At the Forest’s Edge
sept 4-7, 2026
Woodland Cloak-Making & Forest Bathing Retreat
Date : September 4-7, 2026
Retreat type: Sewing, Crafting, Forest Bathing, Sound Bath, Live Music
Length : Friday-Monday 3 nights / 4 days
A 3-day nature immersion combining forest bathing, creative making, storytelling, music, and time on the land.
Guided by certified forest therapy guide Tam Willey of Toadstool Walks and quiltmaker and sewing instructor Travis Clough of T⚡Bag, guests will create their own woolen woodland cloak while exploring a deeper relationship with nature through guided forest bathing, sensory invitations, and shared daily rhythm.
The cloak itself becomes part of the experience—not simply something to make, but something to wear as you wander the forests, gather around the fire, share meals, and step more fully into the imagination, playfulness, and wonder of the natural world.
Days unfold slowly between sewing sessions, guided forest immersions, community meals, music, storytelling, and spacious time outdoors. No prior experience with sewing or forest bathing is required.
Throughout the retreat, you'll be invited to slow down, notice more deeply, and reconnect with the creativity, curiosity, and sense of belonging that emerge when we spend meaningful time in nature.
Your retreat includes:
Guided forest bathing walks with Tam Willey
Beginner-friendly woodland cloak making with Travis Clough
Sound bath experience
Fireside storytelling circles
Acoustic music and community sing-alongs
Solo and group nature immersion invitations
Time on Casa Portal's private woodland trails, meadows, and gathering spaces
Seasonal chef-prepared meals
Cosy Accommodations in the Guesthouse
Whether you come for the forest, the creativity, the community, or simply the chance to spend a few days doing something delightfully different, you'll leave with a handmade cloak, new skills, and a deeper connection to the natural world and new friends.
Sample Day
7:30 AM
Coffee, tea, and a light breakfast in the farmhouse
9:00 AM
Guided Forest Bathing Walk
A sensory-based immersion through the forests and meadows, with invitations to slow down, notice, and deepen your relationship with the natural world.
11:30 AM
Brunch
1:00 PM
Woodland Cloak-Making Workshop
Learn sewing techniques and continue crafting your custom woolen cloak with guidance from Travis.
4:00 PM
Free Time on the Land
Explore the trails, rest by the pond, read on the porch, journal, or simply wander.
6:00 PM
Farm-to-Table Dinner
7:30 PM
Evening Gathering
A rotating offering that may include storytelling, acoustic music, a sound bath, fireside conversation, or community sing-alongs.
9:00 PM
Quiet Evening
tam & Travis
Are both guides and creators. They became queer siblings in 2001 when they met at an outdoor skate park in Boston as youth, finding queer and trans affinity, chosen family and tons of fun. Together they have travelled cross-country on multiple road trips seeking adventures via skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, crosscountry skiing, hiking, and canoeing. In 2016 they thru-hikes the long trail of Vermont walking from Canada to Massachusetts living out of their backpacks in the mountains for a month. They have shared multiple homes, cars, and resources, modeling long-term committed
queer friendship. They enjoy playing music together, cooking, storytelling, skill sharing, outdoor adventure and strategy board games.
Sewing with us
Sewing experience helpful, but not required
All sewing tools (machines, scissors, pins etc) will be provided, though you are welcome to bring your own. (Please label any supplies you bring).
Fabric Requirements
Outer Fabric: 2 yards - wool, tweed (or other mid/heavy weight fabric)
Lining Fabric: 2 yards - corduroy, flannel, cotton
Fabric Kits Available for Purchase at the Retreat
the guides
Tam Willey (they/them)
Tam Willey is a nature-based guide and mentor exploring themes of belonging and attention through story and immersive, relational experiences. Their work supports a culture of reciprocity and kinship with the more-than-human world.
Tam trains guides globally through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and holds certifications in CPR, First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Wilderness Mental Health First Responder, and Nature Therapy Guide training.
With a background spanning art, music, community advocacy, LGBTQIA+ youth mentorship, and hands-on craft, Tam brings a layered, lived perspective to their teaching.
Toadstoll Walks 
Travis Clough grew up in Bucksport, Maine and by his mid-20’s had moved to San Francisco. Desperately homesick, he took a quilting class hoping that would help, which sent him down an unexpected sewing journey. He moved back to Maine in 2019 and has been teaching sold-out quilting classes ever since. He loves making (and teaching) quilts, bags and outdoor gear. Travis’ sewing philosophy values problem solving over perfection and deeply believes in the joy of learning new hobbies.
As a super-fan of Lord of the Rings, he dreamed of frolicking with Legolas through Middle Earth for years. He made his first cloak from wool and corduroy in 2025 and has come to believe in the power of the cloak as an absolute perfection of outdoor wear, particularly in the shoulder season. This easy to manage sewing project is beginner friendly and incredibly satisfying. Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall.
T⚡️Bag. Maine Travis Clough (he/him)
all inclusive
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Private Cabins - $1,650.00
Guesthouse Private Rooms: $1,450.00
Guesthouse Shared Rooms $1,000.00
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A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot and is applied toward your total retreat cost. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the retreat start date. Once the final payment is made, all payments are non-refundable.
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3 meals a day plus snacks and beverages
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Accommodations in the farm guesthouse & meadow cabines including private all access use to 100 acres of land.
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Experienced Teachers and curated materials for workshop.
Sewing materials available for purchase at the rereats.
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Learn to sew and make your own cloak, sound bath in the barn loft, storytelling sessions, guided forest bathing, and live music at farm to table meals
farm hospitality
Every decision is shaped by our attention to the little details for that home away from home experience. This retreat is designed with intention and inspiration from the land, through hands on crafting , and with thoughtfulness to the atmosphere.
Everything is included. Just come as you are.
Expert & Supportive Facilitation
All-Inclusive Accommodations
Chef Prepared Farm to Table Community Meals
What People Are Saying
"“Tam created a safe, warm and welcoming space for my first experience of forest bathing. Their quiet, deep connection to the process helped me settle in to experiment with different ways of being with the environment…
— Tams' Community Walk Participant “During the forest bathing walk with Tam, I felt like I was discovering an entirely new part of the world around me. The experience was one of peaceful calm and exploration.”
— Participant of Tam’s Venture out Program ““During the forest bathing walk with Tam, I felt like I was discovering an entirely new part of the world around me. The experience was one of peaceful calm and exploration.”
— Tam's Community Walk Participant