Hamline’s R.I.S.E. Yoga Club carried out a Wellness Retreat for 11 students at Mount Olivet Conference & Retreat Center in Farmington, Minnesota, over the weekend of April 11-13.
The retreat was thought out and executed by R.I.S.E. Yoga Club President and senior Bella Loxtercamp, who honed in on her planning skills, personal passion for yoga and leadership position in the club to provide this opportunity for students to relax and recharge.
“I have always wanted to go on a yoga retreat, but have never done one before. I felt like I was finally in a position where I knew enough [about] how Hamline organizations worked and how to lead things at this point in my life where I was like, ‘I’ll plan it myself,’” Loxtercamp said.
The retreat was intertwined with fun activities as well as periods of free time during the day. Students could choose if they wanted to participate in the planned activities, or choose to walk the trails, enjoy the pool and hot tub, or whatever else they needed to destress.
The planned activities were spread throughout Friday evening upon arrival, and all the way to the group’s departure Sunday morning.
Upon arrival, Loxtercamp presented everyone with goodie bags, including stickers, fidget toys and a journal with a “passport,” where participants would get stickers upon completing certain activities. After unwinding and getting settled in, Friday evening was focused on the group getting through ice breakers to prepare for bonding during the weekend ahead, followed by a “Princess Diaries” movie night complemented by collage making, nail painting and other activities that participants brought themselves, such as scrapbooking or crocheting.
Saturday started with an early morning nature walk through the retreat’s winding paths through the foliage, and ended with a stunning view of the morning sunrise enveloping the lake’s water and wildlife. Participants then painted pots for lavender plants to express their creativity.
Following painting pots, participants went on a scavenger hunt for various items around the retreat center, and were challenged with the task of crafting a piece of artwork with their finds. One group created a stunning bouquet of flowers, while the other created a moving art piece led by first-year , with a plot about an alien invasion situation.
Saturday afternoon, participants were prompted to participate in a group activity directed by Loxtercamp. They were instructed to write down things that were heavy on their minds and the feelings associated with them. Upon completion of the exercise, Loxtercamp revealed that these pieces of paper would be burned in the campfire later in the evening as a form of release and relief.
Once the campfire was made after a block of free time and dinner, participants indulged in s’mores and made up silly stories around the campfire. Laughter and a sense of calm, surrounded by nature complemented the fresh release of unwanted thoughts, making for a meditative but social night for everyone.
Sunday morning started with an early morning yoga session, surrounded by nature and the sounds of wildlife starting their day as well. The session set a peaceful tone for the day and was followed by an exercise post-breakfast of writing a letter to oneself to open up upon graduation. Seniors and first-years alike enjoyed writing questions and filling in details for their future selves to enjoy.
Once things were wrapping up, Loxtercamp gave everyone the rest of their passport stickers and a bottle of essential oil of their choice to take with them. Upon leaving the retreat, participants expressed their gratitude for having a weekend to be intentional with their time and relaxation.

“I needed time to have intentional time to myself to relax and just kind of focus. I detest working with having [the] background noise of ‘I have to do this other thing.’ I’m very location sensitive; if I’m in a place where I have to get stuff done, I feel like I have to be productive, so being on campus or apartment can be kind of hard,” senior Emily Johnston said.
Others enjoyed the funnier moments of the trip, including the fascinating wildlife around the facility.
“I really liked the free time the first day here. I was able to walk the trails, and that was a lot of fun. We saw a muskrat,” senior Anna Fleischhacker said.
Loxtercamp herself also enjoyed the activities she had planned for the retreat and was satisfied to see it all come together.
“I really enjoyed coloring and watching the movie. I thought that was fun. I also really enjoyed the nature walk this morning,” Loxtercamp said.
Overall, Loxtercamp led a successful yoga retreat filled with fun activities for everyone to enjoy, as well as choosing a facility where free time was filled by recreational sports, swimming, sunbathing and low-stress moments. Participants were able to let their stress melt away for the weekend, leaving them in a mentally superior spot to end the school year strong.