Reignite Your Spark: Women’s Leadership Retreat
Pause. Reflect. Reignite.
Step away from the demands of leadership and immerse yourself in a transformative experience designed to inspire and empower.
Join us for a 4-day, 3-night retreat in the stunning mountains of western North Carolina, where nature’s beauty sets the stage for your renewal. Hosted during the Summer Solstice and peak firefly season, Firecreek Retreat offers the ideal environment for you to reconnect with your purpose, engage with other leaders, and revitalize your mind, body, and spirit.
Dates: June 19-22, 2025
Location: Firecreek Retreat in Western North Carolina
What You’ll Experience
- Inspiring Leadership Workshops: Engage in sessions that spark fresh ideas and strengthen your leadership skills.
- Meaningful Connections: Build lasting relationships with a community of like-minded women leaders.
- Time for Reflection: Recharge in the serenity of nature with guided journaling and quiet moments.
- Luxury and Relaxation: Indulge in organic meals, yoga sessions, hydrotherapy, wine tasting, and scenic nature trails.
- Memorable Experiences: Delight in guided nature walks, firefly viewing, and heartwarming conversations around a glowing fire.
This retreat is your opportunity to pause, reflect, and reignite your passion for leadership. Return to your professional and personal life with renewed energy, clarity, and confidence.
Who Is This Retreat For?
Are you a busy professional feeling overwhelmed by the constant demands of work and life? Are you contemplating a career change or preparing to embark on a new chapter in your journey? Are you approaching burnout or simply yearning for time to relax, recharge, and refocus?
This retreat is designed for leaders like you. It’s an opportunity to reflect on your journey, gain fresh insights, and reignite your energy and purpose.
By investing in this time for yourself, you’ll return to your personal and professional life recharged, clear-headed, and ready to lead with confidence and renewed passion.
Book here to join us to spark a new chapter in your leadership journey.
This intimate retreat is limited to just 12 leaders, ensuring a personalized and transformative experience.
All-inclusive pricing starts at $1,390, with options ranging up to $2,110 depending on your choice of shared or private accommodations.
Schedule
Thursday, June 19
3 – 5 pm: Arrive at Firecreek Retreat
5 pm: Walking Tour
6 pm: Dinner
8 pm: Opening Circle
Friday, June 20
Breakfast at cabins/lodging as people choose before or after yoga
8-9 am: Yoga w/ Christy
9:30 am: Workshop: Exploring My Leadership Journey
12 pm: Lunch
1 pm: Experience or Excursion (Nature Walk with Gavin or other TBD)
3 pm: Free time (As you please: sauna/cold plunge, hot tub, massage, journaling, reading, or relaxing)
5 pm: Happy Hour and Artisan Showcase
7 pm – Dinner
8 pm – Firefly Viewing
Saturday, June 21
Breakfast at cabins/lodging as people choose before or after yoga
8-9 am: Yoga w/ Christy
9:30 am: Workshop: Igniting My Future Path
12 pm: Lunch
1 pm: Experience or Excursion (Nature Walk with Gavin or other TBD)
3 pm: Free time (As you please: sauna/cold plunge, hot tub, massage, journaling, reading, or relaxing)
5 pm: Wine Tasting
7 pm: Dinner
8 pm: Campfire
Sunday, June 22
8 am: Breakfast at cabins/lodging
9 am: Closing Circle
11 am: Departure
Team
Bette Smith, Retreat Leader
Bette is an accomplished facilitator, coach, and management consultant with over 20 years of experience helping leaders and organizations thrive. As the founder of Destra Consulting Group, Bette specializes in unlocking the potential of individuals and teams through innovative approaches to leadership development and change management.
With a proven track record of designing and delivering impactful programs for organizations ranging from non-profits to Fortune 10 companies, Bette brings a wealth of expertise in creating transformative learning experiences. Her passion lies in bringing leaders together to grow, reflect, and inspire one another.
As the facilitator of the Reignite Your Spark retreat, Bette combines her deep understanding of leadership dynamics with her talent for fostering meaningful connections. Her engaging and supportive style ensures that every participant leaves empowered, recharged, and ready to lead with renewed purpose.
Christy McKenzie, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Christy McKenzie, a certified Anusara yoga® teacher, ERYT 500 and meditation instructor, has been practicing since 1988 and teaching since 2000. She infuses her upbeat and flowing offerings with poetry, precision and playfulness, encouraging students to explore the depths of their own potential. Christy is committed to helping people apply the life-affirming ideals of Tantric philosophy, mindfulness and gratitude practice, skillfully and practically into everyday life by tuning into the wondrous miracle of embodiment, even amidst the challenged present in modern day life. Based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, she is an internationally recognized teacher’s teacher who has presented at Yoga Journal conferences and Wanderlust festivals.
Gavin McKenzie, Nature Experiences and Hydrotherapy
Owner of Firecreek Retreat, and steward of the land it rests upon, Gavin is a 5th generation Miami native, who relocated to the mountains of western North Carolina in 2021. Growing up in South Florida, he spent his childhood experiencing the raw beauty of the region’s unique ecosystems and magnificent inhabitants. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, Gavin believes that protecting these magical places is part of our basic responsibility as humans. Equally passionate about maximizing human potential and creating positive impact, Gavin has nearly two decades of practicing a variety of healing modalities including breathwork, hydrotherapy, meditation, and yoga.
Through photography, activism, and leading wellness and nature-based retreats in western North Carolina, he aims to share his passion and to inspire others. Nature is where Gavin feels most at home, and through personal experience, discovered the power nature contains to heal all.
What’s Included
4 days, 3 nights luxurious accommodations at beautiful Firecreek Retreat surrounded by nature
Meals each day include a self-serve breakfast with everything you need to create a delicious continental or full breakfast (with freshly-laid eggs) and delicious chef-prepared lunch and dinner.
Yoga with Christy in the mornings
Leadership workshops with Bette to explore your journey and ignite your path forward
Guided nature walks and hiking with Gavin around the expansive 100-acre property
Wine tasting of specially chosen wines hosted by Bette
An artisan showcase highlighting the arts and craft talents of the local community. This also provides an opportunity to support this community deeply affected by Hurricane Helene.
Evening campfire bringing warmth, community, and reflection
Firefly viewing during the peak of the season against the backdrop of stunning evergreens and the dark night sky
Hydrotherapy: sauna, hot tub, cold plunge experience (guided by Gavin)
Ample free time to relax, read, journal, and explore Firecreek’s grounds
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to/from Asheville, North Carolina
- Transfers to/from Asheville Regional Airport
- Travel Insurance
Optional (additional cost)
- Massage
- Private yoga session with Christy
- One-on-one GROW coaching with Bette
Getting There
The closest airport is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) with flights from many major U.S. cities. Firecreek Retreat is a beautiful 40-minute drive from the Asheville airport. Uber is approximately $75 one way. Bette can let you know when people are arriving around the same time so you can coordinate to share a ride. The other option is to rent a car if you prefer.
Cancellation Policy
Full refund up to 90 days prior to the retreat.
50% refund up to 60 days prior to the retreat.
Non-refundable within 60 days of the retreat.
We highly recommend getting travel insurance from World Nomads.
Sponsorship Letter
Click here to download a pre-formatted Request for Sponsorship to Attend Leadership Retreat (editable PDF).