Our Creative Connections Writing Retreat will be in beautiful Belize on a private island. There will be two separate weeks to choose from:
June 5 to 11, 2022 and June 12 to 18, 2022
We have a small number of open spots for our 2022 retreat.
Apply here to join us in BELIZE for our next Creative Connections Retreat.
How often do you attend an academic event and think to yourself: "this was a life-changing experience"? Our retreat participants often describe our retreat in these terms. Join us and find out how an academic event can be life-changing, motivating, inspiring, and enjoyable.
Creative Connections is a unique writing retreat for women scholars that focuses on you as a woman, a writer, a scholar, and a member of a community. Our writing retreat uses four proven techniques to enhance your intellectual creativity and productivity: 1) focused writing time; 2) spending time unplugged and in nature; 3) connections via conversations about our work; and 4) meditation and mindfulness activities that enhance focus and allow us to tap into our creative potential.
June 5 to 11, 2022 and June 12 to 18, 2022
We have a small number of open spots for our 2022 retreat.
Apply here to join us in BELIZE for our next Creative Connections Retreat.
How often do you attend an academic event and think to yourself: "this was a life-changing experience"? Our retreat participants often describe our retreat in these terms. Join us and find out how an academic event can be life-changing, motivating, inspiring, and enjoyable.
Creative Connections is a unique writing retreat for women scholars that focuses on you as a woman, a writer, a scholar, and a member of a community. Our writing retreat uses four proven techniques to enhance your intellectual creativity and productivity: 1) focused writing time; 2) spending time unplugged and in nature; 3) connections via conversations about our work; and 4) meditation and mindfulness activities that enhance focus and allow us to tap into our creative potential.
This is the private island where our writing retreat will be held!
Creating meaningful new ideas requires creativity. Does your academic work require creativity? Do you develop new ways to think about and understand the world? Do you try and understand problems in new ways? Do you make decisions about which ideas are worth pursuing? All of these things require creativity. This retreat will help you nurture your creativity through practices that have been proven to enhance creativity.
You will learn how to create and cultivate a daily writing practice. You will learn a variety of innovative mindfulness techniques. And, you will practice setting your work aside and allowing the big ideas to come to you as we practice yoga and immerse ourselves in nature.
You will learn how to create and cultivate a daily writing practice. You will learn a variety of innovative mindfulness techniques. And, you will practice setting your work aside and allowing the big ideas to come to you as we practice yoga and immerse ourselves in nature.
This is an overwater cabana at the retreat site.
What's Included
Saliboat and kayaks available for use
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This is a room inside a garden cabana.
What's not Included
Hammocks by the swimming pool.
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This is a bedroom inside a villa.
CostThe cost for the retreat includes food, lodging, and writing workshops.
Retreat Registration Fees There are four options for housing, with different pricing. Single occupancy oceanfront or overwater cabana: $2475 Single occupancy garden cabana or villa: $2350 Double occupancy oceanfront or overwater cabana: $1975 Double occupancy garden cabana or villa: $1900 Deposit: $250 Rooms are limited so please kindly send your non-refundable deposit ASAP after your application has been accepted. Cancellation Policy Final payment for the 2022 retreat is due by January 7, 2022. Unfortunately, no refunds are available after that date. Funding Most of our participants attend using professional development funds from their institution. Please let us know if you have any questions about this. |
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Where is the retreat located?
St. George’s Caye is located just 7 miles off the coast of Belize City, making it the closest and most easily accessible island resort from the international airport. There are no additional flights or transportation costs—all ground and boat transfers are included in the retreat rate. The site's friendly staff greets you at the airport (or another Belize City location, if you’re exploring other parts of the country before joining us) and escorts you on a 20-minute van ride to the marina followed by a 20-minute boat ride to a secluded island paradise. 
Italy 2019 participants
Belize 2021 participants
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What's the weather like in June?
In June, Belize is usually sunny and nice, but some storms will pass over. Daytime stays pretty warm, mid 80s to mid 90s. Water temp can be up to 84. Underwater visibility is very good. 
Oceanfront dining at the retreat site.
Hawaii 2016 Participants
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Testimonials from previous participants
This retreat was amazing! I received good feedback (and by good I mean the feedback allowed me to rethink and make necessary changes to my work). I think I have a stronger manuscript developing just from the insights I received in community with everyone there.I have new momentum right now. I find myself not as distracted when I write each day. I already had a daily writing practice but still found I could become easily distracted--especially when I got to something I didn't feel I had the immediate capacity to work through. I have not had these kinds of distractions this week upon returning. St. George's Caye lives up to their reputation! The service was top notch. I have been telling everyone I know about this facility and this retreat.
2021 Belize participant
Tanya and Ayu, it is your kindness and generosity that make this retreat so successful. Your personalities combined with your thoughtful planning create a nourishing environment.
2021 Belize participant
I was able to give birth to a completely new piece in one week! I sent it out the week I got back. It is under review now. It is a piece that defines my current thinking and stakes my claim.
2019 Italy participant
The daily activities, the writing room, and the town of Querceto were lovely. I liked the morning meditations, the sense of community, and the chance to meet other women! Ayu and Tanya are always wonderful, and I enjoy when we get to learn more about the two of you, your fears, your concerns, etc. I really like the diversity of the participants and how many really amazing women attend. The meditations and personal writing activities were so good and helpful.
2019 Italy participant
[I enjoyed] the guided meditations and Ayu's reflexive exercises. The retreat overall had a very good balance between time to work, time to reflect, physical activity, etc.
2019 Italy participant
Creative Connections was a life changing experience. I am so grateful to Ayu and Tanya for creating and holding the space for us to explore and innovate.
2018 Retreat participant
It was totally amazing. I truly needed this to reset and it helped me in so many ways. I loved the integration of so many activities. I really liked everything.
2018 Retreat participant
Gorgeous accommodations, delicious food, well structured writing time, exciting excursions... what's not to love?
2018 Retreat participant
I really enjoyed Ayu's morning meditation. I found that it grounded me before the writing process began. I enjoyed everyone's company and the sharing about what we all confront in academia. The conversations were important for me. … I left the retreat with great inspiration and motivation for the summer and the coming academic year.
2016 retreat participant
I liked the safe space created by the facilitators and willingness to trust by the participants. I appreciated everyone's openness to share their experiences and honest advice.
2016 retreat participant
Thank you so much Ayu and Tanya for making this incredible retreat happen. It was a fantastic experience and you worked so hard on the logistics, everything ran so smoothly. Also, it was fruitful academically, we got two new manuscripts out of it and lots of motivation and insights.
2015 retreat participant
I loved the camaraderie. Writing can be a lonely activity. I appreciated the opportunity to spend time in such a beautiful space with other scholars and support each other in our writing goals.
2015 retreat participant
I really liked the dedicated writing time, feedback sessions, and all of the relationship building. I loved siting down at a dedicated time to write WITH others. And I really liked the nature experience.
2014 retreat participant
I loved making connections and community with the women/scholars here. ... It was validating in so many ways.
2014 retreat participant
Thank you to the organizers. I am extremely grateful to have had this experience. It's not like anything else I've ever experienced and I learned and grew immensely thanks to this experience.
2014 retreat participant
THANK YOU! This was by far the best thing I've ever done in my professional career. I feel honored and excited and grateful to be a part of something so astoundingly beautiful.
2014 retreat participant
This retreat was amazing! I received good feedback (and by good I mean the feedback allowed me to rethink and make necessary changes to my work). I think I have a stronger manuscript developing just from the insights I received in community with everyone there.I have new momentum right now. I find myself not as distracted when I write each day. I already had a daily writing practice but still found I could become easily distracted--especially when I got to something I didn't feel I had the immediate capacity to work through. I have not had these kinds of distractions this week upon returning. St. George's Caye lives up to their reputation! The service was top notch. I have been telling everyone I know about this facility and this retreat.
2021 Belize participant
Tanya and Ayu, it is your kindness and generosity that make this retreat so successful. Your personalities combined with your thoughtful planning create a nourishing environment.
2021 Belize participant
I was able to give birth to a completely new piece in one week! I sent it out the week I got back. It is under review now. It is a piece that defines my current thinking and stakes my claim.
2019 Italy participant
The daily activities, the writing room, and the town of Querceto were lovely. I liked the morning meditations, the sense of community, and the chance to meet other women! Ayu and Tanya are always wonderful, and I enjoy when we get to learn more about the two of you, your fears, your concerns, etc. I really like the diversity of the participants and how many really amazing women attend. The meditations and personal writing activities were so good and helpful.
2019 Italy participant
[I enjoyed] the guided meditations and Ayu's reflexive exercises. The retreat overall had a very good balance between time to work, time to reflect, physical activity, etc.
2019 Italy participant
Creative Connections was a life changing experience. I am so grateful to Ayu and Tanya for creating and holding the space for us to explore and innovate.
2018 Retreat participant
It was totally amazing. I truly needed this to reset and it helped me in so many ways. I loved the integration of so many activities. I really liked everything.
2018 Retreat participant
Gorgeous accommodations, delicious food, well structured writing time, exciting excursions... what's not to love?
2018 Retreat participant
I really enjoyed Ayu's morning meditation. I found that it grounded me before the writing process began. I enjoyed everyone's company and the sharing about what we all confront in academia. The conversations were important for me. … I left the retreat with great inspiration and motivation for the summer and the coming academic year.
2016 retreat participant
I liked the safe space created by the facilitators and willingness to trust by the participants. I appreciated everyone's openness to share their experiences and honest advice.
2016 retreat participant
Thank you so much Ayu and Tanya for making this incredible retreat happen. It was a fantastic experience and you worked so hard on the logistics, everything ran so smoothly. Also, it was fruitful academically, we got two new manuscripts out of it and lots of motivation and insights.
2015 retreat participant
I loved the camaraderie. Writing can be a lonely activity. I appreciated the opportunity to spend time in such a beautiful space with other scholars and support each other in our writing goals.
2015 retreat participant
I really liked the dedicated writing time, feedback sessions, and all of the relationship building. I loved siting down at a dedicated time to write WITH others. And I really liked the nature experience.
2014 retreat participant
I loved making connections and community with the women/scholars here. ... It was validating in so many ways.
2014 retreat participant
Thank you to the organizers. I am extremely grateful to have had this experience. It's not like anything else I've ever experienced and I learned and grew immensely thanks to this experience.
2014 retreat participant
THANK YOU! This was by far the best thing I've ever done in my professional career. I feel honored and excited and grateful to be a part of something so astoundingly beautiful.
2014 retreat participant
