh Live in the Forest
Join us under the stars for an intimate post-dinner concert with Heavyn Leigh, a powerhouse singer-songwriter whose voice moves like wildfire—smoldering, soaring, and everything in between.
Heavyn’s music is a blend of soulful melodies and honest, poetic storytelling—touching on love, loss, and the long road of self-discovery. From hushed whispers to thunderous roars, her performance is less about perfection and more about presence: a raw symphony of the soul, laid bare in song.
Whether you’re swaying in a hammock, curled up by candlelight, or dancing barefoot in the grass, come be moved by the magic of her music in the heart of the Forest.
The concert will begin after dinner, around 8:00pm. Location will be weather-dependent—either outdoors or inside one of our gathering spaces.
This offering is included with your overnight Hostel stay.
Donations are warmly welcomed and directly support the artist and future community offerings.
Sunday, July 6th
SOUND BATH: Sound Bath with Jacilyn
Let the day melt away as you sink into a meditative soundscape guided by Jacilyn, a sound alchemist and ceremonial guide who channels the ancient language of vibration.
Using gongs, Tibetan bowls, voice, and sacred instruments, Jacilyn weaves a field of resonance that invites deep rest, cellular remembrance, and inner stillness. Her sessions are more than relaxation—they are portals for harmony, release, and reconnection.
Held in the cozy stillness of The Library, this immersive sound bath is an invitation to soften, receive, and remember what it feels like to simply be.
The session will begin after dinner, around 8:00pm.This offering is included with your overnight Hostel stay.
Donations are warmly welcomed and directly support the facilitator and future community offerings.
Sunday, July 6th
ECSTATIC DANCE: Morning Movement with DJ AnaAnanda
Begin your day in rhythm—guided by the beats of DJ AnaAnanda, whose sets are a prayer, a pulse, a portal.
This isn’t just a dance floor—it’s a sacred container for embodiment, release, and awakening. Let your body move how it wants to move. Let the music carry what words cannot.
We’ll gather at 10:00am in the Forest to move, sweat, shake, and remember: joy is a practice, too.
This offering is included with your overnight Hostel stay.
Donations are warmly welcomed and directly support the artist and future community offerings.
July 10-14, 2025
RETREAT: A 5-Day Immersion with Paulina & ZinWe welcome you to an immersive 5-day gathering as we disconnect from the colonial pace, to reconnect to our organic ways of being: together around the fire, singing from our depths, relating as family, creating reciprocity with the land, reviving communal ways of living, ancestral crafts, movement arts, elemental ceremony & authentic connection.
We re-calibrate our nervous systems & souls not to retreat from regular life, but to revive the Flame of connection deep within—to be deeply nourished & inspired by the stillness of the lake, the songs of the trees, dirt between our toes, with hands united in a circle of empowerment.
Together we’ll experience:
Morning dream counsel
Daily primal movement
Rhythm & voice workshops
Basket weaving with palm branches
Honoring grief & celebrating life
Singing together around the fire
Swimming in the lake
Intentional silence
Giving back to the land in reciprocity
Sharing prayers & delicious meals from our private chef
Ceremonial revival of our authentic voice, conviction, passion & service
“This gathering is a place of transpiring sorrow into gold; understanding the ultimate power of your inner Alchemist, and how it’s patiently waiting to celebrate the most shamed parts of yourself. You will arrive curious, and leave wondering why isn’t this how we function as an entire society.”
— Isabelle Wellman, Crete Retreat 2022
What’s Included:
1 pre-gathering preparation call to orient about the hostel’s traditions & our group work together
Private group chat to become acquainted, plan rides together & have integration support afterwards
4 nights of community-style shared accommodations in the hostel’s epic tree houses and huts
Exquisite breakfast & lunch each day provided by our beloved chef Jenna, cooking thoughtfully with love and local, organic ingredients
Dinner each day provided by the hostel’s loving staff
Workshops, ceremonies, and all mentioned group activities taking place each day
Access to the spring-fed lake, walks in the labyrinth, outdoor bathtub & all the forest’s amenities
A transformational & unforgettable experience meant to empower you indefinitely, on your life’s journey of connection to yourself, soul family & the Earth
Hosted by Paulina & Zin—a couple devoted to non-hierarchical community revival, land stewardship, awakening our soul gifts, grief work & celebration of life.
This offering is not managed by the Hostel. To book your spot, please register directly with the facilitators:
