Writing camp + Rainforest rd expedition
17–19 July 2025
+ 20 July bonus
This is our first combo event, blending the serious work with the usual serious play.
The writing side of things is structured, guided, and supported (check out the writing retreat page for a bit of an idea).
The kids get their own program over the couple of days.
We will operate flexibly and playfully, working within the space our kids can handle.
Anyone who doesn’t want to write joins the Play Crew.
💰 COMMITMENT
To show our own commitment to ourselves, the writers are asked to put down $50 to join. (The money goes back to the party system and putting on future events.)
To provide our kids with love and attention while parents write, we’re hiring Lilly to captain the kids: writers with kids are asked to contribute $30 for the 2-3 days of childcare.
🍽️ FOOD
I’ll provide vegan-ish and gluten-free breakfasts, morning teas, lunches, dinners. But everyone’s flavours are welcome! It’s perfect to arrive with no extras for the kitchen, but if you want to, BYO eg meat for bbq/campfire cooking, eggs for breakfast cookups. Safe foods for your kids. Something from your garden, or any other yummos you’d like to share.
💜 THE PLAY CREW
Lilly will be in charge of the kids, with backup from Nonna/Lauren (my mum), and playing alongside Sarah, Alan, Cory, and other non-writing folks.
📅 THE AGENDA
Arrivals on Thursday… anytime, but by 2pm ideally. We’ll kick off with some full group (inc kids) activities to help everyone settle and ground in. Some writing time and play time, we cook dinner together, eat, campfire, etc.
Friday is a full day of retreat activities and play crew action. Shared morning tea and lunches. Dinner and hangouts around the campfire.
Saturday is a half day for the retreat, we’ll wrap up before midday…
… but if you’re not in a hurry to leave, hang out and have lunch and play.
And if you’re really not in a hurry, stay an extra night for the bonus Sunday activity:
THE RAINFOREST EXPEDITION (a walk down through the rainforest cutting on Long Gully Rd, looking for waterfalls, birds, magical trees, and snack stations. We’ll pretend we’re Burke & Wills but more successful).
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Arrivals… if you land before 12 then you’re automatically part of the set up crew 😉
Or after 12 to settle in, set up camp/your room, explore/play around the big house.
14:00 snacks
14:30 serious lego — this kicks off the official part of the retreat for participants, but it’s a combo event with the kids. Helping everyone ground in, mingle, kids to feel settled.
15–16:30 — writers get writing; kids go for a walk
Afterwards we cook dinner together, eat, relax by the fire, etc until ready for bed.
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breakfast together, then writers head to Cabin. Kids build an epic train track / draw a city map on the floor.
Morning tea picnic together.
A bit more writing while the kids get a lesson (jiu jitsu if our backpacker is here), then back together for lunch and a walk towards the back valley.
In the arvo, writers write, and do some gentle yoga. The kids make potions, listen to stories, do some drawings etc.
Dinner and hangouts around the campfire.
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breakfast together, a focused morning for the writers, and the kids go for a bike ride.
Morning tea together, and it’s officially over…
… but if you’re not in a hurry to leave, hang out and have lunch and play.
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THE RAINFOREST EXPEDITION (a walk down the road through the rainforest cutting on Long Gully Rd, looking for waterfalls, birds, magical trees, and snack stations. We’ll pretend we’re Burke & Wills but more successful).
