About the Program
A Resilience Retreat for Flourishing in a Chaotic World
At Peace in the Wild, we understand that peace is not the absence of struggle; it’s the ability to remain rooted and responsive in the face of life’s challenges. This immersive retreat combines the restorative power of nature with evidence-based practices in resilience building, positive psychology, and post-traumatic growth.
Grounded in material drawn from global resilience training models, including those used by the United Nations, this retreat supports participants in cultivating the inner strengths that promote healing, adaptability, and a renewed sense of purpose. With the wild landscapes of Western Maryland as both backdrop and co-facilitator, our skilled team of therapists and guides offers a space for reflection, learning, and deep connection.
Participants explore practices that awaken joy, self-compassion, meaning, and courage, moving beyond survival toward authentic flourishing.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Step away from daily demands and into the restorative rhythm of nature. Peace in the Wild offers a curated blend of contemplative practices and experiential learning that support nervous system regulation, emotional integration, and resilience-building.
Included in the retreat:
Five nourishing meals
Two nights’ accommodations at a tranquil retreat center
Small group experiences for deeper connection
Guided nature-based practices
WHAT TO EXPECT
At Peace in the Wild, you can expect a deeply restorative and enriching experience that balances learning, connection, and rejuvenation. Whether you're seeking clarity, healing, or simply a break from the noise of daily life, this retreat offers a space to reconnect with yourself, with others, and with nature.
Here’s what you’ll find:
Experiential learning about resilience and how to move from stress to strength
Positive psychology practices that enhance well-being, joy, and emotional balance
Time for yourself—to rest, reflect, and simply be
Time in community—to share, connect, and be supported
Immersion in beautiful natural settings, designed to restore body and mind
Delicious, nourishing meals prepared with care
Choice of accommodations—sleep under the stars in a tent, join three others in a nice cabin, or relax in a comfortable lodge room
Your Instructor
Audra Howard Ferguson
Audra is an LGPC (Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor) and earned her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. She has additional training in nature-informed and trauma-informed therapy and is dedicated to providing affirming and collaborative care. Before pursuing a career in counseling, she trained as an actor—a path that broadened her mind to the nuanced, beautiful, and often complex nature of what it means to be human. Her experience in the arts has cultivated a deep sense of empathy and an appreciation for the complexity of people’s inner worlds. This foundation continues to shape her work as a therapist, where she offers warmth, curiosity, compassion, and a bit of humor to each therapeutic relationship.
Phillip McKnight
Phillip McKnight completed a two-year training program for teaching awareness and compassion-based practices accredited by the International Mindfulness Teachers Association. Phillip has experience teaching a wide variety of ages, backgrounds, and abilities and uses his MA in Instructional Systems Design to determine the needs of the participant and help them develop skills in mindfulness meditation with tools for body, heart, mind, and community.
