Classes Day 1 & Ocean Sailing (WEATHER DEPENDENT)

8AM Continental Breakfast 

8:30AM-11AM Writing Class with Brendan or Amy 

                                                   Attendee and Writer Matched During Application.

NOON Lunch

2PM- 5PM Excursion: HIKING THE TONGASS Difficulty Level options according to your   abilities. Foraging conversations during hike and invitation to forage! 

5PM Drinks and Appetizers

6PM Dinner

8PM  WEATHER DEPENDENT OCEAN SAILING OR LITERARY CHAT INDOORS        

4AM- 8AM Early Risers Suggested SOLO Writing Hours

8PM- MIDNIGHT Night Owl Suggested SOLO Writing Hours

Classes Day 2 & Hot Spring or Sauna

8AM Continental Breakfast: Croissants, muffins and smoothies hosted by  beloved local bakery Wildflour Cafe.

8:30AM- 11AM  Writing Class with Brendan and Amy 

NOON Lunch

1PM- 5PM Excursion

                                       Sail to Goddard Hot Springs and Marine Wildlife Cruise

                                   Guests sail with Captain Xander or Captain Gary who will talk discuss local history and some of the challenges faced by wildlife in Alaska as a result of climate change. Keep your hand on your camera and an eye out for humpback whales, sea lions, sea otters, tufted puffins and more. This excursion may take box lunches on board to allow for a more leisurely visit to Goddard HotSprings. 40 minute sail each way.

                            Alternately, stay in Sitka where you can enjoy 

Sauna and Ocean Dip at Sitka Science Center Beach

5PM Cocktails and Appetizers

6PM Dinner 

8PM Fireside Podium Reading. Writers read over wine and warm local spruce tip/Macintosh cider in Lounge of Whitmore.

                                 *All Retreat Attendee Writers Welcome to Read, Open to Sitka Community and local writers as well 

9PM Weather Permitting: Smores and Bonfire! 

         Sauna and Ocean Dip Optional at Sitka Science Center Beach

4AM- 8AM Early Risers Suggested SOLO Writing Hours

8PM- MIDNIGHTNight Owl Suggested SOLO Writing Hours

Classes Day 3 & Hot Spring or Sauna

8AM Continental Breakfast: Croissants, muffins and smoothies hosted by  beloved local bakery Wild Flour Cafe.

8:30AM- 11AM  Writing Class with Brendan and Amy 

11AM to Brunch at BEAK 

1PM- 3PM Culture Bearer Conversation 

3-5 PM Shuttle drive drive to hiking trail in Sitka's Tongass. Potential drive up Harbor Mountain or hike to Beaver Lake. Group will decide based on interest and priorities for the day. 

                            Alternately, stay in Sitka where you can enjoy 

Sauna and Ocean Dip at Sitka Science Center Beach

Or write! 

5PM Cocktails and Appetizers

6PM Dinner 

7PM Fireside Reading. Writers read beside beach fire at local beach park. 

8PM Weather Permitting: Smores and Bonfire! 

         Sauna and Ocean Dip Optional at Sitka Science Center Beach

4AM- 8AM Early Risers Suggested SOLO Writing Hours

8PM - MIDNIGHT Night Owl Suggested SOLO Writing Hours 

Farewell, Writers! 

4AM - 8PM Shuttles to Airport 

           Writers will be brought back to Sitka airport for flights, enjoying a final breakfast together at The Nugget Restaurant- a favorite Sitka diner. Breakfast available to those writers not on morning flights

8AM Breakfast

NOON Check Out of Lodging

         *May Leave Luggage On Site Until Flight Time

NOON Lunch

1PM- 7PM Self-Led Excursions For Those In Town. 

                   Shuttle Available Between Airport Drop-offs. 

• Tour the Alaska Raptor Center, Alaska’s only full avian hospital and rehabilitation center, to get an up-close look at bald eagles and other spectacular birds of prey.
• Speak with Sitka Tribe of Alaska storytellers, and hear the oral history of Tlingit Aáni. 
• Meet the colossal residents of Fortress of the Bear, a sanctuary for orphaned coastal brown bears and black bears. Learn about bear behavior and the lives of these highly revered creatures.
• Step inside Sitka’s most iconic landmark, St. Michael’s Cathedral, and take a step back in time. Learn about the history of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska and observe some of the oldest icons and saintly relics within the Orthodox world. 
• Take a hike along Herring Cove, up to the majestic Beaver Lake
• Free write on one of Sitka’s many trails, heading off-trail to secret glades of old growth cedar and spruce, or muskegs.
• Explore the largest private collection of Alaska Native artifacts at the Sheldon Jackson Museum.
• Go foraging for spring chanterelles and devil’s club blooms and spruce tips. Tide pools on the beach will allow for a closer look at some of the smaller residents of the Sound. 
• Take a kayak trip to nearby Silver Bay. See whales and sea lion and otter among other wildlife. 

4AM- 10AM Early Risers Suggested SOLO Writing Hours

4PM- 10PM Night Owl Suggested SOLO Writing Hours

Thank You For Join Us in Sitka, Alaska, Writers! 

We miss you already.